Comprehensive Motor Insurance (Kaskoversicherung)
Comprehensive motor insurance covers damage to the policyholder's own vehicle and is divided into partial and fully comprehensive cover, which differ in the scope of insured perils.
Comparison profile
- Trigger
- Named perils
- Insured interest
- The policyholder's economic interest in the substance and value of their own motor vehicle against damage, destruction, or loss.
- Rating basis
- Vehicle value and model/type class, Regional risk class, Chosen deductible level, No-claims discount (bonus-malus), Annual mileage
- Typical limits
- Sum insured corresponds to the vehicle's current market value (new value in the first year), without a separate monetary cap beyond that value.
- Typical deductibles
- Contractually agreed per-claim deductible chosen by the policyholder, typically higher for own-fault collision damage under fully comprehensive cover than for the partial comprehensive perils.
- Target segments
- Private, SME, Fleet operators
Insured events
- Theft and attempted theft
- Fire and explosion
- Storm, hail, and other natural hazards
- Glass breakage and collision with animals
- Own-fault accident damage and vandalism by unknown third parties (fully comprehensive cover only)
Key exclusions
- Normal wear and tear and gradual deterioration
- Intentional damage by the policyholder or authorised drivers
- Use in races or speed trials
- Damage while driving without a valid licence or under the influence
- War and confiscation
Concept
Comprehensive motor insurance is the voluntary supplementary cover within motor insurance that covers damage to the policyholder’s own vehicle – unlike compulsory motor liability insurance, which only settles claims brought by third parties.
Partial and Fully Comprehensive Cover
Partial comprehensive cover covers a defined list of perils such as theft, fire, explosion, storm, hail, glass breakage, and damage caused by collision with animals. Fully comprehensive cover extends this scope to include self-caused accident damage and vandalism by unknown third parties, representing the most extensive form of comprehensive cover.
Deductible and Premium Differentiation
Comprehensive motor policies are regularly written with a contractually agreed deductible, which significantly influences the premium amount; the premium is also frequently individualized using a no-claims discount system (bonus-malus), which rewards the policyholder’s claims-free driving history.
Comparison and delineation
Comprehensive motor insurance covers the policyholder’s own vehicle and is voluntary, unlike motor third-party liability insurance, which is compulsory and settles only third-party claims; the two covers are near-universally purchased together, since liability cover leaves own-damage risk entirely uninsured. Comprehensive cover is regularly complemented by passenger accident insurance, which protects the driver and passengers against bodily injury regardless of fault – a risk that comprehensive motor insurance, as a property cover, does not address.