Category: Car Insurance

Categories
Car Insurance

Important factors to consider when looking for car insurance as a new driver

Image from Flickr

So you’ve passed your test – congratulations! However, for some newly qualified drivers, the realisation of how much car insurance can cost comes as a shock to the system. If you’ve so far got by on temporary coverage, or been added as a provisional driver to a long-standing insurance policy on a parent or friend’s vehicle, you may now be facing the unexpected challenge of finding a online insurance that covers you on your own vehicle.

Size really does matter

One key factor in determining the cost of insurance premiums is the engine size of the vehicle. So if you haven’t yet bought a car, make sure you research the comprehensive insurance costs of all the options you are considering. Even cars that at first glance seem similar may have noticeably different insurance premiums due to just a small variation in engine size.

More mods mean more money

Although it might be tempting to raise or lower the car or add alloys or larger wheels, this may not be a great idea. Insurers do not tend to look favourably on modifications. They can noticeably increase the cost of insurance, and failure to declare modifications that you have made can render your insurance invalid, so take great care when making changes!

Mind the gap

A final factor to consider is whether the full value of your car would be protected if you were to have an accident that wrote the vehicle off. New vehicles lose a lot of their value in the first year. This depreciation means that if a car is damaged in an accident, and the insurance will only payout on the current value, you could stand to lose a significant amount of your initial investment. This can be particularly problematic if you have bought your car on finance – you could end up with a big bill, which would not be entirely covered by the insurance payout.

This is where a relatively new insurance product, gap insurance, comes in. Designed primarily for new drivers and nearly new cars, this insurance will cover the difference between any outstanding finance payments you owe on the car, and the payment from your main insurance policy. For new drivers with new cars, this is definitely a factor worth considering.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

Getting more affordable car insurance when modifying your vehicle

Image from Flickr

If you have a modified vehicle, or you’re thinking about modifying your vehicle, it’s important to consider how those modifications can alter your motor insurance. Getting the most affordable car insurance quotes for your modified vehicle is easy, however, if you know how.

Choose your modifications wisely

The first thing to consider if you’re thinking about modifying your vehicle, is the kind of mods you want to have on your vehicle. If you choose mods that don’t alter the way your vehicle handles or drives, then your car insurance quotes should actually remain relatively static.

You will usually only experience an increase in insurance quotes if you begin to modify the engine, steering, braking, or running gear of your vehicle. Adding a body kit to your vehicle likely won’t cause your insurance to increase. Adding more power to the engine, on the other hand, probably will as you will be considered at higher risk of having an accident.

How to get the best quotes

The other way to make sure you get the best quotes for your modified vehicle is to arrange your car insurance online. This will give you the ability to compare car insurance quotes from a wide range of providers. If you have a list of modifications, you don’t want to have to put them into your search for every single insurer – it’s much easier to input them just once, and have multiple insurers able to provide quotes.

Something to remember is that modifying vehicles is now even more popular than ever before, and most insurance companies will either have specific insurance packages available for modified vehicles, or they will be well versed in handling customers requirements. They can assess what will affect your vehicle’s actual accident risk and what is simply a cosmetic upgrade, and make your insurance quote reflect that.

If you choose your modifications carefully, or use comparison quotes to budget the increase for performance upgrades, you can easily understand what you can comfortably afford. The use of an easy, effective car insurance quote comparison tool can be invaluable, and let you complete your searches in mere minutes.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

How often should you shop around for your car insurance?

Image from Flickr

Shopping for car insurance is something few people look forward to and even fewer enjoy, and as such most of us are guilty of finding a policy and just sticking with it. The truth is, however, there are always better options out there if you’re willing to regularly shop around.

Just a little effort can save you money on your car insurance quotes.

Don’t get complacent with your coverage

Car insurance companies often presume that their customers won’t be shopping around for deals, they figure if the policy works for them, they won’t want to change it. That means they can stop giving you ongoing incentives and benefits for your loyalty, and a much better deal might be available.pa

If you regularly compare car insurance quotes, you’ll see that you could save a lot of money. All insurance companies want to encourage new customers, so the benefits of signing up with a new coverage provider will likely be better than you’ll get being a loyal customer with your existing one.

How often should you switch?

There’s no right or wrong answer, but there’s no reason for you not to be shopping around every time your policy comes up for renewal – for most that will be on an annual basis.

When you see your policy is a month or so away from expiring, begin shopping around. It’s easy when you use a dedicated insurance comparison website like Compare Insurance. In just a few clicks you can put in your details and get back quotes from a range of top UAE car insurance providers.

The thing to remember is that you might not even need to switch to a new provider, you can always renew your current policy. If you let your current car insurance company know you are actively shopping around and you have found a better deal, they might offer you some enticing benefits to keep your business. If they don’t, switching is easy.

Keep actively looking and save money

The key to saving money on your car insurance is not to become complacent, make the providers work for your business by regularly using the Compare Insurance comparison tools.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

What to do after a car accident that’s not your fault

Image from Flickr

After you’ve been in a car accident that wasn’t your fault, it can be difficult to know exactly what to do next in order to make a successful insurance claim. Once you’ve made sure that nobody has been seriously hurt, it’s important to take the following steps:

Gather necessary information

The driver who caused the accident is responsible for reporting it to their car insurance company, but many drivers are reluctant to do this. It is important that you get in touch with their insurer as well and collect the following information:

– The other driver’s address and name
– The other driver’s insurance policy and the name of their company
– Contact information and statements from witnesses
– Photographs of the scene of the accident (before the cars are moved)
– Any dashcam footage of the accident
– Any other evidence that may support your claim

Notify the right people

When you contact the other driver’s insurer to let them know that you have been involved in a crash with them, make sure that you give them full details of the incident without explicitly placing blame; simply give them the facts. Even if you don’t believe that you caused the incident, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your own insurance company anyway. This can be useful if the other driver denies any responsibility for the accident and you need to make a claim. Before you send your vehicle to a garage for repairs, make sure that you have written authorisation from your insurance company first.

Choose your battles

If the other driver’s insurance company claims that it has no evidence that its policyholder was at fault after your accident, you will need a lawyer, especially if you have been seriously hurt. A lawyer can help you navigate a large insurance claim, but they will take a portion of the settlement awarded to you. If your claim is small, you can take the driver at fault to small claims court.

To save money on third party insurance, get in touch with our team at Compare Insurance today.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

What factors can affect your car insurance premium?

Image from Flickr

The cost of vehicle insurance is calculated using a range of factors relating to your demographics, policy details and driving history. Let’s take a closer look at some of the variables impacting your car insurance quotes below.

Age and gender

According to figures released by the Ministry of Interior (MOI) in 2019, 45 per cent of all road accidents in the UAE are caused by young drivers. Statistically, male teens have more car accidents than their young female drivers, resulting in young men incurring higher insurance rates. However, discounted rates are usually available for certain age groups, with many companies dropping their premiums by as much as 20% when drivers turn 25.

Typically, those between the ages of 30 and 69 are considered less likely to crash, therefore representing a lower risk to insurers. However, elderly drivers pose a similar risk to teens, which is reflected in the insurance rates for individuals in their 70s. Older men are also more likely to incur higher premiums compared to elderly women.

Location

Insurers typically start by asking where you live. If you live in a highly-populated area, you are considered more likely to make an insurance claim due to the increased risk of getting into a car accident. Not all companies will use your location as a deciding factor, but if they do, they may take into account the number of vandalism cases in your area, the number of fraudulent claims made and the likelihood of damaging weather.

Driving record

The amount you’re required to pay will directly correlate with your driving history, including all claims, accidents, convictions and tickets. If you have previous claims on your record, you’re considered more likely to make another claim, although these will become less important over time if you avoid getting any further tickets and accumulate a few years on your no claims bonus.

Annual mileage

The less you drive, the less risk you have of being in an accident, so it’s important that you do your best to estimate how many miles you drive each year. If you’re expecting the number of miles you drive to go down, let your insurance company know – this could save you a lot of money.

To find out more about the factors impacting your insurance quotes, contact us at Compare Car Insurance today.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

4 reasons you should compare auto insurance online

If you have recently purchased a new vehicle, or you need to renew existing car insurance, many people believe the easiest thing to do is renew the policy they currently have or choose to use the first insurance company they come across. While this may seem like the most convenient option, if you choose to compare car insurance online instead, you could save a significant amount financially. Below we explore 4 reasons to compare auto insurance online…

1. Car insurance companies frequently change their rates

You may feel confident that a company you have researched in the past have the best insurance rates. Whilst this might have been true at one point, car insurance providers frequently change their rates. For this reason, you should always compare insurance rates online to check and see which company is offering the best deal.

2. New insurance companies are established all the time

If you haven’t compared insurance policies in over six months, you may be surprised to find multiple new insurance companies offering enticing deals. New insurance companies want to build up their client base quickly and can often offer the best insurance policies for this reason.

3. Your credit report may have improved

If you have consistently been paying a mortgage or loan on time, or have been working on keeping a healthier bank balance, you may have successfully improved your credit report. If you were able to improve your credit report, you may be eligible for a better auto insurance policy. For this reason, it is always better to compare insurance rates than to simple renew an existing policy.

4. Your car may have decreased in value

The moment you leave a dealership with a vehicle it decreases in value. Equally, after a few years of owning and regularly driving a vehicle, it will lower in value. If your vehicle is no longer worth the same amount, you should not be paying the same insurance premium. Comparing deals online ensures you are paying the right insurance for your vehicle.

If you live in the UAE, never drive around uninsured and think you could benefit from comparing auto insurance online, visit Compare Insurance today!

Categories
Car Insurance

4 things you can do to lower your car insurance payments in 2020

Image from Flickr

Car insurance online is one of these necessary evils that all of us have to adhere to if we want to keep our cars on the road.

None of us wants to pay over the odds for our premiums, which is usually a key factor when comparing car insurance quotes. The surprising thing though is that not many people realise they can actually lower their monthly costs. Here we’ll look at 4 ways you can get better rates from your car insurance company and save on your annual outgoings.

Become a better driver

This does seem a bit of an obvious one, but there are a number of things you can do that will signal to your car insurance company that you’re a careful driver and in turn, will lower your motor vehicle insurance.

Look into completing an advanced driving course as many auto insurance companies will offer a reduction on your fees if they perceive you to be lower risk.

Check to see if your car insurance company takes into consideration the analysis of telematics. This is a type of ‘black box’ technology that can assess and feedback to your car insurance company how careful your driving is. See our car insurance tips on ways how to drive safer.

Easier said than done, but try not to incur any extra points on your licence if you can as this will stand you in good stead for preferential rates over time.

No Claim Bonus

The no claims bonus is the merit that insurance companies gives you in return of one full claim free year. Adding a no claim bonus reduces the premium at the time of insurance renewal. Some insurance companies accept a self-declaration from the customer that they have had no claims in the past years whereas other insurance companies accept the formal no claim letter from previous insurer. Getting a No Claim Bonus can significantly reduce the premiums and in some cases with a 3 to 4 year NCB, the premiums can be reduced by over 50%.

 

Increase the excess / deductible

This is the amount the insured person pays while making a claim on the car. The higher the amount the lesser the insurance premium. This means in the event of an accident or repair or theft, this is the amount that is committed by the insured person to pay from the pocket and the insurance company shall cover the rest of the claim amount.

All of these tips will help to keep your costs down and if you’re in the process of looking for discount car insurance, they should help with that as well.

Contact us today on Whatsapp to find the best deals on all coverage of car insurance. You can even contact us on Facebook.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

Do car insurance premiums increase after an accident in UAE?

Image from Flickr

Accidents happen. Despite our best efforts, things don’t run smoothly all the time and we can’t control everything around us. Driving is one area where an accident can cause lasting problems, and one of the concerns is that car insurance premiums will go up. There are many drivers from different cultures in UAE, which increases the risk of accidents occurring. So just how much is your insurance premium likely to increase if you are unlucky enough to have an accident?

What will insurance companies consider?

Insurance premiums won’t always go up – there are several factors insurance companies will consider. The UAE insurance industry is quite accommodating and less likely to seize an opportunity to make more money than in many other countries. There is no mandatory premium loading in UAE, so a single accident won’t necessarily cause your premium to rise.

Loading insurance premiums is common amongst many insurers in other countries. It defines the amount that will be added to a car insurance premium to accommodate the perceived increase in risk with a driver who has recently had an accident. With some providers, an accident could lead to your premium increasing by 20-25%. But if you explore some other providers after having an accident you could find yourself a better rate. Bear in mind, however, that you will not get a protected no-claims discount.

What if the accident wasn’t my fault?

This is why you should get a police report immediately after an accident. If you have evidence that the accident wasn’t your fault, it could help with your car insurance premium. The insurance company of the person at fault usually covers the costs, but you may have to claim against your own insurance if the person at fault isn’t found (like in a hit-and-run).

So what factors affect insurance premiums after an accident?

The main factors that will have an impact are:

  • The severity of the accident
  • Who was at fault
  • Your overall driving history
  • Responsible driving

So if you have a minor accident that wasn’t your fault, and you have a clean driving history with no speeding offences, your insurance premium may not increase substantially. Nevertheless, it’s important to use a comparison website like Compare Insurance to look for the best car insurance. This will enable you to find the right deal for your lifestyle, your vehicle and your wallet.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

How to get cheap car insurance online

Image from Flickr

Anyone who uses a car will need car insurance. This is a regular payment which can be a major expense for many people, as well as being time-consuming for owners to set up. There are many different policies out there, often with wide-ranging costs, so how do you ensure you get the best deal for your money? Our experts at CompareInsurance.ae know all the tips and tricks and want to share them with you!

1. Choose a cheap car to insure

If you are looking to buy a new car but are worried about the insurance costs, then take a look at the average insurance costs of cars before you buy. Cars that may be at the same sale price point may have hugely different insurance costs, so always check with an insurance broker before buying.

2. Pay in one go

You will often get a choice of whether to pay your insurance in one lump sum or in monthly instalments. Paying the whole cost in a single go will often reduce the total amount you need to pay, as your insurance company won’t charge any interest on monthly instalments. If you have the funds, then paying upfront is always best.

3. Reduce annual mileage

If you limit the amount that you are on the road, it stands to reason that your insurance premiums will be reduced. Insurance companies analyse your time on the road through annual mileage, so a lower annual mileage will lead to a lower insurance cost. Make sure you are realistic with your mileage claims, though, as if your provider finds out that you weren’t accurate then there could be problems further down the line.

4. Check the extras you get

Different insurance premiums will have different benefits, including windscreen cover, breakdown cover and the use of a courtesy car. All of these will increase the costs of your insurance premium, so it’s well worth thinking about whether you really need to be paying for these benefits.

To compare car insurance, speak to our motor insurance specialists via our online chat or Whatsapp. Our staff are always ready to help you save money, so take a look today!

Photo: Free image by Pixabay
Categories
Car Insurance

Why does your profession affect your car insurance?

Image from Flickr

You’ll need to submit information about yourself when hunting to buy car insurance online. This includes detailed such as if you’re married and whether you own your own home. You will also be asked about your profession. You might well ask: why does it matter what you do for a living or what industry you work in? However, the answers you give can actually be vital for determining how much you can expect to pay for your cover. Let’s have a look at exactly why your profession affects basic car insurance.

Use

Your job tells providers quite a lot about what you’ll be using your car for. Just some of the assumptions they’ll make include where it will be parked and what hours you’ll be working. This is very important for them to know, especially because they can marry it up against pre-existing data on when and where car accidents are most likely to happen. If it’s determined that you work in a profession where you’re more likely to have an accident – and therefore make a claim against your insurance – then you can expect to receive a higher quote.

Reliability

Rightly or wrongly, car insurance providers make assumptions about your reliability based on your profession. It’s not necessarily fair, but it’s just one of the factors that will be taken into account when determining your quote. Different providers will rank different professions in their own unique way, so it’s hard to say which jobs will make a quote go up and which ones will make it go down. A general rule is that you can expect to pay a higher amount if you’re unemployed. If you aren’t truthful when declaring your profession then it might invalidate your insurance in the event of an accident.

Be sure to shop around

If you are concerned that your profession will push up the price of your car insurance then you need to shop around to get the best deal. You can do this easily by using Compare Insurance, a service which will bring up multiple quotes from different providers for you to choose from.

Photo: Free image by Pixabay