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Current value of a car
What is meant by a car’s current value? And what does replacement value supplement mean when it comes to car insurance? Comparis explains these terms and shows you how to calculate the values.
13.06.2025
iStock / bernardbodo
1. What does the current value of a car mean?
The current value is the value of a vehicle at a specified time. This value is the price you could expect to receive if you were to sell the vehicle:
On the date of valuation.
Without any additional investment.
On the open market.
The price may or may not be the same as the market value – the price you might otherwise receive without taking into account the above points. Particularly for vintage and classic cars, a vehicle’s current value is often lower than the value on the specialist market (the market value).
The current value is also important when it comes to insurance. It’s used as the basis for an insurance payout if your car is written off following an accident.
2. Calculating a car’s current value
Insurance companies calculate the current value of a vehicle based on its value as new. With Comparis, you can find out the current value of your car free of charge.
Each insurance company defines the criteria used to calculate this value in their general conditions of insurance. The following factors are important for this calculation:
Age
Mileage
Marketability
Vehicle condition
Is it worth taking out current value insurance?
Current value coverage can be particularly worthwhile for new or nearly new vehicles. The reason for this is that the loss in value is highest in the first few years after purchase.
The following calculation example shows the differences between regular comprehensive insurance and current value insurance in the event of a total loss.
| Insurance | Payout in the event of a total damage | Difference from the new price |
|---|---|---|
| WIthout current value insurance | 31,000 francs | 6,000 francs |
| With current value insurance | 37,000 francs | 0 francs |
Basis of calculation: Audi A1 Allstreet 35 TFSI S-tronig in the 2nd year of operation, new price 37,000 francs, estimated fair value 31,000 (Comparis car valuation calculator), replacement value insurance covers 100 percent of the purchase price in the 2nd year of operation.
If you lease a vehicle, you usually have to insure it with full casco cover. This often contains replacement value supplement cover. Check your general conditions of insurance or ask your insurance company if in doubt.
3. Partial/full casco and current value
Car insurance companies use the vehicle’s current value to calculate the payout when you make a claim. This applies to both partial casco and full casco.
Payouts with replacement value supplement
Insurers use a current value table to calculate your payout following a claim.
| Insurance company | Type of pay out | 1st year of operation | 2nd year of operation | 3rd year of operation | 4th year of operation | 5th year of operation | 6th year of operation | 7th year of operation | 8th year of operation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Allianz | Purchase price | 100% | 100% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% |
| AXA | Purchase price | 100% | 100% | 90–80% | 80–70% | 70–60% | 60–50% | 50–40% | Current value +10% |
| Baloise | List price | 100% | 100% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +10% |
| Mobiliar | Replacement value | 100% | 100% | 90–80% | 80–70% | 70–60% | 60–50% | 50–40% | Current value +30% |
| Elvia | Purchase price | 100% | 100% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% |
| Generali | Vehicle value | 100% | 100% | 90–80% | 80–70% | 70–60% | 60–50% | 50–40% | Current value |
| Helvetia (basic) | List price | 100% | 100% | 90–80% | 80–70% | 70–60% | 60–50% | 50–40% | Current value +10% |
| PostFinance | List price | 100% | 100–90% | 90–80% | 80–70% | 70–60% | 60–50% | 50–40% | Current value +10% |
| Simpego | Replacement value | 100% | 100% | 90–80% | 80–70% | 70–60% | 60–50% | 50–45% | Current value +10% |
| Smile (standard) | Purchase price | 100% | 100% | 80–70% | 70–60% | 60–50% | 50–40% | Current value | Current value |
| TCS | List price | 100% | 100% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +20% | Current value +10% |
| Vaudoise | Purchase price or current value | 100% | 100% | Base value +20% | Base value +20% | Base value +20% | Base value +20% | Base value +20% | Base value +10% |
| Zurich | Purchase price + accessories | 100% | 95–85% | 85–75% | 75–65% | 65–55% | 55–45% | 45–40% | Replacement value |
Last updated: February 2024. List not exhaustive.
This article was first published on 11.08.2017
