Benefits

Excess/deductible for car insurance

If you make a claim under your car insurance, most insurers will require you to pay an excess (deductible). Comparis explains what to watch out for when it comes to excesses for vehicle liability, partial casco and full casco insurance.

Elena Wetli

25.03.2022

iStock / Thomas Faull

1.	What is meant by the "excess" for car insurance?
2.	Excess/deductible for vehicle liability insurance
3.	Is there an excess to pay for partial casco insurance?
4.	Is there an excess to pay for full casco insurance?
5.	What excess should I choose?
6.	When is it worth paying for the damage yourself?

1. What is meant by the "excess" for car insurance?

The excess is the amount you must pay out of pocket in the event of a claim. In car insurance, the excess is specified in the insurance policy and applies per insured claim. In the US, the equivalent term is "deductible". The amount varies depending on the insurer, the product and the nature of the claim.

2. Excess/deductible for vehicle liability insurance

The excess for third-party liability insurance depends on the age of the driver at the time the damage occurred. Generally speaking, the following amounts apply:

Young drivers: this refers to anyone under the age of 25. Their excess is usually 1,000 francs. In theory it is also possible to bring a young driver's excess down to nothing, but in practice hardly any insurers offer this. It's worth comparing.

New drivers: this refers to drivers aged 25 and over who have had their driving licence for less than two years. The excess for new drivers is usually 500 francs.
Other drivers: this refers to drivers aged 25 and over who have had their driving licence for at least two years. Their excess is usually zero under vehicle liability insurance.

3. Is there an excess to pay for partial casco insurance?

Partial casco insurance covers damage caused by other people. Whether you will be required to pay an excess if you claim for damage (e.g. hail damage) depends on your policy.

You can generally choose the level of the excess yourself. It can be between zero and 2,000 francs. The higher your choice of excess, the lower your premiums.

4. Is there an excess to pay for full casco insurance?

Basically, you can choose any excess for full casco insurance for your car, but most insurers apply a standard excess of 1,000 francs. This excess provides them with the right balance between price and risk.

Are you better off with partial casco or full casco insurance? It is possible to switch from full casco to partial casco. You can find out which type of car insurance is right for you in the linked article. The excess is a particularly good reason to compare premiums carefully.

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You can choose to take out full casco insurance for a rented vehicle. Then, if you cause any damage to it, you only have to pay the agreed excess. You can even find products that have no excess, but these are somewhat more expensive.

5. What excess should I choose?

It can be tempting to choose a high deductible and save on the premium, but you should only choose a high excess if you can afford it.

Before you take out a policy, think about how much you can pay out of pocket if you have to make a claim.

6. When is it worth paying for the damage yourself?

Sometimes, it may be better to pay for minor damage out of pocket. This is because in the event of a claim, the bonus system usually comes into play (unless you have no-claims bonus protection). This means that your premium will go up.

So consider whether the damage costs more or less than being in a higher bonus category. Choose your insurer carefully to be sure that you pay lower premiums and are well covered in the event of a claim.