Understanding the features of our car insurance policy.
When was the last time you had a close look at your insurance policies? In fact, when’s the last time you even made a claim? For most Malaysians, car insurance is looked at as just a legal necessity so that the road tax can be issued for the car to be legally driven on the road.
Many folks go for the absolute cheapest policy they can get OR they allow their dealer/salesperson to recommend something. Both of these options could potentially lead you to spend more money in the future.
First of all, insurance premiums aren’t priced very differently from one insurer to another. The cheapest policies may save you a few ringgit upfront, but those “savings” come at the expense of many value-added services when it comes to making a claim.
What sort of value-added services can a car insurance policy deliver? We had a look at a few motor insurance policies available in the market and the one by Allianz actually stuck out for a number of reasons. In fact, we experienced this a couple of months back when we needed roadside assistance.
Upon calling for roadside assistance, you get an SMS to to confirm your location, as well as real-time updates on the whereabouts of your tow truck and its estimated time of arrival (ETA) to reach you.
This is important. It lets you know that their system has logged your report and puts in writing exactly what you need. Sometimes information gets lost over the phone call and the last thing you need is miscommunication. If you need a tow truck, Allianz will tell you exactly who’s coming. First on the scene is always their Bike Brigade*, which will cordon off the scene, and keep you safe from oncoming traffic or touts. If you need first aid, they’re even equipped to provide that.
In 2019, I was involved in an accident while driving a test car. It was late at night and I was disorientated, but uninjured. When I went to make the police report, I found the whole process awful. The police officers weren’t able to help much with my report or provide much other information. If it had been my own car (which is actually insured by the Allianz comprehensive motor policy), Allianz would have sent a concierge** out to the police station to help me out with the report. Sometimes having someone there who understands the process and can help you out can make all the difference in the world.
Finally, there’s the vehicle delivery. While this is not something I have personally experienced firsthand, I feel many people can relate to having to set aside time and go through the hassle of picking the car up from the workshop once repair works are complete.
If your car needs major repairs and this is covered by the insurance company, what usually happens when everything is done is that you pick the car up from the workshop.
I have picked my car up from workshops before and it can be a pretty expensive inconvenience with time and money wasted. If your car is repaired at an Allianz panel workshop in the Klang Valley, they will actually deliver it to you if you live less than 30km away from it.
So the next time you renew your car insurance policy, take a few moments to consider what you just might be missing out on. A relatively small difference in premium could mean having more comprehensive value-added services to assist you when things are at their worst.
*the Bike Brigade service is only applicable in Klang Valley.
** Claims Concierge is only available at selected police stations
Check out the full coverage here.
