How much does car insurance cost in Switzerland?
The cost of car insurance in Switzerland depends on a range of factors. We show you what affects the premium and what costs you should expect.
28.04.2025
iStock / Valerii Apetroaiei
1. How much does car insurance cost in Switzerland?
The cost of car insurance in Switzerland depends on the type of insurance policy and other factors. Various types of car insurance are available in Switzerland, which differ in terms of the cover they provide: third-party liability, partial casco and full casco insurance.
Car liability insurance: costs
A liability insurance policy covers damage you cause to other road users. Third-party liability insurance is required by law. In other words, you’re not allowed to drive your car on public roads without liability insurance.
The table shows the annual costs of third-party liability insurance. The comparison includes different vehicle types (compact, mid-range, and luxury vehicles) in the seventh year of use. The basis for calculating the following examples can be found here.
| Vehicle | Lowest premium (CHF) | Highest premium (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 224.60 | 492.70 |
| Mid-range car | 224.10 | 490.40 |
| Luxury car | 274.40 | 589.30 |
Source: Comparis car insurance calculator / as at 01.04.2025
Partial casco insurance: costs
A partial casco insurance policy is optional and it covers damage to your car that you did not cause yourself. This cover is not required by law. The table shows the annual costs of partial casco insurance (including third-party liability insurance).
| Vehicle | Lowest premium (CHF) | Highest premium (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 352.60 | 750.50 |
| Mid-range car | 379.60 | 856.10 |
| Luxury car | 657.02 | 1,222.90 |
Source: Comparis car insurance calculator / as at 01.04.2025
Full casco insurance: costs
A full casco insurance policy is a type of fully comprehensive insurance. It covers various types of damages to your own car. It’s also optional. The table shows the annual costs of full casco insurance (including third-party liability insurance).
| Vehicle | Lowest premium (CHF) | Highest premium (CHF) |
|---|---|---|
| Compact car | 598.70 | 1,330.50 |
| Mid-range car | 696.28 | 1,635 |
| Luxury car | 1,309.07 | 3,004 |
Source: Comparis car insurance calculator / as at 01.04.2025
Annual car insurance costs: overview
The chart summarizes the annual costs of third-party liability, partial casco and full casco insurance (the chart is interactive).
Car owner
Male
Year of birth: 1970
Swiss nationality
Resident in Zurich
Driving test in June 1988
Vehicle
Compact car: Renault Clio IV Grand Tour 0.9 (5-door, 90HP, manual, CHF 19,400)
Mid-range car: Škoda Octavia 2.0 TSI RS estate (5-door, 245HP, manual, CHF 38,150)
Luxury car: Mercedes-Benz, E-Class Coupé W238 3.0 (2-door, 435HP, automatic sequential, CHF 105,900)
Details on vehicle use
Policyholder = main driver
No claims or other traffic-related incidents in the last five years
Personal vehicle
First registered and purchased in January 2019
Canton of registration: Zurich
No garage
12,000km/year
No bonus protection
Garage available at home
How to find the right car insurance for you
Did you know that you can usually cancel your car insurance policy once a year? Use this opportunity to review your insurance requirements: do you really need full casco insurance or can you do without certain add-ons?
2. What factors affect the cost of car insurance?
The cost of car insurance in Switzerland depends not only on the insurer, but also on personal and vehicle-specific criteria. Here are the main factors that affect the amount of your car insurance premium (list not exhaustive):
Personal characteristics of the driver
Your age, gender, nationality and other personal characteristics are taken into account when calculating the premium. Insurers base their calculations on statistics about accident frequencies and claims risks in certain age groups or user groups.
Your place of residence also influences the cost of car insurance. In urban areas with heavy traffic and a higher risk of theft, insurance premiums are usually higher than in rural areas.
Insured car
Expensive and high-performance cars usually cost more to repair and are considered more likely to be stolen, which usually leads to higher premiums. Plus, the newer the car, the more expensive the insurance.
Driving habits
Do you only use your car occasionally and for short distances? In that case, you may benefit from lower premiums. After all, fewer kilometres travelled per year mean less risk – and therefore lower car insurance costs.
Scope of cover
The more comprehensive the cover (e.g. full casco insurance), the higher the cost of car insurance. As a rule of thumb, full casco insurance is worth considering for new cars up to four years old, and partial casco insurance for cars up to eight years old. Optional extras such as cover for damage while parked, gross negligence cover or bonus protection also increase the insurance premiums.
Excess
The higher the excess, the lower the cost of car insurance. However, if you make a claim, you’ll have to pay a larger portion of the costs yourself.
3. How much does car insurance cost for new drivers?
New drivers usually pay significantly more for their car insurance. This is because they are more likely to be involved in an accident. Find out here how you can save money on car insurance as a young driver.
4. Cost of car insurance in Switzerland: summary
The cost of car insurance in Switzerland depends on the type of insurance policy. Liability insurance is the cheapest, followed by partial and then full casco insurance. Other factors such as the driver’s personal characteristics, the insured vehicle and the scope of cover also influence the premiums.
This article was first published on 28.04.2025
