Following the Road Transport Act 1987, it is mandatory for all vehicles using Malaysian public roads to have motor insurance. As a car owner, you will need at least third-party car insurance which offers the most basic coverage and only to the third party. But even if you purchase comprehensive or first-party car insurance, is the coverage sufficient? Let’s look at some of the recommended car insurance add-ons that you may need.
Car insurance add-on: Windscreen
A windscreen cover provides protection either by repairing or replacing your front windscreen, back/rear windscreen,
door window, or sunroof glass that originally comes with the car, not a modification. So if your windscreen chips or breaks, you don’t have to worry about it as your windscreen add-on cover will cover the repair or replacement cost, without affecting your No Discount Coverage (NCD).
How to calculate windscreen premium?
You’ll need to pay only 15% of the windscreen covered value. Say that the windscreen value of your car is RM1,000, you only have to pay RM150, which is only 15% of the windscreen value. Rather than paying the full amount to replace your car windscreen, you only have to pay 15% of it if you include a windscreen add-on cover in your insurance policy. We think it’s a very good deal!
Car insurance add-on: Named driver
What is “named driver” in car insurance?
A named driver is someone who has your permission to drive your car and enjoys the same insurance coverage that you get as the policyholder. In Malaysia, including yourself as the policyholder, you can name two drivers in your car policy. If you wish to add more named drivers. you will only have to add RM10 for every additional driver.
You may need this add-on cover if you often let others drive your car. Without having a “named driver” add-on cover, you will have to pay a RM400 excess, if your car is driven by your spouse, child, friend or anyone that you permit, meets with an accident. RM400 is a lot of money, so do consider adding a named driver especially if you often let others drive your car.
Car insurance add-on: Special perils
What are “special perils“?
Special perils add-on covers your car against loss or damage caused by natural disasters such as floods, storms, typhoons, volcanic eruptions, earthquakes, landslides or sediments, subject to your insurance policy.
This coverage will provide a payout or cover the repair cost of your car due to damage or loss as a result of natural perils stipulated in your insurance policy.
How to calculate the special perils premium?
Depending on your insurance, the additional premium for special perils coverage can range from 0.25% to 0.5% of the sum insured of your car. Say that the sum insured of your car is RM30,000, then the special perils add-on will only cost you RM150 or just 0.5% of the sum insured.
Car insurance add-on: Legal liability
For motor insurance, there are two types of coverage under the umbrella of legal liability.
Legal Liability of Passengers (LLOP)
Legal Liability of Passengers (LLOP) covers you when a third party claims against you for the action of your passengers.
For example, imagine that your passenger throws a bottle out of your car window. The bottle hits a motorcyclist behind your car, causing him to lose control and fall off his motorcycle. Say that the motorcyclist suffers injury from the incident, the motorcyclist can sue you for his injury and the damage to his motorcycle.
This add-on will protect you against such liability.
How much will the Legal Liability of Passengers (LLOP) cost you?
You only have to add RM7.50 to your insurance premium to get this add-on.
Legal Liability to Passengers (LLTP)
Legal Liability to Passengers (LLTP) covers any legal liability sought by your passengers against you in an accident that is caused by your negligent driving. This add-on cover is required by law if you wish to drive your car to Singapore.
For instance, imagine that you ferry a friend in your car. While driving, you momentarily use your cell phone but in just a split second, you hit a car in front of you. Your friend gets injured as a result of the accident. Your friend can sue you for the injury sustained due to your negligent driving.
By having this add-on cover, your insurance will cover the cost of the liability.
How much will the Legal Liability to Passengers (LLTP) cover cost you?
Usually, the LLTP covers costs not more than 25% of what you pay for your basic third-party insurance policy. Please check with your insurer for the exact amount of the additional premium.
Car insurance add-on: Waiver of betterment
Imagine that your 5-year-old car runs into an accident, damaging a few original parts of your car. As your car has to use new original parts, you are required to pay for a proportion of the cost of the new original parts. This is called “betterment.”
To avoid paying for the betterment cost, consider adding “waiver of betterment” to your insurance policy. Note that depending on insurers, betterment cost only applies to cars that are less than 5 years and not more than 15 years.
How much will “waiver of betterment” cover cost you?
The percentage of the betterment that you need to pay varies according to your car’s age. The betterment cost goes up as your car gets older.
Get car insurance add-ons at Bjak
We have shared with you five car insurance add-ons that are recommended for you to have. Before you renew your car insurance, do consider any of the add-ons that we have shared to save your money in unfortunate events.
Would you like to include any of the car insurance add-ons in your insurance policy? Head over to Bjak and just add any of the car insurance add-ons you need when you renew your car insurance online.
Bjak is one of Malaysia’s biggest insurance comparison websites, offering policies from over 10 brands. Get your free insurance quote from Bjak today!
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