Classification in the car insurance

A policyholder's car insurance rating is sometimes based on more than 50 criteria. The questions in the insurance application have no statistical background, nor are the insurers inquisitive. They are all used to determine the premium for the insured vehicle. The times when horsepower and registration district were the only basics are long gone. What items ultimately lead to the premium determined?

The most important in short

  • In addition to the vehicle and the registration district, there are numerous other criteria that play a role in the classification.
  • Old small cars are not necessarily the cheapest option in the car insurance.
  • Many rating features cannot be influenced by the policyholder, such as occupational group discounts.
  • The classification in the respective no-claims class varies from insurer to insurer.

First, vehicle type and registration district

Who would like itself to buy a car, should compare in the apron once different vehicle types with one another. The idea that a ten-year-old Polo is cheaper than a new Golf can be deceptive.

Every year, the expert committee of the motor vehicle insurers analyzes anew which basic conditions accident causers fulfilled. One of these, for example, is that old Polos, Corsas and similar small cars are more often driven by young people. These cause more accidents than, for example, 45-year-old drivers. Among other things, this affects the premium for the vehicle.

Another important point that the policyholder cannot influence is the frequency of accidents in the registration district. Although the cities of Frankfurt am Main and Offenbach merge seamlessly, car insurance for a car registered in Offenbach is more expensive. Offenbach had the highest accident rate in Hesse for many years in the past.

The option of registering the car at the second home, and thus saving insurance premiums, is also eliminated. Cars may now only be registered at the main residence.

The individual details for the classification in the motor vehicle insurance

In addition to the car and the registration district, the individual specifications of the policyholder play a role. The question about the annual mileage allows a conclusion about the accident probability. Who only 5.000 kilometers per year is less at risk of an accident than a driver with 30.000 kilometers. The same applies to holders of a BahnCard or an annual public transport ticket. Those who drive by rail are less likely to be in a car and therefore less likely to have an accident.

Young people are more accident-prone than older ones. The question about the youngest driver is based on whether the driver is younger than 23 years old. If this is the case and he has not participated in accompanied driving, this can mean a premium surcharge of up to 100 percent. In general, the more people who use the vehicle, the higher the premium will be. Those with children under 15 drive more carefully. At least that is what the statistics say. Consequently, young parents also receive a discount.

Many policyholders are unaware that their premiums increase again with age. The age limit concealed by the insurers is usually 65 years. From the age of 75, a senior citizen surcharge of over 50 percent applies.

Civil servants have always enjoyed an occupational discount. Some insurers have now extended the occupational group discount to other occupations as well. Civil servants are said to be more careful with things than other people. Car insurance for civil servants is therefore often cheaper.

Statistically, this also applies to homeowners. Since homeowners statistically cause fewer accidents than renters, there is a discount here as well.

Anyone who has completed a driver safety training course has at least the theoretical prerequisite of being more likely to avoid an accident. Against this background, proof of such training is often also rewarded with a premium discount.

The likelihood of a car being stolen at night depends heavily on the parking lot. Insurance cover is cheapest if the vehicle is parked in a single or double garage. Carports and parking on the lot also reduce premiums, in contrast to "free parking" on the street.

Other criteria for the classification

Whether the policyholder prefers the free choice of repair shop after an accident or is willing to go to a repair shop specified by the insurer is another criterion that influences the premium. The scope of insurance coverage also plays a role, of course, as does the method of payment.

Classification in the no-claims class

In addition to the classification in the tariff itself, there is, as is well known, the classification in the damage-free class, the SF class, in motor vehicle insurance. This is based, on the one hand, on the date the driving license was acquired, whether it is the first vehicle or a second vehicle and on the number of accidents in the previous year.

Those who have never owned a car and have just acquired a driver's license, usually start with SF class 0. Those who have already had a driver's license for at least three years, but only then insure their first car, usually start with SF ½ or SF 1. The classification of second cars also varies from insurer to insurer.

If a driver has had a driver's license for many years but has never owned a car, there is the option of transferring the discount within the family. If grandpa drove accident-free for 30 years, he has SF class 30. If the grandson has had his driver's license for ten years, he can take over the grandfather's contract, at least with SF 10. The number of SF classes can determine each insurer itself. Until a few years ago, the highest level was SF 25, but today, classifications up to SF 35 are possible.

How high the classification in the motor vehicle insurance after an accident looks, depends on the insurance conditions of the respective insurer.

Classification in the SF class according to company car use

Many a user of a company car experiences a rude awakening after termination of employment. He retires at 65 after driving a company car for 30 years, leaving his first car to call his own. The classification? SF ½ or SF 1.

Only if it was agreed in the contract with the employer that the employee can take the no-claims bonus with him when leaving the employment, the classification with the current SF class is possible.

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