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Coverage and exclusions

• Which drivers are covered under my policy?

  While this varies from insurer to insurer, generally a learner driver will be covered by a car insurance policy as long as there is an instructing passenger in the front seat who is a fully licensed regular driver. In most cases, you don’t have to pay an additional premium but if the learner driver has an accident, you might have to pay an age or inexperience deductible or both. Of course, they must abide by the terms and conditions of the policy as well. If you drive while pregnant, it won’t affect your policy unless you’ve been advised to refrain from driving or that your pregnancy could negatively affect your capacity to drive. To ensure you are fully able to drive, it is a good idea to consult your doctor.

• What about extra coverage?

  Some insurance companies take things a step further than simply handling your claim. Some insurers offer a valet service whereby they take care of all the details and, if your car can be driven safely, they will even deliver it to where it needs to go. Generally, such perks are only available for comprehensive policies.

• Do insurers offer coverage and/or benefits for teenage drivers?

  Some insurance companies offer certain benefits for your teenagers if you’re an existing customer. If your child wants to insure their vehicle with the same insurance company, they might receive a rating for every year they’ve been driving while licensed and haven’t made a claim. Check with your insurance company as some offer additional perks such as free one-day skilled drivers courses, which are meant to help them with their driving skills and offer discounts after completing the course.

• I need to change some information. What do I do?

  To change any information pertaining to the registration of your car or the regular driver, you have to contact the insurance company. You will need to give them the number of your policy and/or the registration number of your vehicle, as well as your mailing address, which must coincide with the address on our policy, and your birth date when submitting your request. Some details you will have to provide them with when changing the details of a regular driver include:

  • How often the driver will now be driving the car
  • What they will be using the car for
  • Their name, gender and date of birth
  • How long they have held their license for
  • Accident and claims history for the past 3 years and details of the accident including dates and fault assigned
  • Whether or not the driver has had their license suspended or canceled and any details.

• What if I want to make modifications to my vehicle?

  If you intend to alter your vehicle in any way that makes it different from the standard model, which includes adding non-standard accessories, you will have to contact the insurance company. You will have to provide your insurer with a list of the alterations and accessories along with their monetary value. You also have the option to remove alterations and accessories from your policy by contacting the insurance company.

• How will I get around if my car is stolen?

  Some insurance companies will provide their customers with a hire car for a limited period of time if their vehicle has been stolen. There is also the possibility of pre-purchasing a ‘discount hire car benefit’ or ‘comprehensive hire car benefit’, which will ensure you have access to a hire car while your vehicle is being repaired from damage caused in an accident.

• What about coverage for tools of trade and trailers?

  Most insurance companies will not cover tools of trade under a car insurance policy, meaning that you will have to seek the services of a specialist insurer. In terms of trailers, some companies will offer a limited degree of coverage for accidental damage caused to your trailer while it was connected to your vehicle.

• What if I am travelling overseas?

  Most car insurance policies only provide coverage while your vehicle is being driven in the US. If you’re overseas, the policy doesn’t cover the vehicle or the personal liability of the driver.

• What happens if my car is a write off?

  In some cases, the damage to a vehicle is so severe that it’s not economical or safe to attempt to repair it. If the insurer feels this is the situation, your vehicle will be declared a write-off and you will receive the amount covered or the agreed value. If you have comprehensive insurance, some policies allow for the replacement of your car with a new vehicle and coverage of on-road costs, if your original vehicle was declared a write-off after being stolen or damaged within the first two years of its first registration.

• Will I be covered for driving off-road?

  Some insurance policies will provide coverage for your vehicle if you are driving off-road but you do have to take some precautions to make sure your car is safe.

• What restrictions are there?

  There are certain restrictions when it comes to the type of coverage a car insurance policy offers. While these vary between insurance companies some of them include:

  • You are not covered if the accident was caused by a fault with your vehicle that you were aware of and chose to ignore;
  • You are not covered if your car was damaged during a race, trial, test, competition or similar arena;
  • You are not covered if your car was lost or damaged with intent either by you or a person acting on your behalf;
  • You are not covered for any further loss or damage caused to your vehicle if you drive it after it has been in an accident.

  Car insurance is a very important way to protect your asset and stay out of debt, so be sure you know what your policy covers, and how it works in the event of an accident.

• Should I buy car insurance online?

  Yes, getting car insurance quotes online is a great way to get a quick estimate of how much you’ll pay. It’s a great option if you’re trying to budget for insurance costs with a new or new-to-you car, or if you want to get a feel for prices before you settle with a provider.

  You can always sign up online with the best rate you find, or you can get in touch with an agent or broker to help you decide if you want more customized help.