If you are going to take out auto insurance, you are faced with various choices. What kind of cover is sensible for your car, how much deductible do you want, do you take out additional insurance or not? With the tips below, we are happy to help you make your choices when taking out auto insurance. Need extra help?
Choose The Right Coverage For Your Auto Insurance
If you purchase a car, you are required to have auto insurance with at least third-party coverage. With this, third parties receive compensation from the insurer if you unexpectedly cause an accident that causes them damage.
WA coverage is generally recommended for cars that are 8 years or older. When purchasing a new car, it is wise to opt for WA + Full Airframe coverage. If the car is between 3 and 8 years old, it can be well insured with WA + Limited Airframe coverage. Have you borrowed money for your new car? Then we recommend WA + Full Casco.
Determine You’re Deductible
The deductible with your auto insurance is the part of the damage that you pay yourself. With most car insurers, this is standard between $ 130 and $ 150. If you are prepared to accept a higher deductible, you will receive a discount on your premium. If you want a lower deductible, a supplement applies to your premium. With most auto insurance policies, the deductible applies to every damage event. There is usually no deductible for damage covered by third-party liability cover. When taking out your auto insurance, pay close attention to the differences in the deductible.
Compare Damage-Free Years
For every year in which you do not claim any damage, your claim-free years will rise and you will climb up the Bonus Malus ladder. You will then receive a so-called No-claim discount from your insurer. The moment you claim damage, you drop one or more steps back on the ladder and lose (part of) the discount with the possible consequence of a higher premium.
The number of steps you build up in the event of no damage and falling back in the event of damage can vary greatly per insurer. Check the policy conditions of your auto insurance to find out what your relapse is. If possible and desirable, include a No-claim protector.
Cover For Damage Abroad
If you often go on holiday by car, check the coverage of your auto insurance abroad. Most of the information is on your green card, such as the countries where damage is covered by your car insurer. Other matters, such as arranging replacement transport and breakdown service, are usually not insured as standard.
Occupant Insurance Or Not
If you want occupant insurance, you have the choice between accident occupant insurance and damage occupant insurance. The first variant pays a fixed amount on death and on permanent disability. With the second option, the damage actually suffered is compensated. Pay attention on the third-party liability insurance, fellow passengers are co-insured as standard in the event of damage. They can recover any damage from the driver’s third-party liability insurance. This could also be the driver of the other car if he or she caused the accident. This does not apply if no guilty party can be identified in the event of an accident. Then the third-party liability insurance will only award compensation to the driver.
Insured Of Extra Legal Assistance
Traffic legal assistance insurance provides assistance in recovering damage that you can incur with your car and in all other traffic situations. As also as a pedestrian or cyclist. This is the most comprehensive supplement you can take with your auto insurance. If you already have legal expenses insurance, check whether you also have coverage for traffic. If so, a road legal insurance is unnecessary.
Do Not Forget To Insure Extra Accessories
Check the policy conditions on how your insurer handles the reimbursement of accessories and the amount up to which this is included for free. Accessories that were on the car when it left the factory are covered by auto insurance as standard. If you add accessories to the car at a later time, they are not included as standard and you can also insure them with an accessory cover.
Protect Your No-Claim Discount
If a fault is caused and claimed as a result of your fault, you will lose claim-free years and therefore possibly also part of your No-claim discount. You can read how much this is in the policy conditions of the Bonus Malus ladder. With a No-claim protector, you can claim one debt loss within an insurance year without losing (part of) your discount. Thanks to the protector, your claim-free years will drop, but your No-claim discount will remain intact. You therefore retain your current competitive premium.
Roadside Assistance
With the breakdown assistance insurance you get roadside assistance with your car. You often have different choices such as only in this country or abroad, assistance in your place of residence or a replacement car in case of breakdown. This insurance is double if you already have a breakdown assistance scheme through. If you have a new car, the dealer often offers roadside assistance as standard.
Get Your Purchase Value Back
The purchase value scheme ensures that after buying the car you get the purchase amount back if you drive the car within a certain period of total loss. This period depends on the insurer. Usually you must have a purchase receipt and have bought the car at an authorized garage. If you do not have this arrangement, you will receive the current market value from your insurer if your car hits a total loss.
How Important Is Auto Insurance?
To protect the interests of the injured parties, who are entitled to have their damages paid, regardless of whether or not the accident has the financial means to do so, civil liability insurance for land motor vehicles and their trailers is mandatory. A vehicle for which no liability insurance has been taken out is in an illegal situation. By law, the vehicle may be seized and its owner may have to pay a fine. In the event of an accident, the driver or owner of the vehicle may be liable for the payment of compensation due to the injured party.