Zürich Beteiligungs-Aktiengesellschaft (Deutschland) / Zurich Insurance Europe AG
Zurich
Zurich is a motor casco insurance for the Germany market with online purchase and limited assistance availability.
Direct payment
Zurich offers direct settlement with its partner workshop network (Reparatur- und Mobilitätsservice): if the policyholder uses a workshop selected by Zurich, repair costs are settled directly with the workshop rather than reimbursed to the customer.
Geographic scope
Europe and non-European EU territories
Cover applies within the geographical borders of Europe and the non-European territories forming part of the European Union.
Unique selling points
- The Premium tariff pays new/purchase-price compensation for up to 36 months after first registration (extendable to 48 months), far beyond the 12-month period offered in Top.
- Elektro Plus covers EV/hybrid battery damage from charging faults, software manipulation and overvoltage up to EUR 20,000 each, plus the home wallbox and mobile chargers.
- Premium removes the cap on tuning, special paintwork and custom conversions that other insurers typically limit to a few thousand euros.
- Repairs at Zurich's partner workshops in Top and Premium include a free replacement vehicle for the repair period and a workshop guarantee on all repair work.
- Zurich waives the defence of gross negligence in both third-party and comprehensive casco, still paying out except in cases of intoxicated driving or grossly negligent enabling of theft.
Coverage limits
Own vehicle damage cover (Kasko)
Covered
Covers damage, destruction, total loss or loss of the insured vehicle under third-party (Teilkasko) or comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover; compensation is capped at the vehicle's replacement/new price. In the Basis tariff the maximum indemnity is additionally capped at an absolute EUR 100,000 gross; Top and Premium have no absolute cap beyond the vehicle's new price.
Total loss / new-price compensation
Covered
Total loss, destruction or theft-related loss is settled at replacement value less residual value. A new-price/purchase-price indemnity additionally applies within a set period from first registration: not available in Basis; 12 months in Top (extendable to 24 months with the optional 'Neu-/Kaufpreisentschädigung – Erweiterung' add-on); 36 months in Premium (extendable to 48 months with the same add-on).
Partial damage / repair cost cover
Covered
Repair costs are paid up to the replacement value of the vehicle. A betterment ('new-for-old') deduction on tyres, battery and paintwork applies in the Basis tariff for vehicles up to 4 years old; Top and Premium waive this deduction entirely.
Theft, robbery and unauthorized use
Covered
Covers theft, robbery, robbery-related extortion, embezzlement (under conditions) and unauthorized use of the vehicle. Top and Premium additionally cover vandalism inside the vehicle by unauthorised third parties connected to such events; this extension is not included in Basis.
Glass breakage
Covered
Covers breakage of the vehicle's glazing (windscreen, rear, roof, side and partition glass, mirror glass and light covers); consequential damage is excluded. The cost of a valid particulate/eco sticker is reimbursed if the windscreen must be replaced. Identical across Basis, Top and Premium.
Natural hazards
Covered
Basis covers storm, hail, lightning and flood only. Top and Premium extend cover to heavy rain, snow/roof avalanches, landslide, earthquake, land subsidence and volcanic eruption.
Vandalism (malicious acts)
Conditional
Malicious or spiteful acts by unauthorised third parties are covered only under comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover; not available where only third-party fire/theft (Teilkasko) cover has been chosen.
Roadside assistance (Kfz-Schutzbrief)
Optional
Optional assistance package covering breakdown/accident recovery and towing (up to EUR 300 each if self-organised), vehicle storage, and – from 50 km from home – continued/return travel, overnight stays (up to EUR 100/night, max EUR 600/day) and rental cars (up to EUR 60/day for up to 7 days, up to EUR 420 abroad), plus additional assistance abroad (parts shipment, vehicle transport, repatriation).
Replacement vehicle allowance (Ersatzwagenschutz)
€1,000
Only in Top, Premium
Optional add-on (Top and Premium only, not available in Basis) paying a daily cash allowance for a replacement vehicle, scaled by engine power: EUR 50/day (≤55 kW), EUR 75/day (55–90 kW), EUR 85/day (91–125 kW), EUR 100/day (>125 kW), capped at EUR 1,000; up to 20 days for total loss/theft, up to 10 days for repairable damage (glass breakage excluded).
Driver / occupant accident cover
Optional
Two related covers exist: (1) Kraftfahrzeug-Insassen-Unfallversicherung, a separate optional contract paying individually agreed lump sums for invalidity, death and hospital daily allowance to vehicle occupants (sums shown on the policy schedule); (2) Fahrerschutzversicherung (Top/Premium only), covering the at-fault driver's own bodily injury, e.g. pain-and-suffering up to EUR 200,000, loss of earnings up to EUR 10,000/month, home/vehicle/workplace conversion up to EUR 250,000, and a EUR 5,000 funeral-cost lump sum.
Key conditions
Driver age and experience limit
No minimum age is imposed specifically to purchase casco cover, but the vehicle may only be driven by a person holding a valid driving licence (D.1.3); a licence held for at least 3 years can improve the no-claims starting class, and a Rabattschutz add-on (where offered) requires all permitted drivers to be at least 23 years old.
Repair network requirements
For claims from accident, vandalism, theft of parts, natural hazards, animal collision or glass breakage in Germany, the policyholder must have the repair carried out (or the repair cost assessed) at a workshop selected and arranged by Zurich (Reparatur- und Mobilitätsservice); using a non-partner workshop without justification leads to only partial cost reimbursement. Top and Premium customers additionally receive a free replacement vehicle for the repair period and their vehicle back cleaned; a 'Freie Werkstattwahl' add-on can be purchased to opt out of the workshop tie-in.
Territorial scope
Cover applies within the geographical borders of Europe and the non-European territories that form part of the European Union.
Anti-theft requirements
No specific anti-theft device (e.g. alarm or tracker) is mandated as a condition of theft cover. Cover is excluded, however, where a person entrusted with the vehicle's care (e.g. workshop or hotel staff) uses it outside that authorisation, or where the person acting is in a close relationship with the policyholder (e.g. employee, family or household member).
Claim notification deadline
Generally, any claim event must be reported within one week (E.1.1). Vehicle theft must be reported immediately and in text form (E.3.1); for casco claims covered by the workshop-network service (accident, vandalism, parts theft, natural hazards, animal collision, glass breakage) the policyholder must contact Zurich immediately by telephone.
Deductible rules
An individually agreed excess (Selbstbeteiligung) is deducted from every claim payment. Zurich waives the agreed Teilkasko excess for windscreen chip repairs (without replacement) at a partner workshop. In the Basis tariff an additional EUR 500 excess applies per claim for collisions with game animals (Haarwild); Top and Premium, which cover collisions with animals of any kind, do not apply this extra excess.
Where to buy
Documents
Consumer information for motor insurance – Basis & Top tariff
Terms & conditions
Consumer information for motor insurance – Standard, Commercial & Oldtimer tariff
Terms & conditions
Motor insurance product page
Other document
Comprehensive vs third-party casco comparison
Table of benefits
Third-party casco (Teilkasko) page
Other document
Policy specifics
Cyber protection for electric vehicles
Protection against cyber attacks affecting vehicle software and electronics in electric vehicles
SourceNew price compensation
Compensation based on the vehicle's new purchase price instead of market value in case of total loss
SourceSpecial equipment coverage
Insurance of aftermarket accessories and special equipment beyond standard factory components
SourceAnimal bite coverage with follow-up damage
Comprehensive coverage for vehicle damage caused by animal bites and resulting consequential damage
SourcePartner workshop repair network
Vehicle repair through Zurich partner workshops with conditional benefits
SourceRepair cost approval requirement
Insurer must approve repair costs before work begins in certain claim situations
SourceSelf-participation (deductible) options
Policyholder selectable deductible amount applied to each claim
Source