Fleet
Accident: Bang! Crash! And now?
21.10.2022
One second of inattention – and crash! What needs to be done if you cause damage while driving a Mobility car? Read on to find out.
Peter’s in a hurry. Having got up late, he now has to make up for lost time on the road. Annoyed after scalding his tongue on the hot takeaway coffee, he opens the Mobility car he’s reserved for the day at Lucerne station. He gets in, selects what he thinks is reverse gear and steps on the accelerator. But, oh dear: Instead of backwards, Peter steers the vehicle directly into the wall in front of him. Exasperated, Peter gets out to inspect the damage. On seeing it, he curses. He takes three deep breaths before calling Mobility’s 24h Service Center to report the incident.
Peter’s horror morning is fictional, but they happen more often than you might suspect: Mobility logs four-digit damage events every year. Fortunately, most of them are minor. Nevertheless, if it happens to you, it’s important that you react correctly. Read on to find out what you need to know about damage events involving Mobility.
Why should I check the vehicle for scratches and dents before driving off in a Mobility vehicle?
Would you ask the same question about a conventional rental car? Exactly. Checking for damage protects you from nasty surprises. All it takes is a walk around the vehicle. If you spot a dent or a major scratch, please call our 24h Service Center on 0848 824 812. But first check under “Reservation details > Damage overview” in the Mobility app to see if the damage has already been reported. If it has, there’s no need to call. Take photos with your mobile phone anyway, just to be on the safe side
Can I be held liable for damage I didn’t cause?
Yes, that can happen if the person before you caused it and didn’t report it. That’s why it’s so important to report any problems before you drive off. If you don’t do this, our damage team will assume that the last person to drive the car is responsible. A large community like ours is dependent on the honesty and solidarity of its members.
How big does a scratch have to be for me to report it?
As a general rule, if the scratch is clearly visible and longer than 5 centimetres, you should report it. The same applies to dents larger than a 10 centimes coin.
Why does damage have to be reported by phone? Isn’t there a simpler way?
For now, damage should be reported by phone (0848 824 812). However, we are working on our new app, which will be available in the course of 2023. This will have a wealth of new features – including the ability to report damage. We’ll let everyone know when it’s ready.
I reported some damage as requested only to find that it cost almost 000 francs to repair. It was only a little scratch. How can that be?
Some people’s idea of a “little scratch” “Little scratch, not so bad.” And on site, our car care staff notices that the whole door is pressed in or the wing is hanging on the floor. This shows that each person has a different understanding of what constitutes major or minor damage. The fact is that as soon as the car has to go to the garage for repair, it costs something. often because an entire panel to be fixed Our in-house specialists decide how to deal with the damage on a case-by-case basis.
Why doesn’t Mobility simply leave the scratches and dents? There’ll be another one along soon, after all!
Think about your lovely new smartphone, which you wrap up in cotton wool and don’t let anyone touch. But once the glass has a scratch and the corners are dented, you don’t care anymore. It’s the same with cars. Because we don’t want things to get to the point that people don’t care, we think it’s important to keep our cars in good condition. That way, as many people as possible can enjoy sharing our cars with others for as long as possible.
Is there any way I can protect myself from high costs if I’m ever responsible for damage?
It’s what our “liability reduction” cover’s for. It reduces your policy deductible (also known as your “excess”) to a few hundred francs. Without liability reduction cover, you might have to pay several thousand francs, depending on whether a third party’s involved and whether you’re a new or young driver. In other words, liability reduction is worth it!
I’ve heard that new and young drivers have to pay much more. Is that right?
If you’re under 25 and/or if you’ve less than two years’ driving experience, a claim can prove expensive. You can find the details on our website: https://www.mobility.ch/de/privatkunden/abos-und-preise/haftungsreduktion
Why are new and young drivers subject to high surcharges? It’s so unfair.
You yourself may be the world’s best driver. But on average, newbies and young people are responsible for more vehicle damage than the rest of our members. That costs us and the community a lot of money. We could compensate for this by imposing higher rates on young drivers, but that would affect everyone, and we don’t want that. That is why we have opted for surcharges in the event of damage.
Do Mobility drivers cause such a lot of damage?
Our community’s pretty average when it comes to traffic incidents. Manoeuvring and parking, however, are a different story. Parking bumps and scrapes are more common with car sharing than with private cars. There are many reasons for this: Changing car makes, different dimensions or confusing parking spaces. We do all we can to provide you with modern cars equipped with parking aids, cameras and sensors. We’re also paying more attention to ensuring that new Mobility stations are well lit and spacious. And going forward, we’ll be coming up with even more tips and tricks around driving and our cars. Everything else is up to you. Remember: You have access to 3’000 vehicles. At the same time, every vehicle can be accessed by almost a quarter of a million users. It’s better to reserve an extra half-an-hour before you’re due to set off so that you’re nice and relaxed when you hit the road. Safe journey!