When it comes to car insurance, you are spoiled for choice as we have more than 20 car insurers in Malaysia. Moreover, since the liberalisation of motor insurance in 2017, consumers have wider options in terms of coverage and premiums. So you may be thinking: How do I choose the best car insurance? Save your worries as we are going to share practical tips to choose car insurance.
Determine how much you should insure your car for
Before buying car insurance, you need to determine a suitable sum insured for your car. To do this, you have to first check the market value of your car such as by using MyCarInfo (at no charge!). Based on the market value of your car, determine the suitable sum insured.
You may choose to insure your car based on the market value or agreed value. Say that you choose the market value, you will receive a payout based on the market value of your car at the time of loss or theft. Note that car market value depreciates around 10-15% each year, so you can expect to receive a lower payout. On the other hand, if you choose the agreed value, you will get the exact amount as agreed by your insurer when you renew your car insurance. The amount will not be affected by the market value.
You are strongly advised not to insure your car below the market value. In the event that your car is deemed a total loss, you may receive a lesser amount of payout. Similarly, if your car runs into an accident and needs repair, your insurance may not cover the total repair cost. In that case, you may have to pay for the remaining cost out of your own pocket.
Please consider the age of your car, and car loan, among others, in determining a suitable sum insured following either the market value or agreed value.
Compare complimentary coverage by car insurers
Take our advice: Compare the complimentary coverage by different insurers before you buy car insurance. This refers to the coverage that you can enjoy for free.
Most insurers offer a free towing service to their customers who own comprehensive insurance. What you can do is compare this coverage limit as free towing service is usually limited by distance. For example, Liberty Car Insurance offers a free towing service of up to 150km. Meanwhile, Etiqa Takaful’s towing is free for the first 200km.
Other complimentary coverage that you may want to consider includes a free child car seat replacement in the event of a car accident or theft. The best way to know the complimentary coverage offered by insurers is through their product disclosure sheet which is often available on their website.
Take some time to compare the different benefits offered by car insurers so you won’t miss out on good deals.
Check insurance panel workshops
This is another important tip. Check whether the insurance panel workshops are available throughout Malaysia, especially near you. This is because certain insurers only allow their policyholders to get their cars repaired at their panel workshops. Should you send your car to a non-panel workshop, certain insurers may not cover the repair cost.
So before you commit to any insurer, find one that has an extensive panel workshop in the nation so you can get your car repaired anywhere. You may check the full list of panel workshops from the website of the respective insurers.
Choose between conventional insurance and takaful
Essentially, conventional insurance and takaful work on the same concept of providing coverage to the policyholder and/or the third party. They both provide coverage in the event of car accidents, loss, fire and theft, depending on the policy you choose. However, the key difference is in the principle and methodology. Takaful uses Syariah-compliant laws as well as Islamic teachings to form its policies. Refer to the visual below for the differences between conventional insurance and takaful.
Note that takaful is not limited to Muslims. Non-Muslims who wish to purchase takaful may also get it. If you would like to get motor takaful, the options you have are Takaful Malaysia, Takaful Ikhlas, Zurich Takaful and Etiqa Takaful, as listed on the Malaysian Takaful Association.
Compare service quality by insurance companies
Our final tip is to compare the service quality of different insurers.
As a guide, do your research online to choose an insurance company that offers 24/7 customer assistance. Accidents do not happen only during working hours, so it’s best if you can reach out to your insurance company anytime a car emergency occurs.
Check also the insurance claim procedure. An easy claim procedure will definitely help you in getting a service or payout more efficiently.
Compare insurance policies to get the best car insurance
We hope that our tips can help you choose the right car insurance. Aside from the type and price of insurance, also look into the complimentary coverage, and services including nationwide panel workshops and 24/7 customer assistance.
To ease you, simply head over to Bjak to compare over 15 insurers with ease. Get your free car insurance quotes at Bjak today to secure the best car insurance.
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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