Helvetia Schweizerische Versicherungsgesellschaft AG, Directorate for Germany (part of the Helvetia Baloise Group)
Baloise
Baloise is a motor casco insurance for the Germany market with online purchase and 24/7 assistance.
Direct payment
Under the optional WerkstattService Premium module, Baloise settles repair costs directly with its partner workshop, so the policyholder only pays the agreed deductible on site. Outside this module, policyholders generally pay for repairs themselves and are reimbursed by Baloise upon proof of an actual, professional repair invoice or against a replacement-value calculation.
Geographic scope
Nationwide across Germany
Cover applies within the geographical boundaries of Europe and the non-European territories belonging to the European Union, unless otherwise agreed.
Unique selling points
- Coverage can be individually extended with up to six optional add-on modules on top of the base Kfz-Haftpflicht, Teilkasko or Vollkasko cover.
- The optional Verkehrsopferschutz module pays up to EUR 1 million in compensation even when the at-fault driver flees the scene or is uninsured.
- WerkstattService Premium arranges vehicle pickup and repair at a partner workshop with a 6-year repair guarantee, a free replacement car and a premium discount.
- Every coverage level is offered in two depths, a compact Basis and a comprehensive All-in variant, letting customers match protection to their needs.
- An online premium calculator lets customers configure and complete their motor insurance purchase in a self-service flow.
Coverage limits
Own vehicle damage cover
Covered
The insured vehicle and its co-insured parts and accessories are covered against damage, destruction, total loss or theft under either Teilkasko (partial-cover) or Vollkasko (comprehensive-cover) events; overall compensation is capped at the vehicle's new price (Neupreis).
Total loss / destruction / theft settlement
Covered
Baloise pays the replacement value (Wiederbeschaffungswert) less residual value; for passenger cars a new-price (Neupreis) settlement instead applies if the loss occurs within 24 months of first registration under All-in, or within 6 months under Basis (or if repair costs reach at least 80% of the new price within that window).
Repair cost reimbursement
Covered
If the vehicle is damaged but not a total loss, Baloise reimburses the cost of a full and proper repair up to the replacement value, provided this is proven by an invoice; without such proof, or if the repair is incomplete, reimbursement is capped at the replacement value less residual value.
Theft and robbery cover
Covered
Covers theft (including theft without break-in traces, e.g. keyless-entry theft), robbery, extortion-related surrender of the vehicle, and, under specified conditions, embezzlement and unauthorised use; already part of the Teilkasko event set and therefore also included whenever Vollkasko is taken out.
Glass breakage cover
Covered
Covers breakage of the vehicle's glazing (windscreen, rear, roof, side and partition glass, mirror glass, light covers) plus interior cleaning after a breakage claim; no deductible is charged if the damage is repaired rather than the pane replaced. Passenger cars under All-in additionally cover replacement of toll/inspection stickers on the glazing.
Natural hazards cover
Conditional
Storm, hail, lightning strike and flood damage are covered under both tariffs. For passenger cars under the All-in tariff only, cover is extended to earthquake, ground subsidence, landslide, (roof) avalanches and volcanic eruption; these extended perils are explicitly excluded under the Basis tariff.
Vandalism / malicious acts cover
Conditional
Only in Baloise All-in
Malicious or mischievous acts by persons not entitled to use the vehicle are covered only under Vollkasko, not under Teilkasko; the optional Parkschadenschutz module additionally covers minor bodywork damage (e.g. scratches, dents) from such acts on newer vehicles, capped at EUR 500 per claim with a EUR 50 own contribution and available only under the All-in tariff.
Baloise Assistance breakdown and accident help
Optional
Only in Baloise All-in
Optional module (not available under Basis) requiring an existing Voll- or Teilkasko contract; organises and pays for roadside recovery, towing and vehicle recovery, with reimbursement caps of EUR 100 for self-arranged breakdown help and EUR 150 for self-arranged towing, plus further benefits (overnight stay, replacement car, foreign travel assistance) under specified conditions.
Replacement vehicle / rental car cover
€90
Only in Baloise All-in
Not part of base Kasko cover (Nutzungsausfall/Mietfahrzeug costs are explicitly excluded), but available via the optional Baloise Assistance module (rental car up to EUR 90/day, max. 7 days, or up to EUR 630 for claims abroad; extended to EUR 110/day or EUR 770 abroad with the Baustein Reise upgrade) or via the optional WerkstattService Premium module, which provides a free small-class (Kleinwagen) replacement car for the duration of repair at the partner workshop.
Driver/occupant accident cover
€8,000,000
Only in Baloise All-in
Sold as legally separate optional contracts alongside Kasko: the Kfz-Unfallversicherung pays fixed sums for occupant injury/death and invalidity, while Fahrerschutz (unavailable under Basis, minimum driver age 24) pays the driver's actual personal-injury damages as if a third-party liability insurer, up to a maximum of EUR 8 million per case.
Key conditions
Driver age and experience limit
No minimum driver age applies to Teilkasko/Vollkasko cover itself, but related optional modules require a minimum age: Fahrerschutz and Rabattschutz Premium require the driver to be at least 24 years old, while Baloise Start covers young drivers up to 23 years old, including supervised/accompanied driving from age 17.
Repair network requirements
There is no general obligation to use a partner workshop. If the optional WerkstattService Premium module is agreed, the policyholder must let Baloise select the repair shop; repairing elsewhere reduces the payout to 85% of the otherwise eligible repair cost.
Territorial scope
Cover applies within the geographical boundaries of Europe and the non-European territories that belong to the European Union, unless otherwise agreed.
Anti-theft requirements
No specific anti-theft device is required as a precondition for theft cover. Theft (including keyless-entry theft without break-in traces) and unauthorised use are covered; cover is excluded only where the perpetrator had a close relationship with the person entitled to dispose of the vehicle.
Claim notification deadline
Claim events must generally be reported within one week; theft of the vehicle must be reported to Baloise immediately and in text form, and theft, fire or wildlife-collision damage exceeding EUR 500 must be reported to the police without delay.
Deductible rules
An agreed deductible is deducted from the payment for each claim event; no deductible applies when a windscreen chip is repaired rather than the pane replaced; a fixed EUR 500 deductible applies to elemental and glass-breakage claims on motorhomes/caravans; the optional Parkschadenschutz module replaces the normal deductible with a flat EUR 50 own contribution.
Where to buy
Policy specifics
Animal bite consequential damages
Coverage extends to both direct damage from animal bites (e.g., marten bites) and consequential damages such as engine damage resulting from bitten hoses or cables
SourceRepair shop binding options
Not established from the insurer's documents
Different tariff variants (Smart and Premium) offer different repair shop choices: Smart tariff includes mandatory repair shop binding, Premium tariff offers free choice of repair shop
SourceThird-party source, not the insurer's documentSpecial equipment coverage limit
Not established from the insurer's documents
Vehicle special equipment covered up to EUR 2,000; additional sports/leisure equipment and electronics coverage available with limit of EUR 3,500
SourceThird-party source, not the insurer's documentNew replacement value compensation period
Not established from the insurer's documents
Replacement value (new price) compensation is paid for 36 months from first registration or registration change to current holder
SourceThird-party source, not the insurer's documentForeign rental car protection
Not established from the insurer's documents
Rental vehicle protection included for claims outside Germany; Mallorca clause coverage for EU rental cars
SourceThird-party source, not the insurer's documentBattery damage from animal bites
Not established from the insurer's documents
Consequential damages to vehicle battery/accumulator following animal bites covered without limit (applies to electric and hybrid vehicles)
SourceThird-party source, not the insurer's documentWerkstattService Premium repair-shop binding
As an optional add-on to Kasko cover, WerkstattService Premium requires the policyholder to let Baloise select the repair shop for accident/body damage; repairing elsewhere reduces the payout to 85% of the otherwise eligible repair cost (excluding transport costs), while using the partner workshop comes with a 6-year repair guarantee, free pickup/return, vehicle cleaning and a free small-class (Kleinwagen) replacement car.
SourceDeductible reduction for rental/carsharing cars abroad
If the policyholder or their live-in spouse/partner drives a rented or carsharing passenger car and causes a Kasko claim, Baloise reimburses the difference between the higher deductible charged by the rental/carsharing company's own comprehensive insurer and the policyholder's own lower deductible, up to EUR 1,000 per claim; for foreign rentals this applies to stays of up to 6 weeks via the optional Baustein Reise.
SourceElectric/hybrid short-circuit consequential damage limit
For electric and hybrid passenger cars under the optional, no-surcharge Elektroschutz extension (All-in tariff only), consequential short-circuit or overvoltage damage to the battery or wiring, including damage transmitted indirectly via the charging cable, is covered up to EUR 20,000 per claim.
SourceGross negligence penalty reduction
Claims arising from gross negligence are subject to proportional reduction commensurate with severity of fault under modern law; complete denial only for intentional or criminal acts
SourceDeductible tiering
Policyholders can select deductible levels for Casco; common options range from EUR 250 to EUR 1,500 depending on tariff and vehicle
SourceBase vs. comprehensive protection tiers
Helvetia offers each coverage level (Haftpflicht, Teilkasko, Vollkasko) in two tiers: compact 'Basis' and comprehensive 'All-in'; coverage scope varies by tier
SourceClaims notification and police reporting deadline
Certain claims (theft, burglary, animal damage, criminal acts) require immediate police notification; general claim reporting obligation to insurer within specified timeframe
SourceRepair vs. replacement value settlement method
Insureds may elect either direct repair cost reimbursement (post-repair) or fictional/replacement value settlement (without actual repair) with Helvetia's consent
SourceSources
- https://www.check24.de/kfz-versicherung/kfz-versicherer/helvetia/
- https://www.helvetia.com/de/web/de/privatkunden/versicherungen/kfz/faq-kfz-versicherung.c-de.html
- https://www.helvetia.com/de/web/de/ratgeber/fahrzeuge/kfz-versicherung/vollkasko/vollkasko-schadensarten.html
- https://www.helvetia.de/de/privatkunden/kfz.html