Private insurance in Norway

Most private insurances in Norway are voluntary, but some are obligatory by law. These are:

• Liability insurance for vehicles:
  Everyone who owns a motor vehicle in Norway must have liability (third-party) insurance. This insurance covers injury you cause to other people and damage to vehicles or property in traffic.
• Occupational injury insurance for employers:
  All employers must take out occupational injury insurance for their employees. This covers injury and sickness incurred during work time.

Here is an overview of the most common voluntary insurances:

• Contents insurance:
  This covers damage to or loss of household goods in your home as a result of fire, theft, water damage, or natural disasters.
• Travel insurance:
  This covers illness, accident, theft, or cancellation of travel, both in Norway and abroad.
• Car insurance (voluntary part in addition to liability insurance):
  In addition to the statutory liability insurance, you can choose partial or full comprehensive insurance, which gives extra coverage for damage to your own vehicle.
• House insurance:
  This covers damage to the actual building in the event of fire, water leakage, natural disaster, and similar.
• Child and accident insurance:
  This ensures financial support in the event of illness, accident, and permanent medical invalidity involving a child.
• Life insurance:
  This provides survivors with financial support in the event of a death.
• Disability insurance:
  This provides financial support if you become permanently disabled.

Contact different insurance companies and find out more about which insurances they offer, the premium (price), and conditions regarding insurances, etc. 

Many employers offer private insurance schemes. You should therefore check with your employer if any insurances are available through your workplace.   

You can often get cheaper insurance premiums through your trade union if you are a member of one. Trade unions often have favourable agreements with insurance companies. 

You can read more about what is important to consider when taking out insurance policies on the website of the Norwegian Consumer Council (Forbrukerrådet).