Partial or fully comprehensive? Which car insurance is right for you?

Choosing the right car insurance can be a real challenge. The question of "partial or fully comprehensive?" is particularly important to many drivers. Both insurance policies offer protection, but they differ in terms of performance and price. In this article you will learn which variant makes sense for you.

What is partial comprehensive insurance?

Partial comprehensive insurance covers damage that is not your fault. These include, in particular:

• Theft of your vehicle or vehicle parts
• Glass breakage, for example due to stone chipping
• Fire and explosion damage
• Wildlife accidents (e.g. with deer or wild boar)
• Natural hazards such as storm, hail, lightning or flooding

An important point: Damage caused by vandalism or self-inflicted accidents is not covered by partial casco.

What is fully comprehensive insurance?

Fully comprehensive insurance includes all the benefits of partial comprehensive insurance and also offers:

• Protection in the event of self-inflicted accidents
• Damage caused by vandalism
• Damage caused by a hit-and-run by third parties if the perpetrator cannot be identified

Comprehensive insurance is particularly worthwhile for new cars or high-quality vehicles, as it also pays for expensive repairs.

When is partial comprehensive insurance worthwhile?

Partial comprehensive insurance is a good choice if your car is older and has a lower resale value. Since the insurance is usually cheaper than fully comprehensive insurance, you can save costs without sacrificing basic protection.

Partial comprehensive insurance is particularly worthwhile if:

• Your car is more than five years old
• You only ride occasionally
• You could easily replace your vehicle yourself
• You are willing to bear the risk of an accident of your own fault

When does fully comprehensive insurance make sense?

Fully comprehensive insurance is recommended for drivers who want to protect themselves all-round. Especially for new cars or expensive vehicles, it can make financial sense.

You should consider comprehensive insurance if:

• Your car is new or no more than three years old
• It is a high-quality or leased vehicle
• You travel a lot and have a higher risk of accidents
• You drive in city traffic, where vandalism is more common

Which insurance is cheaper?

Grundsätzlich ist die Teilkasko günstiger als die Vollkasko. Allerdings hängt die Prämie von mehreren Faktoren ab, darunter:

• Fahrzeugtyp und Alter
• Place of residence and use (e.g. urban or rural area)
• Deductible (the higher the excess, the lower the contributions)
• No-claims discount (relevant for fully comprehensive insurance)

Conclusion: Partial or fully comprehensive – which suits you better?

Whether partial or fully comprehensive insurance is the right choice depends on your vehicle, your driving behaviour and your need for safety. While partial comprehensive insurance offers basic protection at a lower cost, fully comprehensive insurance provides you with comprehensive coverage – especially for new or expensive cars.

Think about how important protection is to you and what financial risk you can bear. This way you can find the right car insurance that suits you and your vehicle.

Read now: Do you need car insurance immediately when buying a car?