What does partial coverage mean: Your comprehensive guide for optimal protection and cost savings
3 Jun 2025
6
Minutes
Katrin Straub
CEO at nextsure
A partial comprehensive insurance protects your vehicle against many unforeseen damages. But what exactly does it cover and who is it the right choice for? This article explains everything important about partial comprehensive insurance.
The topic in brief and concise terms
Partially comprehensive insurance covers damage to one's own vehicle caused by external factors such as theft, fire, glass breakage, and natural events for which one usually bears no responsibility.
An excess (often 150 euros) lowers the premium but should align with the financial situation.
Partial coverage is often advisable for vehicles that are older than five years or have a value over 4,000 euros; comprehensive coverage also protects against vandalism and self-inflicted damage.
Understanding Partial Coverage: The Basics for Vehicle Owners
Third-party, fire and theft insurance is an optional protection for your vehicle. It complements the mandatory car liability insurance. This insurance covers damage to your own car. Costs are covered for events for which you are usually not responsible. Many insurers offer third-party, fire and theft insurance from around 14 euros per month, depending on various factors.
Cover provided by partial comprehensive insurance: These damages are typically covered
A partial comprehensive insurance covers a range of specific types of damage. Typically, these include damage caused by fire or explosion. Theft of the vehicle or permanently installed parts is also a core component. Glass breakage, such as damage to the windscreen, is also covered. Natural damage such as storm, hail, lightning, or flooding is similarly protected. Additionally, damage from collisions with animals of all kinds and marten bites, including possible consequential damage up to a certain amount or unlimited, are often insured. Short-circuit damage to wiring can also be covered. It is important to check the exact terms of your policy, as the scope can vary. What a comprehensive insurance generally means is something we are happy to explain to you.
Here is an overview of the most common services:
Fire and explosion
Theft (removal of the vehicle or parts)
Glass breakage (e.g., stone chip in the windscreen)
Natural damage (storm from wind force eight, hail, lightning, flooding)
Collision with animals (often game, some policies cover all types of animals)
Marten bites (often including consequential damage up to a certain sum)
Short-circuit damage to wiring
Note that vandalism and self-inflicted accident damage are typically not covered by partial comprehensive insurance but by fully comprehensive insurance. You can also find the exact details of the differences in our article Partial and Fully Comprehensive Insurance Difference.
Cost factor deductible: How it affects your premium
With partial comprehensive insurance, you can often agree on a deductible. This amount is paid by you in the event of damage. Common amounts are 150 euros or 300 euros. A higher deductible usually leads to a lower insurance premium. Statistically, a deductible of 150 euros is often the most worthwhile. Consider what amount you could easily bear in an emergency. Whether a partial cover without a deductible makes sense depends on your risk appetite.
Practical examples: When partial coverage steps in and saves costs
Imagine a marten chewing through cables in your engine compartment. The repair costs 250 euros. If you have partial comprehensive insurance with a 150 euro deductible, you only pay this 150 euros. The insurance covers the rest. Another example: A heavy hailstorm causes dents on your car roof, and the repair is estimated at 2,000 euros. Your partial comprehensive insurance covers these costs minus your deductible. Without partial comprehensive insurance, you would have to bear the entire 2,000 euros yourself. In the case of glass damage to your car, for instance, due to stone chips costing 500 euros, the partial comprehensive insurance also applies. Many policies even reimburse the full costs in the event of glass breakage without deducting the deductible, if the glass is repaired rather than replaced.
Typical scenarios for partial comprehensive insurance benefits:
A wild boar runs into your car; the damage amounts to 1,800 euros.
Your parked car is stolen; the replacement value is 8,000 euros.
A short circuit causes scorching damage to the electronics for 400 euros.
Heavy rain leads to a flood in your garage; your car suffers water damage of 3,500 euros.
These examples show how quickly high costs can arise, which are protected by partial comprehensive insurance. The question of when partial comprehensive insurance is sensible for a car often becomes clearer as a result.
Expert tip: Legal aspects and important clauses
The partial coverage insurance is based on the Insurance Contract Act (VVG). The exact benefits and exclusions are defined in the General Terms and Conditions of Insurance (AKB) of your contract. In the event of a claim, you must report the damage immediately and often provide evidence. Our expert tip: Pay attention to clauses such as the waiver of the defence of gross negligence, at least up to a certain amount of damage. This can be very important for damage caused by carelessness that was not inflicted intentionally. Recent court rulings can influence the interpretation of contract clauses. For example, the Federal Court of Justice (BGH) has ruled that vandalism damage after a failed theft is not necessarily covered by partial coverage. To have marten damage covered by car insurance is usually straightforward, but consequential damage should be explicitly insured.
Difference to Comprehensive Insurance: When Each Coverage is Right
The main difference to comprehensive insurance lies in the scope of coverage. Comprehensive insurance includes all benefits of partial coverage. Additionally, it covers damage caused by self-inflicted accidents and vandalism. Comprehensive insurance is often recommended for new cars and young used cars up to an age of about five years. For older vehicles, whose value has already decreased, partial coverage may be sufficient. A rule of thumb suggests that partial coverage is often worthwhile for vehicles that still have a value of over 4,000 Euros. The decision from when comprehensive insurance is no longer worthwhile is individual. Carefully weigh costs and benefits. Even in the case of hail damage, the question arises: comprehensive or partial coverage – partial coverage already provides benefits here.
Optimization potential: How to find the right partial coverage rate
For the best comprehensive coverage, compare offers. Don't focus only on the price. The scope of coverage is crucial. Check whether all risks relevant to you are covered. For example, are consequential damages after a marten bite covered without limit? What is the compensation in case of total loss—replacement value or acquisition value? A thorough examination of the contract details can make several thousand euros difference in the event of a claim. Our expert tip: Review your insurance coverage annually, as both the value of your vehicle and your needs may change. nextsure is happy to assist you in selecting the optimal coverage.
Key points in tariff comparison:
Amount of deductible and impact on the premium
Coverage of wildlife damage (all animal types or only game)
Co-insurance of consequential damage from marten bite (coverage amount)
Regulation on glass breakage (repair before replacement, waiver of deductible)
New price or purchase price compensation in case of total loss (duration of validity)
Exclusion of gross negligence
Scope of validity (e.g., Europe-wide)
Your next step towards tailored protection
More useful links
Wikipedia provides a comprehensive overview of comprehensive insurance, including a detailed section on partial coverage insurance.
The Gesamtverband der Deutschen Versicherungswirtschaft (GDV) reports in a press release on the expected losses of motor insurers in 2024.
At Die Versicherer, an initiative of the GDV, you will find detailed information on comprehensive insurance.
The Verbraucherzentrale offers tips on how to save several hundred euros on your car insurance.
Also at the Verbraucherzentrale you can learn why car insurance is mandatory for all vehicle owners.
The ADAC provides comprehensive information on partial coverage insurance and its benefits.
The Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) provides current tables on the vehicle stock in Germany.
The Federal Motor Transport Authority (KBA) offers detailed statistics on the vehicle stock in Germany.
On Gesetze im Internet you will find the complete text of the Insurance Contract Act (VVG 2008).
FAQ
What exactly does partial insurance mean?
Partial cover is a voluntary motor insurance that covers damage to your own vehicle caused by certain external factors such as theft, fire, glass breakage, storm, hail or wildlife accidents. It is a supplement to the mandatory motor liability insurance.
What types of damage are typically covered by partial car insurance?
Typical insured damages include theft, fire/explosion, glass breakage (e.g. stone chips), natural hazards (storm, hail, lightning, flooding), collisions with animals, and often also marten bites including consequential damages.
What is an excess in third-party, fire and theft insurance?
The deductible is the amount you bear yourself in the event of a claim. Generally, this is 150 euros. If you choose a deductible, your insurance premium is usually lower.
When should I switch from comprehensive to third-party, fire, and theft insurance?
Switching from fully comprehensive insurance to third-party, fire and theft insurance is often advisable when the vehicle is over five years old and its value has decreased. Fully comprehensive insurance is usually worthwhile for new cars and young, high-value used cars.
Does a claim in partial coverage affect my no-claims bonus?
No, damage covered by partial insurance will not lead to a downgrade of your no-claims discount. The no-claims discount is only relevant for motor liability and comprehensive insurance.
Does the partial coverage also cover damages abroad?
As a rule, the partial coverage applies within geographical Europe as well as in non-European areas that belong to the European Union. You can find the exact details of the coverage area in your insurance policy.
