Which motor insurance pays for which damage?
Third-party liability pays for damage you cause to others. Partial comprehensive cover pays for damage to your own car that is nobody’s fault, such as hail, glass breakage or theft. Fully comprehensive cover additionally pays for collision damage that you caused yourself. The excess is the amount you bear yourself per claim. The following sections describe the usual structure; exactly what is covered is set out in your policy, and the policy is decisive.
Third-party liability: compulsory, but not for your own car
Motor third-party liability insurance is compulsory in Switzerland. It pays for personal injury and property damage that you cause to others with your vehicle, for example the repair of the car you touched while pulling out of a parking space. It does not cover damage to your own vehicle. Conversely, if someone else has damaged your car, you turn to their third-party liability insurer. After a liability claim that was your fault, your no-claims level may fall, depending on the policy.
Partial comprehensive cover: hail, glass, wildlife, martens, theft
Partial comprehensive cover is optional and generally covers damage to your own car caused by natural hazards such as hail, by glass breakage, collisions with wild animals, marten bites, fire and theft; depending on the contract, vandalism as well. For bodywork this means that hail dents and a cracked windscreen are typical partial comprehensive claims. A partial comprehensive claim does not normally move you down the no-claims scale. Check your policy to see exactly which events your contract includes.
Fully comprehensive cover: partial cover plus collision damage
Fully comprehensive cover consists of partial comprehensive cover and collision cover. Collision cover pays for damage to your own car that you caused yourself, for example if you scrape a wall or run into the back of another vehicle. It is common for newer and leased vehicles; leasing contracts normally require it. Collision claims usually carry a separate excess that is higher than for partial comprehensive cover, and such a claim can worsen your no-claims level.
Excess: what you pay yourself per claim
The excess is the part of the damage you pay yourself for every claim; the insurer covers the rest. It is agreed when you take out the policy and can differ by type of cover, so it may be a different amount for partial comprehensive, collision and third-party liability. Some policies have additional excesses, for example for young drivers. In practice: if the repair costs less than the excess or only slightly more, there is little point in claiming on the insurance.
No-claims level and bonus protection
For third-party liability and collision cover, the premium generally depends on a no-claims level: if you drive without claims you move up and pay less; after a claim that was your fault you are moved down and pay more in the following years. Bonus protection is an add-on that prevents this downgrade, but depending on the policy only for a limited number of claims. You still pay the excess. Your policy states whether you have bonus protection.
Add-ons that matter for bodywork damage
Three add-ons often play a part in bodywork damage. Parking damage cover pays for damage caused by unknown persons to your parked car, depending on the policy without a downgrade but often with a limit per year. Courtesy car or mobility cover pays the cost of a replacement vehicle in a comprehensive claim. And the current value supplement determines how much the insurer pays in the event of a write-off. Whether you have taken out these add-ons is shown in the summary of cover in your policy.
Claim or pay yourself: how to work it out
For a small claim that was your own fault, a simple calculation is worthwhile. On one side are the repair costs. On the other are the excess and the additional premium over the coming years if you are moved down the scale. If the repair is cheaper, you are better off paying yourself. You can take the repair costs from the indicative quote from Carrosserie K.I., which you receive within 24 hours on working days; your insurer will tell you the expected additional premium on request. For partial comprehensive claims the question does not usually arise, because there is no risk of a downgrade.