Vehicles: Too much alcohol costs insurance coverage

Anyone who gets behind the wheel with 0.5 per mille of alcohol in their blood is committing an administrative offence. If they have 0.8 per mille or more, their driving licence could be revoked. If the driver also has an accident, this can cost them their insurance cover. The insurance company HUK-Coburg points this out in a press release. In addition to the concentration of alcohol in the blood, individual driving ability also plays a role. According to HUK-Coburg, the amount of alcohol that leads to impairments such as swerving ultimately varies from driver to driver. In extreme cases, a glass of champagne is enough. If the accident is clearly due to alcohol consumption, the drunkenness clause in the motor vehicle liability insurance comes into play. The insurance company will settle the claim, but then take recourse against the driver. It can recover a maximum of 5,000 euros from the person who caused the damage. The situation is even bleaker with comprehensive insurance. If the blood alcohol level is more than 1.1 per mille, the courts assume that the driver is completely unfit to drive. Alcohol is therefore considered to be the cause of the accident. However, the insurance company points out that even smaller amounts can cost you insurance cover – if alcohol was the cause of the accident.