Contract
What happens if you don't pay your car insurance?
Not paid your car insurance? and things could get expensive! Your insurer can cancel your policy and the police can take your plates.
10.01.2024
iStock / Gwengoat
1. How long do I have before my car insurance premiums fall due?
Die Zahlungsmodalitäten für Ihre Autoversicherung sind im Versicherungsvertrag und in den allgemeinen Versicherungsbedingungen festgelegt. Die Prämienrechnungen können monatlich, halbjährlich oder jährlich anfallen.
Achten Sie auf die Zahlungsfrist. Diese beträgt in der Regel zwischen 10 und 30 Tagen. Die Prämie muss spätestens am letzten Tag dieser Frist auf dem Konto der Versicherung gutgeschrieben sein. Danach sind Sie mit der Zahlung in Verzug.
2. What happens if I don't pay?
Haben Sie die Autoversicherung nicht bezahlt? Einige Anbieter schicken zunächst eine Zahlungserinnerung. Kommt es zu einer written reminder, you must observe the following:
After the first reminder, you will normally have 14 days to transfer the premium you owe.
These and other reminders may be subject to reminder fees and default interest. The fees usually increase if you have to be sent a further reminder.
At the same time, the insurance company will notify you about the consequences if you do not pay within the grace period. This is why you will often receive reminders by registered letter.
Tip: Do you frequently forget to pay your car insurance? If so, direct debit is a good option.
Liability insurance special case – police pull in control signs
Car liability insurance is mandatory. That is why special rules apply here. Important: The insurance company must <g id="2">cover claims, even if your premiums are still outstanding.</g>Schäden decken, auch wenn Sie ihr die Prämien schulden.
Note, however, that Please note, however, that if you have not paid for your liability insurance a report will be sent to the Road Traffic Office, which will order the seizure of your number plates and vehicle registration certificate. If you still do not pay, the police will be instructed to Meldung ans Strassenverkehrsamt. Das Amt verfügt, dass Nummernschilder und Fahrzeugausweis eingezogen werden. Zahlen Sie weiterhin nicht, erhält die Polizei den Auftrag, take away your number plates. This is a legal requirement.
Neben den ausstehenden Prämien und Mahngebühren müssen Sie der Versicherung in diesem Fall rund 100 Franken fürs erneute Einlösen der Schilder zahlen. Dazu kommen zusätzlich die Aufwendungen des Strassenverkehrsamts. Insgesamt drohen Ihnen somit additional costs of several hundred francs.
3. When does insurance cover lapse if I don't pay?
Anyone who fails to pay for their car insurance, despite a reminder, will lose their cover. In technical terms, this means: "The insurer's obligation to pay any claims is suspended".
From then on, the insurer will no longer pay any benefits from casco insurance. However, this only applies if the insurer can prove that it previously issued a reminder.
According to the Insurance Contract Act, two scenarios are conceivable:
Insurance takes legal steps to collect the premium or accepts late payment. Cover then resumes from the time of payment.
The insurance company does not take legal steps to collect the premium two months after the end of the reminder period – e.g. by means of a debt enforcement notice. On the assumption that The insurer waives payment of the outstanding premium and withdraws from the contract.
When does car liability cover lapse?
In contrast to comprehensive insurance, liability coverage expires only when the license plates are deposited with the Road Traffic Office – or 60 days after reporting to the Road Traffic Office.
4. What happens if I have an accident?
Have you not paid for your car insurance and are involved in a accident ? Then the costs can go into the millions. If the insurer's obligation to pay claims is currently suspended, you will have to cover these costs even if you have taken out <g id="3">full casco insurance</g>.Vollkasko-Versicherung auf diesen Kosten sitzen.
Is your insurance too expensive?
Compare the deals offered by various car insurers and find one that suits your needs and budget.
This article was first published on 12.02.2020
