Car insurance is getting more expensive in 2025
A recent Comparis analysis shows that many car insurers in Switzerland will increase premiums for existing customers in 2025.
03.12.2024
iStock/Eva-Katalin
1. How are car insurance premiums changing?
Car insurance has become much more affordable over the long term. However, a Comparis analysis shows that many car insurers in Switzerland will increase premiums for existing customers in 2025.
Six out of 13 insurers surveyed have announced a general premium adjustment for next year. In the case of four providers, individual premium increases are possible for existing contracts.
Do I have to accept a premium increase?
You can cancel the contract after a premium increase by the insurer and switch to a cheaper provider – even outside the regular notice periods. The condition: it’s a general premium adjustment and not an increase as a result of a claim.
Check the car insurance policy carefully and consider a change if necessary.
2. Do foreigners pay more for car insurance?
Foreign nationals in Switzerland sometimes pay significantly more for their car insurance than Swiss people. This is what our analysis (not available in English) of full casco insurance premiums shows.
Our findings:
The average premium surcharges for full casco insurance are up to 74.4% compared to Swiss drivers.
Young drivers from Kosovo, North Macedonia and Turkey pay the most.
For experienced drivers, the foreigner surcharges are up to 54.8%.
Nationality is an important criterion for insurers to calculate the probability of a claim occurring – even if it seems unfair.
Interestingly, Swiss people may also be affected by the premium surcharges according to nationality. For example, German drivers sometimes pay less than Swiss drivers. This phenomenon can be seen in several regions and for different car models.
For the survey, Comparis compared insurance premiums for the following nine nationalities: Switzerland, Germany, Spain, France, Italy, North Macedonia, Portugal, Turkey and Kosovo. In June 2024, 85,483 online quotes were examined.
Selected vehicles (prices excluding taxes):
Cupra Formentor Hybrid (49,630 francs), Fiat 500 model 2015 (21,254 francs), Mercedes-Benz GLC Class from 2022 (73,630 francs), Škoda Octavia Combi petrol from 2020 (38,446 francs), Tesla Model Y (46,244 francs), VW Golf VIII petrol from 2020 (40,056 francs); year of purchase 2024, date of first registration January 2024. Not leased.
Driver profiles:
First driver profile: age 42 years, male, driving licence for 24 years.
Second driver profile: age 20 years, male, driving licence for two years.
The following applies to all driver profiles: no claims, refusals or debt rescheduling with previous insurers. Regions: five postcodes each for Basel, Bern, Biel, Geneva, Lausanne, Lucerne, St. Gallen, Ticino, Winterthur and Zurich. Foreign nationals who hold a residence permit C.
Cover profile:
Full casco, annual kilometres 12,000, including bonus protection and parking damage cover (without unlimited damage), no passenger accident insurance, no breakdown cover, no gross negligence cover, personal belongings not insured, private use with garage, insurance starting on 20 June 2024. Deductibles: collision casco 1,000 francs, partial casco 0 francs. The deductible for liability insurance is variable. Important: additional cover may differ, as some insurers offer dynamic add-ons or individual types of cover may be included as standard (e.g. breakdown cover).
Insurers:
Allianz, AXA, Baloise, Helvetia, Elvia, Generali, Helvetia, Postfinance, Simpego, Smile, TCS, Zurich.
3. Which nationalities pay most for car insurance?
The biggest premium difference compared to the Swiss is found among 20-year-old Kosovars in the city of Basel who drive a Mercedes-Benz GLC. Here, the premium surcharge is 74.4% on average. North Macedonians (73.6%) and Turks (72.9%) follow in second and third place respectively – also in Basel and with a Mercedes-Benz.
This article was first published on 18.08.2023
