Car insurance in Switzerland

Car insurance in Switzerland

The swiss car indemnity market is complex, with many different types of car insurance available. however, only third party liability indemnity is compulsory.

The swiss Financial Market Authority ( FINMA ) regulates providers of car insurance in Switzerland. According to FINMA statistics, car policy is the fourth most common kind of non-life insurance in Switzerland after health policy, build up policy, and accident insurance. Car insurance premiums totaled CHF 5.97 billion in 2019, accounting for 20.9 % of the non-life indemnity market in Switzerland .
When you take out cable car indemnity in Switzerland, it is broadly the vehicle that is covered rather than the driver. Most policies cover extra drivers, meaning that anyone with a valid drive license can drive your car. If you want to drive person else ’ randomness car, you ’ ll need extra coverage or a fully comprehensive policy. however, you can use most swiss car indemnity policies to cover extra vehicles of your own if you have assignable license plates .

Can you use car insurance from another country in Switzerland?

You can use cable car insurance from other EU/EFTA countries in Switzerland. Likewise, you can use swiss cable car indemnity when driving in countries across the EU/EFTA .

If you come to Switzerland from outside the EU/EFTA, you will normally need to take out a swiss policy unless you have an run policy that specifies that you can drive in abroad countries including Switzerland .
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Types of car insurance in Switzerland

The three chief types of cable car insurance in Switzerland are as follows :

Third party liability insurance

This is the minimum legal car policy in Switzerland. In fact, you can not flush register your car and get your license plate in most cantons without at least liability indemnity. Liability insurance covers damage to all one-third parties and their place in incidents where you or another guarantee driver of your car is at blame. however, it doesn ’ t cover any costs relating to you or your car .
Liability policy typically covers up to CHF 1 million of damages in Switzerland. Premiums deviate depending on factors such as cable car measure, driver profile, and swiss region. average prices are around CHF 300–400 per year .

Partial Casco

This indemnity is basically indebtedness policy plus coverage for your own fomite ascribable to incidents that are not your fault. such incidents include natural disasters, ardor, larceny, vandalism and animal collision. Policies tend to vary between insurers so it ’ randomness crucial to check what ’ mho covered and what ’ s not. common exclusions are methamphetamine wrong, damage when in a parking area, and storm damage. You can normally include anything beyond the basic package for a higher premium .

again, costs can vary greatly but you can generally expect to pay in the region of CHF 500–1,000 a year. Experts recommend considering this class of policy for cars between 4–7 years erstwhile .

Fully comprehensive or full Casco

fully comprehensive, or entire Casco, insurance covers reasonably much all costs ( as the appoint suggests ). In other words, everything relating to you, your own car, and all third parties in incidents where you or another cover driver is at fault .
Full Casco is optional, however, it may be compulsory if you lease rather than buy a car in Switzerland. You should consider this type of car indemnity if you have a modern ( i, less than four years erstwhile ) or valuable car .

Although this policy is amply comprehensive examination, it won ’ triiodothyronine traverse absolutely everything and again policies vary across insurers. common exclusions are breakdown coverage, no-claims bonus auspices, and damage or larceny due to negligence. You can purchase anything not included as an addition if you wish .
Full Casco is the most expensive type of cable car indemnity in Switzerland. Expect to pay somewhere between CHF 1,000–2,000 .
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Additional forms of car insurance in Switzerland

Whichever type of car insurance in Switzerland you choose, you can bolster it with individual coverage that might not be included. Common extra policy types are :
Passenger accident insurance – while standard liability indemnity covers wrong costs to third parties, medical costs are often excluded. however, most swiss residents will have their own personal accident insurance so this is normally only necessity if you have extraneous visitors traveling in your car often .
Parking damage – covers damage caused by unknown parties while your car is parked. typically lone available as an addition with full Casco policies .
Legal protection – covers legal expenses in the event of an incidental that goes to court .
Breakdown assistance – sometimes included in full Casco policies, this provides for costs such as repair and refilling ecstasy in the event of a breakdown. Worth taking out if you don ’ t have a wayside aid policy elsewhere .

Gross negligence – covers costs if you cause an accident through negligence, such as if you go through a red easy or are above the amphetamine restrict. however, good offenses such as drink repel and excessive rush are normally not included .
Bonus protection – protects your no-claims bonus if you have to make a claim. however, it is normally limited to one call per year .

Car insurance bonuses and penalties in Switzerland

Switzerland has a no-claims bonus indemnity system, similar to many early countries. What this means is that your premiums will drop for each class that you don ’ t make a claim. Each indemnity company has its own no-claims bonus scheme. typically, your car indemnity will decrease by between 5–10 % for each no-claim year. There will be a cut-off point after which it will go no lower. With most insurers, this will be around a 30–40 % discount but some may offer more generous deals .

Some indemnity companies allow you to transfer no-claims periods across from previous policies ; however, they are not obliged to do thus. Check first ahead signing up .
Although you can get discounts for not making a claim, your premiums can besides increase if you make even claims. If you have a poor drive record, you can end up paying well over 100 % of the standard premium costs.

You can expect to pay a higher agio if you :

• Cause an accident through careless or negligent driving
• Have points on your license for violations such as speeding or drunk driving
• Are a young or inexperienced driver

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Car insurance companies in Switzerland

There are over 100 indemnity companies offering car indemnity in Switzerland. This is why it is a good idea to shop around. democratic insurance companies include :

• Allianz
• AutoMate
• AXA
• Elvia
• Generali
• Helvetia
• PostFinance
• Smile
• Zurich

There are besides expat-friendly brokerage services such as the UK company Sterling which helps british expats find insurance for cars they import to Switzerland when they move .
You can compare swiss car insurance policies on websites such as Comparis .
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How to choose car insurance in Switzerland

When looking at car insurance deals in Switzerland, be mindful to take into account other factors preferably than barely opting for the cheapest deal. early things to look out for include :
Excess/deductible – this is the sum you need to pay towards any indemnity claim. In Switzerland, this can vary between insurers but is typically about CHF 1,000 for drivers under 25 and CHF 500 for drivers 25 and over with less than two years of driving experience. early drivers normally pay no deductible. however, all drivers can normally choose to increase the deductible in return for lower premiums .
No-claims bonus – what discounts can you get and are you able to transfer no-claims periods from another insurance company ?
Company reputation – what are the ratings and customer reviews like ? Check on-line follow-up sites .
Claims process – how flying and easy is the claims process ? Can you do it online ?

Exclusions – hindrance through the policies carefully to see what is and international relations and security network ’ metric ton covered, who is covered ( for example, other drivers ), and where you are covered ( for example, driving afield or in other people ’ south cars ). If something you need is missing, can it be added and how much will it cost ?
Special offers and discounts – some companies may offer price discounts, for exercise to union members, on electric vehicles, or for paying your annual premium upfront. Or you may be able to entree discounts elsewhere if insurers have partnered with other businesses .
Unused license plates policy – in Switzerland, you don ’ t have to insure your cable car if you ’ re not using it ampere long as you return the license plates. Some insurers allow you to pause your payments for periods that your car is not in consumption .
Ethical performance – how well does the company perform in areas such as environmental sustainability, corporate social province ( CSR ), and proletarian rights ? You can compare insurers using ratings compiled by assessors such as ethical Consumer .

Applying for car insurance in Switzerland

Most insurance firms now allow you to take out a policy on-line, which makes things immediate and easier. The best way to sort out your cable car policy in Switzerland is to :

1. Decide what type of coverage you want, e.g., liability or full Casco. Make sure you include any add-ons if they might not be included as standard.
2. Compare quotes from car insurance companies. You can do this via individual company websites or use a comparison tool such as Comparis.
3. Take out your policy online.

You will typically need to provide the follow :

• Driving license details
• Car registration details (available from your cantonal road office if you don’t have them)
• Personal details (address, age, driver profile)
• Other relevant information (e.g., if you plan to use the car for business purposes)

once you have filled in the policy imprint and paid your first installment, your cable car is covered. You should receive your insurance security and policy details. You may besides receive a european accident report shape and a k menu to show proof of policy when driving in non-EU/EFTA countries that are partially of the green card system .

How to make a car insurance claim in Switzerland

If you need to make a car indemnity claim in Switzerland, you should :

• Take photos of any damage and record any witness statements if necessary.
• Complete your European accident report form in the event of an accident. Otherwise, make sure you get the relevant details from any other drivers involved in an incident (especially name and car registration details).
• Contact the emergency services in the event of a serious accident.
• File your insurance claim with your provider. Most companies allow you to do this by phone, email, or using an online form. Your insurer should give you details of their claims process and options. You should do this as soon as possible. The legal deadline for filing an insurance claim in Switzerland is usually two years.
• Forward invoices and payment receipts to your insurer as necessary.

once you have made your claim, a representative from your insurance company ( claim officeholder or claims director ) should be in touch with you to explain what is likely to happen, whether you need to provide extra information, when a decision on your claim will be made and when you are likely to receive compensation .

Canceling a contract or changing provider

You can cancel a contract with a swiss insurance company at any time, although notice periods range from 24 hours to three months depending on the insurance company. If you cancel early on a fixed-term sign, your insurance company may charge you a tip .
You should cancel car indemnity in Switzerland in writing to the address provided to you by the policy company. Most swiss companies operate an automatic pistol reclamation process, meaning that you will be tied in for another time period if you don ’ deoxythymidine monophosphate cancel in advance .
You can change policy providers without incurring a penalty if :

• The contract expires.
• You change your vehicle.
• Your premiums change. Insurers should give at least 25 days notice on any price changes.
• Ownership of the car changes. The new owner has 14 days to cancel any outstanding policy covering the vehicle.
• You are unhappy with the way a claim is dealt with. Both parties have 14 days to cancel the contract after each claim is made.

Making a complaint about a car insurance company in Switzerland

If you want to complain about a swiss car insurance company, you should follow these steps :

• Firstly, try to resolve the issue with the company itself. Each company should have a complaints department and a complaints procedure that should be available on its website or in an information pack sent out when you sign up.
• If this doesn’t resolve the situation, you can contact one of the Swiss ombudsman services. You can find contact details for financial services and insurance ombudsmen on Swiss Authorities Online.

The Federal Consumer Affairs Bureau ( FCAB ) has extra information on consumer rights in Switzerland.

Roadside assistance in Switzerland

You can purchase breakdown insurance from most swiss insurers. alternatively, the swiss Touring Club ( TCS ) ( in German ) is one of the most popular membership breakdown and convalescence services. You can call 800 140 140 in an emergency. membership is around CHF 80–90 a year .
Another service that provides coverage in Switzerland and across Europe is the Automobile Club of Switzerland ( ACS – in German ). You can purchase from a number of different membership deals starting at CHF 80 .
You may besides need to call the police ( 117 ), ambulance service ( 144 ), or other emergency services if your situation is serious .

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