It is important to find the right insurance coverage for you and your vehicle. It is not only the premium that is key, but also the scope of the cover and the benefits in the event of a loss. These vary considerably from one policy to another.

For example, do you value personal contact with respect to consultations or in the event of a loss? If so, take care to check with online insurers in particular if they can guarantee this.

You can change your car insurance in the following circumstances:

• Your contract expires: When your insurance contract expires, you can change your car insurance. If you miss the cancellation deadline, the contract generally renews for a year.

• In the event of a loss: If the insurance has paid out for the claim, you can change your car insurance. After a payout in the event of a loss, you have 14 days to cancel. 

• The insurance premium increases: If the premium for the new insurance year is increased, you can cancel your policy.

• Change of vehicle or owner: As the new owner of a vehicle, you decide whether you want to continue or change the existing insurance. If new insurance is concluded for the new vehicle, the existing insurance for this vehicle ends automatically in practice.

• Ordinary termination: You can terminate any insurance contract at the end of the third insurance year. Or in any subsequent year. To do so, you need to terminate the insurance by registered letter three months before the end of the insurance year.

First check whether you can change your car insurance. A change is possible in the following cases:

• Your current contract expires
• In the event of a loss
• The insurance premium increases
• You change vehicle

Collect different offers for a new car insurance policy and compare them. Tip: Take advantage of our comparison offer. With just three details, we show you how much you will pay for your car insurance with Zurich. 

As soon as you have chosen a car insurance offer, you should cancel the current insurance in good time and take out the new one.

Report the change of insurance to the Road Traffic Office. To do this, you need the insurance certificate and your vehicle registration document. You can also send the documents via mail to the relevant Road Traffic Office in many cantons.

The best way to cancel your current insurance is via registered letter and within the cancellation period. It is important that the cancellation reaches the insurance company before the cancellation period expires. The date of the postmark is not decisive.

Your letter should contain the following details:

• Policy number
• Date as of which the contract should be terminated
• Reason for termination
• Signature

Read more information about termination.

When changing car, you can also switch your car insurance. We recommend you follow the steps outlined below: 

• Collect different offers for your new car insurance policy and compare them. Compare the offers with your current policy, too. We can help you find the right insurance. Use our free insurance comparison service. We will look at your offers and create a suitable comparative offer.

• As soon as you have settled on a car insurance policy, cancel the insurance for your old vehicle. Then take out a policy for your new vehicle. Ask your insurer to send proof of your car insurance to the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.

• Go to the DVLO and register your new vehicle. Alternatively, the dealership that you purchased the car from can undertake this task for you. In addition to your insurance certificate, you need the following documents:
  
  ID document:
  Swiss passport, ID card or foreigner's ID card
  
  The original copy of the previous vehicle registration document
  for a second-hand car, or the original inspection report (form 13.20 A) for a new vehicle
  
  You can also send the documents via post to the relevant Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office.
  
  
• You will receive a vehicle registration for your new car.
• Take the license plates from your old vehicle and mount these to your new car. Now you can set off in your new car!

First, take out motor vehicle insurance. The insurance company then submits the electronic insurance certificate to the responsible Road Traffic Office. After this, you or your garage owner go to the Road Traffic Office with the original of the previous vehicle registration document or in the case of a new car with the inspection report. The latter then issues the license plates and the new vehicle registration document. It is often also possible to send the original vehicle registration document by mail to the Road Traffic Office. In this case, you will also receive the plates and new documents by mail. The best way of finding out whether the responsible Road Traffic Office offers this option is on its website.

You will need proof of customs clearance to register an imported vehicle. To register your vehicle with the cantonal Road Traffic Office, the customs office will issue an inspection report form 13.20 A. 

It is important to find the right insurance coverage for you and your vehicle. Don't just look at the premium, be sure to look at the scope of the coverage and the services provided in the event of a loss. These vary considerably from one policy to another. 

For example, do you value personal contact when receiving a consultation or in the event of a loss? If so, take care to check with online insurers to see if they will guarantee this.

Comprehensive cover or partial casco – which one do I need?

In most cases you can, in effect, transfer your current car insurance to your new vehicle. In this event however, you must stay with your current insurer and request the same coverage. As a rule, your premiums will change. Legally speaking, you are taking out a new insurance policy.

If you would like to take out a new car insurance policy for your new vehicle, you must actively cancel your existing policy for the old vehicle. If you do not do this, the policy will continue. In this case, your insurer will only be informed when you de-register your old vehicle with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office. The resulting follow-up processes can end up being quite tedious. For this reason it is worth being proactive and canceling the insurance.

When you purchase a new car, you can also switch your car insurance. It makes sense to collect various offers and compare them with one another. When you are doing this, you shouldn't just compare prices. The services provided can vary a lot between provider and offer. You should also take note of the following:

• How easy is it to get in contact with your insurer in the event of a loss?
• How have their services been rated by previous customers?

We can help you find the right insurance. Use our free insurance comparison service. We will look at your offers and create a suitable comparative offer.

As a rule, interchangeable license plates are license plates shared between two vehicles. They are ideal for people who own two cars, but do not use them at the same time. As you are only permitted to drive the vehicle to which the license plates are attached.

Interchangeable plates can help you save on your insurance premiums. You will also save costs with the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Office and when paying your vehicle tax. If you have taken out partial casco cover, this also applies to the vehicle that is parked without a license plate. The rules around interchangeable license plates differ by canton. You can find out more information from your local DVLO.

Yes, you can keep your license plates, provided that your new vehicle belongs to the same category as your old one (for example, passenger vehicle) and you are staying in the same canton. Motorbikes have different license plates.