So, let's say, hypothetically (of course) that you do something silly like drive your car into a ditch on a snowy, small mountain road in Austria. The hometown police are called and since there was not another car involved there is no police report. However your car sustained a good bit of body damage and needs repair. In the U.S. the car insurance folks would want a police report to process the claim. But, as we all know, we are not in Kansas anymore so I wonder if this is a necessary piece of information here in CH. Anybody have any experience with having a car repaired after an accident using your auto insurance?

As always, I searched the forum for info and didn't find anything related to this scenario so any (helpful) information you can provide is appreciated.

I think to have a reimbursement from the insurance in the case when you do damage to your own car (parking, driving in a wall) even somebody damaging it while it's parked and you don't know who it was - you have to have a full casco insurance. And to get a reimbursement for damage caused by you - I don't think you need a police report.

You don't need a police report. Just call your insurance company and tell them what happened. They will tell you how to proceed.

Important: Call the insurance company before having any repairs done.

But only after you've actually driven your car into a ditch on a snowy, small mountain road in Austria.

Yes - exactly!!