Casco insurance is the guarantee of vehicle insurance coverage according to your wishes and needs.
What is casco insurance?
This is insurance that covers damage to your vehicle. We speak of partial casco when the insurance excludes damage due to a collision insurance, and of full casco when it includes them.
The distinction between partial casco and complete casco (also called integral or total) is increasingly blurred. The trend today is for “modules”: you compose your casco à la carte, without really worrying about what is dependent or independent of your will. However, this is ultimately what, until today, distinguished a partial casco from a total casco: the first covered incidents for which you were not responsible (hail, fire, collision with the game, acts malicious acts, etc.), while the second protected you despite your liability (collision).
Is casco insurance compulsory?
No, casco insurance is optional in Switzerland except in the case where you buy a leased vehicle: in this case, comprehensive casco insurance is compulsory.
In all other cases, only civil liability insurance is compulsory in Switzerland.
What does partial casco insurance cover?
(Generally) damage to the vehicle caused by:
- fire
- natural damage, such as storm, hail, snow pressure, landslide, rockfall, rockfall, avalanche, high water, flood
- snow-slide
- flight
- broken glass
- collision with animals
- weasels
- acts of vandalism
What does collision (or comprehensive casco) insurance cover?
(Generally) damage to the vehicle caused by:
- a collision
- malicious acts or vandalism by third parties
But still
Different types of additional coverage are possible such as personal effects, the risk of parking, or obtaining a replacement vehicle in the event of a claim.
The value of your vehicle is based on its new purchase value and its accessories. At the time of the claim, these parameters will be taken into account as well as the age of your vehicle to compensate you. A deductible may be imposed on you, you can also choose a deductible yourself to lower the premium.
Is it better to take out partial or full casco?
Much depends on the state of your finances. If you do not have the necessary funds to replace your vehicle in the event of a claim or to replace it, full casco is recommended.
Full casco is all the more recommended for a new vehicle. When your vehicle ages, it is on the contrary wise to switch to partial casco. Indeed, after 8 years of age, the insurance only reimburses the replacement value of the vehicle.
Complete or partial casco: the choice is yours. If unlike civil liability, these insurances are not prescribed by law, they are nonetheless useful. Because casco insurance covers damage to your vehicle. The choice of full or partial casco insurance essentially depends on the following four factors:
- your need for security;
- the age of your vehicle;
- the frequency of use of your vehicle;
- if your car is leased (in this case, full casco is in principle compulsory).
What does the partial casco cover?
Your windshield is damaged by gravel? Is your motorcycle no longer where you parked it the day before? In such cases, our partial casco insurance comes to the rescue by covering all damages for which you are not responsible. For example in the case of:
- damage caused by rodents and martens;
- broken glass;
- flight;
- natural damage;
- collisions with wild animals.
With the “parking damage” add-on, you can also insure against damage to the parked vehicle in partial casco. This cover will be particularly useful if you discover a new scratch on your way back from your shopping. You will find detailed information in our park damage guide.
What insurance benefits does comprehensive casco cover?
The full casco is really global protection. In addition to all the benefits covered by partial casco insurance, it also covers damage caused by your fault. For example, if you drive a little too quickly into your garage or if, during a collision, you crash into the fender of your car in addition to the bumper of the other vehicle.
Full or partial casco: we show the differences
How much does partial or full casco insurance cost?
As indicated, the benefits of the comprehensive casco are more extensive than those of the partial casco. The cost of a full casco is therefore in principle higher. The premium for casco insurance depends on various factors such as the model and age of your vehicle as well as the agreed excess: the higher the amount you pay out of pocket in the event of damage, the lower the premium. Another important point concerning the comprehensive casco, your premium increases as soon as you cause a claim. This is where our bonus protection comes into play. If you only have one claim per year, your bonus level will not change.
Full or partial casco: which one to choose?
It is up to you to determine the casco insurance you wish to benefit from. As a general rule, comprehensive casco insurance is more suitable if:
- you own a new or valuable vehicle;
- your vehicle is leased (in this case, full casco is in principle compulsory);
- family members and friends use your vehicle;
- new drivers borrow your car: the risk of accidents is particularly high among young drivers.
Partial casco insurance makes more sense if:
- your vehicle is no longer very young and has no particular value;
- you don’t have a garage that protects your vehicle from hail, martens and broken glass;
- in the event of damage resulting from a collision, you are ready to pay the costs out of pocket.
