Car damaged while parked: what to do and which insurance pays out?
Your car can soon get a small scratch or bump, especially in crowded car parks. Who has to pay for the damage and which insurance pays? Comparis explains what you need to know.
08.04.2025
iStockphoto/Albina Gavrilovic
1. What is considered damage to a parked vehicle?
Not all damage to stationary vehicles is considered “damage to a parked vehicle” from the insurer’s perspective. The decisive factor is who causes the damage:
If an unidentified person damages your parked car, this is considered damage to a parked vehicle. This is where – if available – stationary damage insurance comes in.
If the culprit is known, their liability insurance will cover the damage.
If you yourself are responsible for the damage to your own car, your full casco insurance – if you have such a policy – will step in. From an insurance point of view, it is considered a collision.
Who pays for damage to a parked car?
| Cause of damage | Affected car | Who pays? |
|---|---|---|
| An unknown person | Your car | Your stationary damage insurance, if you have such cover. |
| A known person | Your car | The third-party liability insurance of the person causing the damage. |
| You | Your car | Your full casco insurance, if you have such cover. |
| You | Someone else’s car | Your third-party liability insurance. |
How much does stationary damage insurance cost?
Different insurers offer different models. There are big differences in the number of insured claims per year and in the maximum insured amount per claim. Premiums vary accordingly.
Example of parking damage that is covered:
imagine you return to your vehicle after shopping and notice a new scratch on the door. There’s no trace of the culprit. If you have stationary damage insurance, it will cover the costs – minus any excess.
With your car liability insurance, you automatically pay into the Swiss National Guarantee Fund. After a deductible of 1,000 francs, this covers damage caused by unknown vehicles – but only if no other insurance assumes the costs. Vandalism (e.g. scratches, broken windows) is excluded. A police report is required.
Car vandalism and intentional damage are excluded from stationary damage insurance. Partial casco insurance provides this cover instead. Important: most insurers exclude events like riots and protests.
2. Damage to a parked vehicle: what should I do?
You should report the damage as soon as possible. In some cases, insurance companies require a police report when reporting parking damage in Switzerland. Who you contact first depends on how the accident happened:
| Damage to your car | Damage to another car | |
|---|---|---|
| Who do I need to contact? | Depends on the person who caused the damage:Known third party: the wrongdoerUnknown third party: stationary damage insuranceYou yourself: casco insurance | Owner of the vehicle, own liability insurance, police if applicable |
I caused damage to someone else’s parked vehicle – what should I do?
Wait for the owner of the car and fill out the accident report together.
Inform the police if the owner of the car cannot be found. Otherwise, you will be liable to prosecution.
Will full casco insurance pay for damage while parked?
Do you have full casco insurance without additional parking damage cover? Depending on your insurance policy, third-party parking damage may already be covered by your full casco insurance. Check your policy to find out what applies.
In terms of insurance, however, this is considered a matter for full casco insurance. In the event of damage, you usually have to pay the regular deductible. In addition, there is also a risk of losing your bonus for full casco claims, depending on the insurance model.
3. Is stationary damage insurance useful?
Stationary damage insurance can be particularly worthwhile for owners of newer cars. If you also often park your car in public spaces, stationary damage insurance is certainly an option worth considering. However, some insurance companies only offer the stationary damage insurance option for vehicles that are less than four or five years old.
4. Do I need full casco insurance to cover stationary damages?
Many providers insure stationary damage as part of full casco coverage. However, you need to select the optional add-on for parking/stationary damages. Some insurers also offer the parking damage option as part of partial casco policies.
Compare car insurance
Insurance costs sometimes vary significantly. This applies to full casco insurance as well as the stationary damage add-on. A comparison can therefore be worthwhile.
This article was first published on 29.07.2019
