When it comes to working with insurance agents, it can feel like you’re a bit out of depth. Well, not today! Let’s cover some of the most frequently asked questions about car insurance.
Getting a car insurance policy isn’t so much a luxurious perk as it is a prerequisite to being a responsible car owner.
Your car is one of the most valuable things you own, and it would be a big risk to not insure your vehicle when you hit the wide-open roads (or standing in that long traffic).
We know, however, that finding the right car insurance policy can be daunting. You’re thrown off by the formality of it all or you feel like you can’t get the right answers because you don’t have the right questions.
At Oneplan, we want our clients to feel confident walking into a conversation with an insurer. Because at the end of the day, it’s your policy and you’re the one who needs to understand it. We pride ourselves on being a jargon-free, hassle-free insurance provider, and that’s why we’ll talk you through the five questions you need to ask to ensure that you get the most out of your car insurance policy.
1. What am I covered for?
This is the first question you need to ask your car insurer. We see a lot of people facing rejected claims and fighting with their insurers because they weren’t clear about what they were actually covered for.
This will all depend on the kind of policy you take out — and you have every right to ask your insurer to walk you through each policy they have available. Find out if your policy covers, theft, fire damage, or write-offs. Some policies will cover all of these things and some policies will only cover some.
If you are looking for comprehensive car insurance but take out a third-party policy, you won’t have the cover you’re after when your car sustains damages.
2. What is the notice period for policy changes or cancellations?
This is important to know so that you can stay organised and on the ball. Life changes fast, so you should know how much time you have to change your car insurance policy should you need to. Find out what your options are for changing or pausing your policy, and how much notice you need to give.
For example, Oneplan gives you total control over your cover via the Oneplan App. You can directly pause, change, or (sigh) cancel your policy at any time with the click of a button.
3. What about my excess and premiums?
Some insurance shoppers may be drawn in by impressive premiums only to be shocked later on at massive excess amounts. Ask about what you can expect your premiums to be based on your personal risk profile:
- age
- car model
- use of vehicle
- marriage status, and
- sex.
Then be sure to find out about your basic excess amount and how high your excess costs can rise.
If you had to ask this question to a broker at Oneplan, they would happily tell you about how we let you control your cover by controlling your excess.
4. How do I validate my car?
The car validation process can be a real pain so it’s worth asking your insurer how they go about checking your vehicle. Most insurers will ask that you take your car to a company that they employ to validate your vehicle, which costs you time and money.
Or, you could validate your vehicle with Oneplan via the Oneplan App. All you have to do is upload a few clear pictures of your vehicle and voila, you’re done!
5. What would cause the insurer to cancel your policy?
Questions for your insurer aren’t always about what they can do for you but are also a good opportunity to find out how you can make sure your policy never gets canceled. Almost all insurers have the right to cancel your policy for:
- mot paying your premiums
- lying about the information on your insurance application, and
- if your driver’s license is revoked or suspended.
You could also ask what sort of grace periods the company has in place for when you’re late on your premiums. At Oneplan, we offer a 15-day grace period to give you some breathing room if that particular month is a little tight. After that, we would have to cancel your policy if your payment does not reflect on our side.
Our Oneplan team is always happy to help and will gladly answer any of your questions. You can get in touch with one of our brokers by clicking here.
Yours in comprehensive car insurance,
Oneplan