Report a Comprehensive (Vollkasko) Car Insurance ClaimProcess, deadlines and worth-it check 2026
Step by step through a claim case: how to document the comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim correctly, report it on time and check beforehand whether filing is even worth it given the no-claims downgrade.
The key points at a glance
- Report the claim within one week under the AKB Musterbedingungen (model terms), and a theft without undue delay. Your own specific policy conditions are always what matters.
- A police report is usual above all for theft, fire and a hit-and-run. For vandalism it is strongly advised, but not in every case a mandatory statutory precondition.
- A reported comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim leads to a no-claims downgrade. Check beforehand whether the reimbursement really exceeds the multi-year extra premiums.
- Repair only after approval: obtain the insurer’s instructions before repairing. Whether comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover is even worth it for you is covered in our comprehensive cover guide.
Important German terms
A stone chip, scratched paint in the car park or a self-inflicted maneuvering scrape: if comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover is to kick in, the right process matters. Anyone who misses deadlines or repairs too hastily risks the insurer cutting the payout.
This page shows you how to document a comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim correctly, report it on time and which duties apply. Above all: how to check beforehand whether filing even pays off. If your question is the fundamental one of whether comprehensive cover is worth it, the general guide is the better starting point.
Step by step in a claim case
Secure the scene and document everything
First secure the spot, then photograph the damage thoroughly: an overview, close-ups and the surroundings. Note the date, time and place. With other vehicles involved, exchange number plates and contact details, and note any witnesses.
For theft, vandalism or hit-and-run, involve the police
For theft, deliberate damage or an unknown culprit, file a report and keep the case number. It is your proof toward the insurer later. For pure own damage with no third party involved, no report is needed.
Report the claim to your insurer on time
Under the model terms (Musterbedingungen), you report every claim event within one week, and a theft without undue delay. Have your claim number, photos and, where applicable, the police case number ready. Reporting is usually done by app, phone or online form.
Wait for instructions, do not repair too soon
Before repairing or disposing of the vehicle, you obtain the insurer’s instructions and follow them as far as reasonable. Often an assessor inspects the damage first. Anyone who repairs on their own initiative risks problems with the reimbursement.
Run the worth-it check before you finally file
Check whether the reimbursed amount after deducting your deductible really exceeds the multi-year no-claims downgrade. For small bodywork damage, paying yourself is often cheaper. Ask your insurer in advance about the specific downgrade.
Deadlines and duties
In a claim case you have certain obligations toward the insurer, known as Obliegenheiten (policyholder duties). If you meet them, settlement runs smoothly. If you breach them, it can cost money.
| Duty | What applies |
|---|---|
| Report the claim | Within one week under the AKB Musterbedingungen (model terms). |
| Report a theft | Without undue delay, meaning without culpable hesitation. |
| Involve the police | Usual or required for theft, fire, wildlife and vandalism damage (depending on the conditions). |
| Follow instructions | Obtain instructions before repairing or disposing, as far as reasonable. |
| Give truthful information | False statements can jeopardize the payout. |
If you breach a duty, § 28 VVG governs the consequences: for intent the insurer is released from its obligation, for gross negligence it may cut the payout proportionally. What is decisive, though, is the causality requirement. If your breach, such as a slightly late report, had no effect on the damage and its assessment, the insurer usually still has to pay, outside cases of fraudulent deception.
The deadlines named here come from the non-binding GDV Musterbedingungen (model terms). Every insurer may word its own conditions, so in case of doubt the wording in your own contract always applies. What such clauses generally contain is explained in our guide to insurance conditions.
Worth-it check: report or pay yourself?
Unlike with partial coverage (Teilkasko), after a comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim you are downgraded in your no-claims (SF) class. This raises your premium in the following years, often over several years. That is why a quick calculation pays off before every report.
Worked example
- ·Damage: 800 euros, deductible: 300 euros → the insurer reimburses 500 euros.
- ·Because of the downgrade, you pay roughly 600 euros more in premium over the coming years in total.
- →Result: paying yourself is cheaper here, because 600 euros in extra premium exceeds the 500 euro reimbursement.
The specific numbers depend on your no-claims (SF) class and your tariff. Rule of thumb: if the damage is only just above your deductible, paying yourself is often the better choice. For large damage, such as after a serious accident, the reimbursement clearly outweighs the downgrade.
Compare your premium after the downgrade
A claim has raised your premium? A tariff comparison from the Tarifcheck network shows whether a switch offsets the extra cost.
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Special cases that often cause trouble
Gross negligence
If you cause the damage through gross negligence, for example while under the influence of alcohol or by running a red light, comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover may, under § 81 VVG, cut the payout in proportion to the severity of the fault, down to zero for absolute unfitness to drive. Intentionally caused damage is always excluded. With the tariff, look for an express waiver of the reduction for gross negligence.
Vandalism and tires
Vandalism damage is generally covered by comprehensive (Vollkasko) insurance. An exception often applies to pure tire damage, to prevent abuse. But if the tires were damaged by the same event that also caused other insured damage, such as scratched paint, they are covered under common policy terms.
Diminished value and cash settlement
You generally do not get merkantile Wertminderung (diminished value) in your own Kasko. It is a claim against the at-fault party’s liability insurance under § 249 BGB. A fiktive Abrechnung (cash settlement without repair) is possible in many tariffs, but then net and, with a workshop restriction (Werkstattbindung), capped at the partner workshop’s rates. The VAT is only paid against proof of actual costs.
Electric and hybrid vehicles
With electric cars, the battery is the most expensive component. Not every standard tariff covers battery damage fully. Look for all-risk cover for the battery and always report damage to the high-voltage system to the insurer before a workshop intervenes.
Reporting a claim as a newcomer
You are new to Germany and have your first claim? Three things that often slip through the cracks at the start.
Reporting runs in German and with a deadline
Claim reports are tied to deadlines and run formally in German. Keep your claim number, photos and, where applicable, the police case number ready. Providers with English- or Turkish-speaking service make the process easier. More background in our guide for newcomers and expats.
A downgrade also affects your imported no-claims class
If you had claim-free years from abroad credited, this classification is also downgraded by a reported comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim. So the worth-it check is just as important for you as for everyone else. How the classification works is explained in the car insurance class 2026 guide.
Check the market after the claim
If your premium rises because of the downgrade, a comparison is worth it after your next main renewal date. Sometimes another provider is cheaper despite the downgrade. Start with the car insurance comparison.
Frequently asked questions about reporting a claim
How quickly do I have to report a comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim?
Under the GDV Musterbedingungen AKB (model terms), you must report every claim event that may lead to a payout within one week. You report a theft without undue delay, meaning without culpable hesitation. The exact deadlines are in your own policy conditions, because insurers are allowed to adapt the model terms.
Do I always need a police report for comprehensive (Vollkasko) cover?
No, not for every claim. A police report is a contractual duty (Obliegenheit) and is usual or required above all for theft, fire and a hit-and-run by the other party. For vandalism, a report is strongly advised because it proves the damage, but it is not in every case a mandatory statutory precondition. What exactly applies is set out in your conditions.
What happens if I report the claim too late?
A late report is a breach of duty (Obliegenheitsverletzung). Under § 28 VVG, the insurer may cut the payout proportionally for gross negligence and refuse it entirely for intent. The causality requirement is key: if the late report had no effect on the damage and its assessment, the insurer usually still has to pay. When in doubt, report too early rather than too late.
Is it worth reporting a small comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim?
Often not. A reported comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim downgrades your no-claims (SF) class, which means higher premiums over several years. If the damage is only just above your deductible, paying yourself can be cheaper. Ask your insurer about the specific downgrade before you file and weigh the extra cost over three to five years.
Can comprehensive cover reduce the payout for gross negligence?
Yes. Under § 81 VVG, the insurer may cut the payout for damage caused by gross negligence in proportion to the severity of the fault, down to zero for absolute unfitness to drive. Intentionally caused damage is always excluded. Some tariffs expressly waive the reduction for gross negligence.
Does comprehensive cover pay for slashed tires after vandalism?
Usually not, if only the tires are affected. This restriction is meant to prevent abuse. But if the tires were damaged by the same event that also caused other insured damage, such as scratched paint or a cut soft top, they are covered under common policy terms.
Do I get diminished value (Wertminderung) on a Kasko claim?
Usually not. Merkantile Wertminderung (diminished value) is a claim against the at-fault party’s liability insurance under § 249 BGB, not against your own Kasko. On a self-caused comprehensive (Vollkasko) claim, the insurer reimburses the repair or replacement costs, not the remaining loss of value.
I am new to Germany — what should I watch out for when reporting a claim?
Claim reports run in German and are tied to deadlines. Keep your claim number, photos and, where applicable, the police case number ready and report within the one-week deadline. If your German is still shaky, a provider with English- or Turkish-speaking service or support from people around you helps. A downgrade can raise your premium noticeably, and a subsequent tariff comparison often offsets it.
Next steps
You now know the process and the worth-it check. If the downgrade has raised your premium, take a calm look at the comprehensive (Vollkasko) tariffs from the Tarifcheck network.
More topics: partial coverage (Teilkasko) · car insurance costs 2026 · compare car insurance