Zurich Insurance Company Ltd. (Austria) - Zürich Versicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft
Zurich
Zurich is a motor casco insurance for the Austria market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Within the optional Smart & Easy Repair service, Zurich arranges and settles the repair directly with its partner workshops, so the policyholder does not need to pay upfront for the repair itself.
Geographic scope
Geographical Europe, plus Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey (entire territory)
Cover extends to all states that signed the Multilateral Guarantee Agreement between national insurers' bureaux of the EEA and associated states, plus Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey (entire territory); water transport is covered if loading takes place within this area.
Unique selling points
- No bonus-malus system in casco: the premium stays the same even after an at-fault claim.
- Smart & Easy Repair partner-workshop service saves EUR 100 on the deductible and includes a free replacement car.
- Optional cover for accidents caused by gross negligence is available for just a 3% premium surcharge.
- New cars are protected against financial loss on total loss or theft in the first six months for a small surcharge.
- Declared special equipment is co-insured premium-free up to EUR 4,000.
Coverage limits
Own damage cover
Covered
Covers damage, destruction or loss of the insured vehicle and its permanently fixed parts caused by fire/explosion, theft/robbery/embezzlement/unauthorised use, natural hazards, animal contact, glass breakage, parking damage, malicious acts by outsiders and accidents (sudden external mechanical force); braking/wear/operational damage is excluded.
Total loss benefit
Covered
A total loss exists if the vehicle is destroyed, not recovered within one month of theft, or if repair costs exceed both the gap between replacement value and residual value and 85% of the replacement value; Zurich then pays the replacement value (cost of an equivalent vehicle of the same type/condition) less the residual value.
Partial loss / repair cost benefit
Covered
If no total loss exists, Zurich pays the technically and economically necessary restoration costs (incl. transport of spare parts), capped at the gap between replacement value and residual value; if actual necessary repair costs exceed that cap but stay below 85% of the replacement value, the excess is reimbursed once the policyholder proves the vehicle was fully and properly repaired within one year of the loss.
Theft, robbery and embezzlement
Covered
Covers damage, destruction or loss of the vehicle through theft, embezzlement, robbery or unauthorised use by persons outside the operation; Zurich pays the replacement value if the vehicle is not recovered, and reimburses recovery costs up to 2% of the replacement value without deduction of the deductible if it is later found. Stolen items not recovered within one month of the claim report become the insurer's property.
Glass breakage
Covered
Covers breakage damage regardless of cause to windscreen, side and rear windows, glass roofs, headlights, indicator lenses, tail lights and exterior mirrors on multi-track vehicles.
Natural hazards
Covered
Covers direct impact of lightning, rockfall/rockslide, landslide, avalanches, snow pressure, roof avalanches, falling icicles/ice formations, hail, high water, flooding, mudslides (Muren) and storm (wind over 60 km/h), including objects thrown onto the vehicle by these forces.
Vandalism
Covered
Covers damage, destruction or loss caused by malicious or spiteful acts of persons outside the operation of the vehicle (vandalism); included as standard in the comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover.
Recovery and towing costs
€750
Zurich pays the necessary costs of recovering and transporting the vehicle to the nearest workshop up to EUR 750; this benefit is subsidiary, i.e. paid only insofar as no claim can be made under another contract (e.g. an assistance policy) for the same costs.
Replacement vehicle / loss of use
Excluded
Loss of use and the cost of a replacement vehicle are explicitly excluded from the comprehensive motor insurance; a rental car is only provided free of charge under the separate, optional Smart & Easy Repair partner-workshop service for covered claims.
Driver/occupant accident cover
No limit stated
Driver and occupant accident cover (Insassenunfall) is not part of the comprehensive motor (Vollkasko) conditions; it is offered as a separate accident insurance product under the shared Kasko and Occupant Accident Insurance framework (AKIB).
Key conditions
Driver age and experience limit
The policy conditions do not set a minimum driver age or experience requirement; the driver must simply hold the driving licence prescribed for the vehicle and road used.
Repair network requirements
There is no obligation to use a specific repair shop, but the policyholder must obtain Zurich's consent before starting repairs or disposing of the damaged vehicle; using a Zurich partner workshop via the optional Smart & Easy Repair service reduces the deductible by EUR 100 and provides a free replacement car (fuel excluded), but this does not apply to total losses, glass damage or repairs under EUR 300.
Territorial scope
Cover applies throughout Europe in the geographical sense, and additionally in Morocco, Tunisia and Turkey (entire territory).
Anti-theft requirements
No specific anti-theft device (alarm system, immobiliser) is mandated by the conditions; coverage for personal items left in the vehicle requires that the vehicle was locked.
Claim notification deadline
The insured event, together with any related administrative or court proceedings, must be reported to Zurich in writing within one week; theft, robbery, embezzlement, unauthorised use, fire, explosion and animal-caused damage must additionally be reported to the nearest police station immediately.
Deductible rules
An individually agreed deductible applies per vehicle and per claim (selectable options on the market include EUR 290, 350, 500, 750, 1,000 or 1,500), and can optionally be limited to accident/parking, vandalism and glass claims only.
Where to buy
Documents
Policy specifics
Smart & Easy Repair
Optional repair network service where Zurich arranges repairs at partner workshops and policyholder saves EUR 100 on deductible
SourceGross Negligence Coverage
Optional additional coverage for collision casco claims caused by gross negligence, available for 3% premium surcharge
SourceEnhanced Total Loss Benefit
For new vehicles, Zurich provides higher compensation in case of total loss compared to standard product
SourceOptional Equipment Coverage
Coverage for specified vehicle equipment/accessories up to EUR 4.000 premium-free (beyond that applies to coverage)
SourceNo Bonus-Malus System
Zurich casco insurance does not apply bonus-malus system; premium remains unchanged after collision claims
SourceRepair Workshop Approval Requirement
Repairs must be approved by Zurich before commencement; policyholder should obtain insurer consent
SourceClaims Notification Deadline
All insurance claims must be reported to Zurich within 1 week, with specific notice to police for theft, fire, and criminal damage
SourceDamage Mitigation Obligation
Policyholder must keep damage as low as possible and cooperate in damage assessment and investigation
SourcePre- and Post-Contract Disclosure Obligation
Zurich must be fully and honestly informed about the insured risk before contract conclusion and during contract term; any risk increase must be disclosed
SourcePre-Damage Inspection for Used Vehicles
For vehicles older than 1 year, a pre-damage inspection is required when concluding collision casco coverage
Source