Insurance claims handling
Insurance claim: we sort everything out with your insurer
In the event of an insurance claim, Carrosserie K.I. handles communication with your insurer and the assessor and bills directly. As a rule you pay only the excess in your policy. If someone else is at fault, their third-party liability insurer pays for the entire damage.
- All makes
- Direct billing with insurers
- Courtesy car on request
- Repair rather than replace
- Reply usually within 24 h
- German & French
Process
- 1
Report the damage online, name your insurer
- 2
We notify the claim and arrange the assessment
- 3
Repair after approval, direct billing
Third-party liability, partial and fully comprehensive cover and parking damage insurance simply explained
Motor vehicle third-party liability insurance is compulsory in Switzerland. It pays for damage you cause to others, but not for the damage to your own car. If someone else causes the accident, their third-party liability insurance generally pays for your repair. Partial comprehensive cover is voluntary and, depending on the policy, covers events over which you have no influence, such as hail and other natural hazards, glass breakage, theft, fire or collisions with animals.
Fully comprehensive cover includes partial comprehensive cover and, in addition, collision cover. It pays for damage to your own vehicle even if you caused the accident yourself, and it is generally mandatory for leased vehicles. Parking damage insurance is an add-on: it covers damage caused to the parked car by unknown persons, depending on the policy with limits on number and amount. We clarify on the basis of your policy which cover applies in your case.
Free choice of workshop and policies with a partner garage: the same excess with us
Many comprehensive policies come in two versions: with free choice of workshop or, more cheaply, with the obligation to have damage repaired at one of the insurer’s partner garages. Anyone who has chosen the partner model and still goes to the body shop they trust must expect a higher excess or a deduction, depending on the policy. In the case of third-party liability damage caused by someone else, you are generally free to choose the workshop.
So that such a clause does not force you to give up the workshop you want, a simple promise applies at Carrosserie K.I.: with us you pay the same excess as at your insurer’s partner garage. If your policy charges a higher excess for choosing your own workshop, we cover the difference. This saves you up to CHF 1'000. Simply send us your policy or tell us the insurer and product, and we check free of charge what applies in your case.
How an insurance claim works with us
It starts with the damage report. You record the damage in our online damage report form, upload the vehicle registration and photos of the damage and state the insurer and policy number. From this we prepare the cost calculation and forward it to the insurer. For larger claims the insurer sends a vehicle assessor or reviews the case on the basis of the photos. We coordinate the appointment with the assessor, and you do not have to be present.
As soon as the insurer’s confirmation of cover has been received, we start the repair. If hidden damage comes to light after dismantling, we report it to the insurer and inform you before we continue working. Once the work is complete, we send the invoice directly to the insurer. As a rule you pay only the excess and any services that are not covered. On request we organise a courtesy car for the duration of the repair and collect your vehicle.
No-claims bonus protection, loss of bonus and when paying yourself is worthwhile
In third-party liability and in collision cover, many insurers work with a bonus system: those who drive without claims move to a cheaper premium level, while after a reported claim you are downgraded and pay more for several years. Bonus protection prevents this downgrade, depending on the policy for a limited number of claims. Partial comprehensive claims such as hail or glass breakage generally have no effect on the bonus. What applies to you is set out in the policy.
For minor damage that was your own fault, it can therefore be cheaper to pay for the repair yourself. The excess plus the additional premium for the coming years has to be compared with the repair costs. We work out both options for you: you receive our indicative quote, and your insurer will tell you the expected additional premium on request. Depending on the policy, some insurers also allow you to buy back a claim that has already been paid within a set period and so keep your bonus level.
Frequently asked questions
What is the excess?
＋
The excess is the amount you bear yourself per claim. It is stated in your policy. The insurer pays the rest directly to us.
When is it worth paying for damage yourself?
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Paying yourself is worthwhile if the repair costs less than the excess plus the additional premium over the coming years after you are moved down the no-claims scale. This mainly applies to small collision claims that are your own fault; partial comprehensive claims such as hail or glass breakage do not generally affect the bonus. You can see the repair costs in the indicative quote from Carrosserie K.I.; your insurer will tell you the expected additional premium on request.
Related services
Accident repair
From minor bodywork damage to full repair after a serious accident, to manufacturer specifications.
Hail damage
Hail dents pushed out without repainting: the original paint is preserved, handled via partial comprehensive cover.
Stone chips & glass
Stone chips and glass damage at a glance: repair where possible; replacement including calibration of the driver assistance camera.
Save up to CHF 1'000
The same excess as at your insurer’s partner garage
Many policies charge a higher excess if you do not go to the insurer’s partner garage. With us you still pay only the excess you would have there: we cover the difference. That way you save up to CHF 1'000 and still choose your body shop freely.
CHF 50 less
CHF 50 less than your partner garage’s quote
Bring the written quote of a partner garage or an independent body shop for the same repair: we do it CHF 50 cheaper, for example CHF 450 instead of CHF 500, incl. VAT. The on-site damage assessment is free in Biel/Bienne, Orpund, Nidau, Brügg, Safnern and Port.
No appointment, no waiting.