Helvetia Baloise Holding AG has introduced a new auto insurance product in Switzerland that bridges the gap between third-party and fully comprehensive coverage by including total-loss protection after self-inflicted collisions while excluding smaller collision damage.
The ‘Totalschadenkasko’ policy retains all third-party coverage—including hail, theft, glass breakage and animal damage—while adding total-loss reimbursement for self-inflicted crashes. Smaller collision repairs remain excluded. The product is designed for owners of older vehicles whose market value has declined to the point where full collision insurance is no longer cost-effective but who still seek protection against the most severe financial loss.
Initial sales data from March 27 to July 31, 2026, show that nearly nine in ten policies were purchased by private individuals. The median insured vehicle age is approximately ten years, with an original list price of about 44,000 Swiss francs. Four-fifths of policies cover passenger cars, with motorcycles accounting for the remainder. Helvetia did not conduct an active marketing campaign during the test phase, relying instead on organic demand to validate the product’s market fit.
Premium comparisons for five typical midsize cars aged five to nine years indicate the Totalschadenkasko averages roughly 33% cheaper than full collision coverage, translating to annual savings ranging from 100 to several hundred francs depending on vehicle and profile. The insurer emphasized that the policy is positioned as a transitional solution for vehicles beyond their fourth year of operation, complementing existing third-party coverage rather than replacing it entirely.
The Totalschadenkasko is currently available through Helvetia’s advisory channels and will be accessible online starting September 19, 2026, via helvetia.ch. The product targets vehicles from their fourth year of service onward and is limited to Swiss customers. Helvetia noted that the early sales data remain statistically limited due to the product’s recent launch, cautioning against overinterpretation of granular trends.
Chrys Fischbacher, Head of Motor Vehicle Product Management at Helvetia, stated the insurer is the only provider in Switzerland offering this specific coverage structure. The company views the product as a response to growing demand among owners of older used vehicles seeking a balanced risk-management solution amid rising insurance costs.
