Every car needs motor vehicle liability insurance, otherwise it will not be registered. In the event of a self-inflicted accident, however, the liability insurance only pays for the damages of the other party. To compensate for damage to your own car, you also need comprehensive insurance. But what are the important benefits of car insurance?? Here you will find all the answers: what is important in the partial cover, what in the fully comprehensive insurance? What are the benefits of no-claims classes?? How to save money on car insurance?
- Motor insurance: the most important facts in brief
- Motor vehicle liability, partial cover, fully comprehensive insurance
- No-claims classes – save a lot of money
- These benefits of motor vehicle insurance are important
- This is how you can save money on car insurance
- Type classes and regional classes
- Compare prices, change and save
Ten misconceptions about car insurance
Many people have the wrong idea about car insurance. In our print magazine finanztest, we have corrected ten misconceptions. You can download the article from finanztest 3/2021 here as a
Motor insurance: the most important facts in brief
Motor insurance – in a nutshell
Motor vehicle liability, partial cover, fully comprehensive insurance
the most important thing is motor vehicle liability insurance. It is required by law. That’s why insurers have to accept every customer – at least at the statutory conditions and minimum amounts. You can only reject customers in exceptional cases, for example if someone has not paid the premium in the past, if the insurer only insures selected occupational groups such as civil servants, or if it only has its business area in a certain region and the customer lives somewhere else. If the driver causes an accident, the motor vehicle liability insurance covers the damages suffered by the other road user – regardless of whether this is a pedestrian, a car driver or a cyclist. It also pays for property damage to other people’s objects, such as a property wall that has been hit by a car. Motor vehicle liability insurance does not pay for the repair of your own car. Around 13 percent of cars in germany are only covered by third-party liability insurance. Mostly older cars of low value.
Tip: stiftung warentest’s car insurance comparison determines the best car insurance for you individually.
Partial cover – in the event of glass breakage and storms
A further 29 percent of car owners also take out partial casco insurance. On average, this costs around 90 euros extra in addition to vehicle liability insurance. Partial coverage pays out in the event of theft – if the car is stolen or just individual parts of it, as well as in the event of burglary. It also covers glass breakage, for example if a crack makes the windshield unusable.
It also covers damage caused by storms, hail, floods and lightning strikes. In the case of storm damage, however, the insurance only takes effect from wind force 8. Damage caused by fire and explosion is also covered, as is short-circuit damage to the wiring. In addition, there are wildlife accidents and marten bites, and in some tariffs also the consequences of snow and roof avalanches. So it’s mainly about damage that the driver can’t influence through his driving style. For this reason, there are no no-claims classes in partially comprehensive insurance and thus no price reductions after accident-free years – but there is also no downgrading in the event of claims.
Partial cover – marten bite and wildlife accidents
Many tariffs only insure direct damage caused by marten bites. Replacing a bitten-through cable, however, is usually not really expensive. Consequential damage is much worse: a defective cooling hose can cause major engine damage. That’s why customers should make sure that consequential damage is also covered when they take out partial casco insurance.
A similar trap lurks with wildlife accidents: many insurers limit this to hairy game in the small print. Accidents with pheasants, a runaway dog or a runaway cow are not covered. It is better if the insurance conditions state "all animals" or at least "all vertebrates".
Tip: customers can save on the price of partial casco by taking out a deductible policy. We recommend an amount of 150 euros. Even higher deductibles reduce the price of the policy only slightly.
Comprehensive insurance – useful for expensive cars
fully comprehensive insurance automatically includes partial casco – supplemented by protection in the event of self-inflicted accidents: if you have an accident, fully comprehensive insurance will pay for the repair of your own car. It also covers vandalism, for example if unknown persons scratch the paintwork or break off the antenna. Fully comprehensive insurance also applies if the customer has been involved in an accident through no fault of his own and the person who caused the accident commits a hit-and-run act. In addition, it can save nerves in the case of accidents abroad, if there is a dispute with the foreign insurance (further details in the special accident abroad).
Those affected can then initially make use of their fully comprehensive insurance. Then the discount is downgraded, but if later the opposing insurance pays, the domestic insurer reverses this. The fully comprehensive insurance costs on average about 325 euros per year. it is advisable for expensive cars. Most fully comprehensive cars are worth 15,000 euros and more. We consider a deductible of 300 euros to be reasonable.
No-claims classes – save a lot of money
The no-claims classes are important in car insurance. If you have no accidents, you move up to a higher SF class every year. In most cases, the bill will then be lower. the insurers assign a percentage to each class. This is the portion of the basic premium that the customer actually pays. For example, after 15 accident-free years, you are usually classified in SF 15. For many insurers, this corresponds to a premium rate of 30 percent. The customer therefore pays less than one-third of the basic premium. In practice, this has the effect of a discount for certain age groups: older drivers in particular are in the favorable SF classes.
Some insurers go up to SF 50 or 60
Some insurers even extend the discount scale for older drivers. It usually covers up to no-claims class 35. It is reached after 35 accident-free years, after that it’s over. In many tariffs, only 20 percent of the basic premium is then due – a considerable discount. Those who then continue without an accident are not classified any better. But some companies go further up to SF 50, verti even up to SF 60. More on this topic in our special no-claims bonus classes.
Tip: If the policy becomes much more expensive after a downgrade, it can be particularly worthwhile to change your car insurer at the end of the year. the stiftung warentest car insurance comparison shows you favorable policies.
Downgrading after the accident
If you cause an accident, you will be downgraded – often by several levels. The no-claims bonus then deteriorates significantly. The bill becomes more expensive not only in the following year, but also in the years thereafter. Depending on the tariff, this can amount to several thousand euros. Often, it is the particularly inexpensive rates that are downgraded drastically after an accident (for details, see the special so long insurers). However, the downgrading only applies to motor vehicle liability insurance and fully comprehensive insurance – not to partially comprehensive insurance. It does not have SF classes, because it primarily insures damage that the customer cannot influence through his or her driving, such as theft or hail.
Tip: if you have caused a car accident, you can use our free downgrading calculator. This allows them to quickly find out whether they would be better off paying for a claim themselves after a crash and thus avoid an uneconomical downgrade. After an accident, it is also important not to rely blindly on the settlement practice of the vehicle insurance company. In our special on claims settlement after a car accident, we look at how some companies cheat when it comes to settling claims.
Accident victims have the right to a free lawyer and surveyor
If you are involved in an accident through no fault of your own, you can hire a lawyer at the expense of the person who caused the accident, regardless of how expensive the damage is. The accident victim is also allowed to hire his or her own expert witness. However, a de minimis limit applies here: as a rule, the damage must be more than around 1,000 euros. More about this can be found in our special own assessor for claims settlement.
Independent. Objective. Incorruptible.
these car insurance benefits are important
The scope of a car insurance policy can vary depending on the provider and rate. You can find out how much they cost with the stiftung warentest car insurance comparison by selecting or deselecting the various benefits there. Here are the most important benefits of car insurance and our tips:
Coverage amount. This is important in motor liability insurance. For little extra charge, it offers higher coverage than the legal requirements. Choose 50 million euros, better yet 100 million euros. Claims this high are rare, but they do happen from time to time. For personal injury, however, the amount of coverage per injured person is lower, often twelve or 15 million euros.
rental car. This is also an addition to the motor vehicle liability insurance policy. For rental cars abroad, the statutory coverage amounts are low in some vacation countries. With this add-on, your own motor vehicle liability insurance increases the coverage for the borrowed car. read more in the specials rental car abroad and no hassle with the rental car.
Foreign damage cover. Also a supplement to motor vehicle liability insurance. If the customer is involved in an accident abroad through no fault of his own, his own vehicle liability insurance settles the claim with the foreign company. This saves nerves.
Gross negligence. This clause is important in both partial and fully comprehensive vehicle insurance: if the driver has contributed to the damage through gross negligence, partial and fully comprehensive insurance companies may reduce or completely cancel their compensation. Many tariffs offer the "waiver of the objection of gross negligence" as an extra feature. Then you pay even if there is a crash because the customer ran a red light, for example.
New value compensation. In partial and fully comprehensive insurance, customers should pay attention to this clause: new cars in particular lose value quickly, often just weeks after purchase. If you have an accident, you will receive correspondingly less from the partial or fully comprehensive motor vehicle insurance. Therefore, the contract should provide for compensation at replacement value. The period should be at least twelve months. The same applies to used cars. Then the insurer will reimburse the purchase price.
Consequential damages. Simple partial cover tariffs often only insure direct damage, for example the replacement of a hose bitten through by martens. Consequential damages are much more expensive. Often the driver does not even notice the leaking radiator hose at first. This can lead to engine failure. Consequential damage should also be insured.
Wild. Many rates for partial comprehensive car insurance only pay out for accidents involving wild animals – for example, deer, roe deer and wild boar. Accidents with a runaway cow or dog do not count as consequential damages. It is better if the contract says "all animals". How best to behave in the event of a wildlife accident can be found in the special wildlife accidents section.
Repurchase. With the "damage repurchase" clause, the customer has six, often twelve months to pay for the damage out of his own pocket – even if the insurer has already settled the claim. Then the no-claims bonus is not downgraded.
Driver protection. This is an independent supplement to the motor vehicle insurance. If there are injuries in a car accident, the motor vehicle liability insurance of the person who caused the accident pays out. It provides, for example, compensation for pain and suffering and loss of earnings. But motor liability only covers the costs of the accident victim – not those of the person who caused the accident, who was at the wheel. He himself gets nothing. In this case, a driver protection policy can help. You can read more about this in the special driver protection.
This is how you can save money on car insurance
One thing in advance: you can usually save a lot by changing provider. Good and inexpensive policies are listed in the car insurance comparison by stiftung warentest. But even without a change, there are a number of ways to save:
Deductible. We think it makes sense to have a deductible in the comprehensive insurance. Then the customer has to pay the damage up to this amount out of his own pocket. We recommend a deductible of 150 euros for partially comprehensive insurance and 300 euros for fully comprehensive insurance (including 150 euros for partially comprehensive). Higher premiums hardly bring any premium advantage. Savings: for the 150 euro deductible usually 10 to 30 percent, for the 300 euro up to 35 percent.
Payment date. Instead of paying quarterly or semi-annual installments, it is more economical to transfer the entire annual bill at once. Savings: 5 to 10 percent.
Annual kilometers. Estimating the miles you expect to drive as accurately as possible is worthwhile. If there are too many kilometers on the speedometer towards the end of the year, it is possible to register them subsequently. Savings: at 15,000 km instead of 20,000 km on average 10 to 15 percent. More kilometers driven should be reported. Some insurers then recalculate the underpaid premium. Many car insurance companies ask for the mileage every few years. What happens if you cheat on your mileage is explained in the special What happens if you cheat?.
Driver circle. If only the car owner and the partner drive the car, it is much cheaper than an unlimited number of drivers. But then only these two people are allowed to drive. If someone else drives, the insurance coverage does not expire. In fact, the car insurance company may then demand a premium surcharge. Some take an additional penalty, for example a half or full annual premium. Savings: often around 30 to 40 percent compared to unlimited drivers. If, despite the limited number of drivers, someone else is allowed to drive the vehicle, many insurers will allow this at no extra charge. However, the customer must declare this beforehand. more about this in the special if the driver is not registered.
Workshop bond. In the case of tariffs with fixed repair shops, the customer undertakes to drive to only one of the repair shops recommended by the vehicle insurance company after an accident. Many suppliers have a dense network of partner companies that offer them favorable prices. Workshop rates are only available in comprehensive policies. For other repairs, inspections or after an accident for which the customer was not at fault (which is settled by the other party’s vehicle insurance), the customer can choose the repair shop. Savings: often up to 20 percent.
Telematics. With these special rates, a small device measures driving behavior. It is permanently installed or plugged into the cigarette lighter. Some car insurance companies work with apps that you download to your phone instead. They register full braking, cavalier starts, fast curves, too high speed and more. Careful drivers receive a discount. However, even with the highest discount, some telematics tariffs are more expensive than low-cost standard tariffs from other providers. However, telematics can be a good tip for novice drivers. Savings: often 10 to 30 percent compared to the standard rate offered by the same insurer. More on telematics rates in the special telematics in car insurance section.
Professional discount. Some car insurance companies give discounts to certain professional groups, especially civil servants and public sector employees, but also to employees of companies that have the same status, for example foundations. Savings: often around 5 percent.
garage. If you park in a garage instead of on the side of the road, you should declare it. The car does not always have to be there. Exceptions are allowed, for example when visiting friends. Savings: around 7 percent.
Property owners. If you live in your own house or apartment, you often get a discount. Savings: often around 10 percent.
Type class. If you are still thinking about which car to buy, pay attention to the type class. Insurers classify all car models according to common damage and repair costs. In automobile liability insurance, there are 16 type classes ranging from 10 to 25; in partial coverage, they range from 10 to 33; in fully comprehensive, from 10 to 34. the higher the type class, the more expensive the insurance. The type class to which a particular car is assigned can be found on the type class website.De. Often the motorization makes a decisive difference for the same car model. Savings: often 5 to 15 percent for the same model but with a different motorization.
Rail riders. Discounts for owners of a bahncard or a monthly pass for local transport are rare, but they are still. Savings: up to 7 percent.
first owner. Some car insurance companies give a discount to first-time car owners. They assume that buyers of a new car will drive their car particularly carefully.
Year of construction. For new cars or young used cars there are sometimes additional discounts.
children. Those who care for underage children drive more carefully, some car insurance companies believe. They give a discount if children live in the household.
Electric cars. Some car insurance companies offer discounts for owners of electric cars, both for pure electric cars and for hybrid models.
Eco. some car insurance companies grant a discount for a particularly fuel-efficient car.
Safety training. Participation in a driver safety training course can result in a price reduction for some vehicle insurance companies.
Change. A price saving of often well over 100 euros can be made by changing insurers. Even those who have been with a low-cost car insurance company for years can save a lot of money as a new customer with another company, especially during the changeover season in october and november. Favorable rates named car insurance comparison of the foundation warentest.
Saving tips for novice drivers
Motor vehicle insurance is particularly expensive for new drivers. It is often worth registering your first car as a second car for your parents. After a few years, the beginner can have the discount transferred to him/herself. Taking out your first own policy with your parents’ insurer can also save you money. Further savings tips for novice drivers
Saving tips for seniors
Older drivers are also asked to pay a lot by their car insurance companies. Although they benefit from favorable no-claims classes, which acts as an age classification. But from the age of 60, the premiums for seniors nevertheless increase. Car insurance statistics show that the risk of accidents increases from this age onwards – but only for minor metal damage. serious accidents involving senior citizens are rare. Why this is so and what those affected can do, we explain in the special how older drivers are asked to pay up.
Type classes and regional classes
The region in which car owners live has a strong influence on the price. Motor vehicle insurance companies classify the more than 400 registration districts into regional classes one – depending on the number of claims in the past five years. There are 12 classes of motor vehicle liability insurance, 16 classes of partially comprehensive insurance and 9 classes of fully comprehensive insurance. The regional class applicable at the customer’s location is indicated in the insurer’s invoice and on the regional class page.De. This classification is based on the frequency of accidents in the respective registration district, as well as road conditions and the number of registered cars. In comprehensive insurance, theft, storm and hail damage or the number of wildlife accidents are also included. The price differences can be considerable depending on the region.
Tip: stiftung warentest’s car insurance comparison determines the best car insurance for you individually.
Type class – it depends on the model
It also depends on the car model. Some types of cars are often involved in accidents or are particularly expensive to repair. Car insurance companies look at the around 26,000 different models on the road for damage and repair costs over the past three years. Then the cars are divided into type classes. In motor vehicle liability insurance, there are 16 type classes from 10 to 25, in partially comprehensive 24 type classes from 10 to 33, in fully comprehensive 25 type classes from 10 to 34. A look at the type class is particularly advisable for car buyers. Often there are big differences for the same car model, depending on the motorization. Often the diesel variants are more expensive than the petrol ones. You can find out which type class applies under type class.De.
Lots of info in the FAQ car insurance
Our FAQ on car insurance answers many other questions about car policies. For example, does car insurance with discount protection make sense?? And what is the difference to the discount saver?? Are direct insurers worse at settling claims?? Can grandparents transfer their no-claims bonus to grandchildren when they hand over their car?? What about special rates for the disabled?? What is a garage rate??
Compare prices, change and save
our individual price comparison for car insurance helps you
There is a lot of competition in the car insurance market. Especially in the fall, providers try to steal customers from each other – especially by lowering prices for new customers. It is therefore worthwhile every year to compare prices anew. The stiftung warentest car insurance comparison will help you. It’s not hard to change your car insurer. What you have to pay attention to, we explain here step by step.
Step 1: cancel car insurance
Cancel on time. Most contracts run until 31. December and are then automatically extended by one year. Then the termination letter must be sent by 30. Be with the insurer in November. The situation is different for the few contracts that always end during the year on the date on which the insurance was taken out. The notice period expires one month before this date. An informal letter is sufficient: "I hereby give notice of cancellation."don’t forget: signature, contract number and license plate number. Also ask for a confirmation of cancellation for evidence purposes. If you don’t get one, send it again, this time by registered mail. The cancellation of a car insurance policy is effective even without written confirmation (OLG braunschweig, az. 11 U 103/18).
Missed deadline? Usually the annual bill comes in october or november. Sometimes, however, only in december. If you wait this long, you will have missed the cancellation deadline and will be tied to the car insurance for another year. If you have not received your annual invoice by mid-November at the latest, you should cancel before then. If it turns out later that the previous car insurance is the cheapest after all, you can simply take out a new policy there. There is often even a special discount for new customers.
Tickling out a loyalty bonus. If you don’t want to go to the trouble of changing, you can also try calling your car insurance provider. It is often enough to say that you have a cheaper offer elsewhere and are thinking of changing – and some administrators will conjure up a loyalty bonus or something similar.
Your rights. If your car insurance company has increased the premium, you can give extraordinary notice of termination with a period of notice of one month from receipt of the invoice – i.e. even after 30 days. November. As a rule, there is a comparative premium in the annual invoice. This is the amount you would have had to pay if the new no-claims bonus had already applied in the previous year. If the comparative premium is lower than the new premium, the price has been raised. Look closely: some car insurance companies hide the comparative premium in the small print.
Step 2: Determine services
Check your insurance coverage. For old cars of low value, motor liability insurance is sufficient. For well-maintained used cars, partial comprehensive insurance should be added to cover at least weather damage, glass breakage and theft. fully comprehensive insurance makes sense for expensive cars. Individual benefits are also important, such as the insurer’s waiver of the objection of gross negligence, extension of game damage coverage to all animals (not just furred game), insurance of consequential damage after marten bites, and, in the case of new cars, compensation for replacement value over at least twelve months.
Step 3: compare prices with car insurance comparison
The price pressure on the market for car insurance is enormous. Around 70 companies offer policies. Often the price depends on individual characteristics such as age, profession, place of residence, annual mileage, car model. Therefore, even a tariff that is otherwise rather favorable can be expensive in individual cases. Only an individual price comparison can help. stiftung warentest offers you an independent comparison of motor vehicle insurance premiums. We determine for you individually the policies that fit and with which you can save most.
Step 4: sign a new contract
then it is time to take out a new contract. You can write to the insurer by mail and ask for a quote or go to a branch office. It is particularly easy to take out insurance via the internet. On the screen, the car insurance companies immediately quote the price for the new contract. The customer receives the policy a few days later by mail.
compulsory acceptance in motor liability insurance, not in comprehensive insurance
This is the pattern most car owners can follow. But it can be different for particularly expensive cars. In motor vehicle liability insurance, acceptance is compulsory. Insurers have to take every customer, with a few exceptions (see above). But not in comprehensive insurance, where you can reject claims. In practice, this is very rare. But this can happen with particularly expensive cars. Some car insurance companies do not offer comprehensive cover for cars worth more than 60,000 euros, or they charge extra. Others are based not on price, but on type class. Owners of such cars should first look for a new contract and only then cancel their current policy.