Vehicle Insurance & Road Traffic Accidents in Switzerland

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Vehicle Insurance & Road Traffic Accidents in Switzerland

Car insurance is compulsory by law. The owner of a vehicle is liable for damage sustained to a vehicle, or if someone is killed or injured. 

Car insurance in Switzerland is usually expensive although foreign no claims bonus is often valid. Some insurance companies charge foreigners different rates, so it is worth shopping around and comparing prices. 

Insurance must be in place before a car can be registered. 

Types of Car Insurance in Switzerland

There are three types of car insurance in Switzerland:

1. Third-party
2. Fully comprehensive/collision
3. Passenger insurance

Third party insurance (Haftpflichtversicherung)

This must be taken out for every motor vehicle used on the road. It only covers loss and damage suffered by third parties (exception: when the owner is also a passenger in their car). 

Insurance premiums are fixed by insurance companies who generally grant policy holders a no claims bonus.

Fully comprehensive or collision insurance (Vollkaskoversicherung)

This covers damage to the vehicle and is not compulsory. There is restricted cover and fully comprehensive cover.

Passenger insurance (Insassenunfallversicherung)

This insurance is optional. It covers bodily injury to an insured person as a result of an accident that occurred when using the insured vehicle. The advantage of passenger insurance is that the insurer provides benefits irrespective of who is at fault in the event of a collision.

Green Card System

Switzerland is a signatory of the Green Card System. The Green Card is not a required document as it is substituted by the national vehicle licence plates of Switzerland. The Green Card certifies that the motorist has at least the minimum third party insurance cover.

Car Accidents

If involved in or witness to an accident emergency authorities can be contacted with the following numbers:

• Police Tel: 117
• Ambulance Tel: 144

All drivers involved must write a report on the incident and sign it for insurance purposes. The insurer should provide an accident report form (Unfallbericht) when the policy is taken out. This report should be filed with the insurance company within three working days. The report must include the licence plate numbers and contact details of all people involved.

Related Information

The Swiss Council for Accident Prevention provides information on accident prevention in Switzerland.

• Swiss Council for Accident Prevention
  At: Laupenstrasse 11, CH-3008 Berne
  Tel: 031 390 22 22
  Fax: 031 390 22 30
  Website