Comparing Car Insurance in Australia – 7 Things to Think About

Car Insurance in Australia

There’s a wide range of car insurance options in Australia, which is impressive for a country of its size. It’s easy to become overwhelmed given the number of companies offering “the best”, “the cheapest” or “the best and cheapest” car insurance,

7 Things of Car Insurance

but there are 7 things you need to consider before you commit to one particular insurer :

1. What kind of insurance are you looking for?

Compulsory third party insurance – Known as Greenslip Insurance, this is the most basic form of car insurance for an Australian driver and is compulsory for Australian-registered cars. While it doesn’t cover damage to the policyholder’s car or cars and property of others, it does cover personal injuries of crash victims.

Third party property insurance – This pays for any damage you cause to another person’s car or property. However, it doesn’t cover the cost of repairs for your own vehicle. Third party fire or theft insurance, an extension of third party insurance, insures you against the loss of your car through theft or fire.

Comprehensive insurance policy – This combines all of the above. As such, if yours and another person’s car are damaged through your own negligence, your insurance policy will extend to cover repairs for both parties.

2. Can you buy the policy online?

An insurance company that allows you to sign up for car insurance online has a distinct edge over one that doesn’t. Online insurance policies, usually paid for by credit card, are more affordable due to the reduction of processing fees. It’s also very convenient for the buyer as it can be done at any hour or any day of the week. You’re also likely to make fewer mistakes on the application form because you can take your time in filling it out, and there is less or no pressure for you to complete as compared to completing one over the phone.

3. Do they offer a multi-policy deal?

Many insurance companies provide insurance for the home, travel and health in addition to car insurance. In many cases, insurance companies may offer a more favourable rate to customers who purchase more than one type of insurance from them.

4. What’s your demographic?

Did you know that the cost of car insurance premiums can vary based on where you live? Premiums can differ even further based on your address within the state itself as well. Varying intra-state car insurance premiums are mainly down to the risk an insurance company perceives you and your car to be.

Therefore, the higher the risk of your vehicle encountering an accident or being stolen, the higher the premiums you have to pay. For instance, residents of New South Wales, which has a high population density, pay the highest car insurance premiums of any state.

Age and gender too, are parameters that need to be considered when comparing car insurance. Young men are perceived to be more of an insurance risk, and this is reflected in their insurance premiums. Additionally, the owner of a newer, more expensive car is likely to pay higher insurance premiums based on the risk such a vehicle poses for the insurance company.

5. Have you tried asking for a discount from your existing provider?

Sometimes, people compare car insurance when they’re thinking of switching to another insurance company. In this case, a person has nothing to lose by asking their current insurer if they’re able to match or surpass a cheaper quote from another company. Revisiting the terms of your present car insurance policy may also allow negotiation of better terms for you; there may be discounted premiums for drivers above 25 years of age. Tailoring your car insurance policy to match your personal requirements can make it even more affordable.

6. Look beyond the bottom dollar

A cheap insurance quote is very attractive. However, when comparing quotes from different insurance companies, you need to ensure that the policies themselves are similar too to prevent comparing apples and oranges. By scrutinizing policies closely, you won’t wind up paying less but receiving inferior or limited insurance coverage from Insurer A, as opposed to paying Insurer B slightly more in return for more benefits and security.

One of the first things a person looks at when comparing car insurance is the premium paid. At first glance, a cheaper premium is certainly tempting. Having extra cash available is always welcome. Yet, is an annual difference of $200 really such a bargain if, in the event of a write off, the insurance company deems your car worth less than you expected?

You need to ensure that the bottom value an insurance company quotes for your car isn’t too far away from your car’s actual worth. If the terms of the policy are otherwise in your favour, obtaining an “agreed value” policy is your best bet so that replacing your car won’t be such a financial burden in the event of a write off and if the company undervalues it.

7. How does a point-for-point comparison of different policies add up?

There are sure to be similarities when you compare the basic policies of most major car insurers. A consumer needs to look at the cost of the policy and any extra benefits that particular insurer provides and ask about them if they’re not immediately obvious. For instance, comprehensive car insurance may entitle you to a hire car if your car needs repairs, until a claim is paid, or your car recovered (if it was stolen). Different insurers also have varying conditions pertaining to no-claim bonus and excess payable.

Different insurers offer different hire car periods that may also vary based on the premium you pay. Additionally, the time it takes to process a claim may take longer (months) than the period to which you’re entitled the hire car (days). Additionally, the maximum value insured for items inside the car that are damaged or stolen may vary between companies.

Car Insurance Conclussion

In the event car repairs are needed, most insurance companies have workshops authorized to carry out the necessary repairs. Some people, though, may be more comfortable appointing a mechanic of their own or who can finish the job more quickly. Aside from determining if this option is available to you, be sure to determine who bears the cost of transporting the car to the garage and if roadside assistance is provided.

How To Choose College Student Car Insurance?

Car Insurance

A car to a college student is like treasure to a pirate. Having a car at college is a luxury that not many students get to have.

Most students ride their bikes or walk to class, but if you are one of the few who gets to drive to campus and take long trips on the weekend, then you have to be prepared for the responsibility of owning a car. And that means you have to be covered with student car insurance.

Besides tuition and books, car insurance for students is one of the biggest expenses a student will pay in college. But if you are careful about choosing your student auto insurance, you will be able to work the payments into your student budget and still manage to save money in your savings account.

The Basics of Student Car Insurance

Finding cheap car insurance for students can be difficult since younger drivers usually have higher premium payments to make. It has nothing to do with you personally, but young drivers just tend to make more insurance claims than older drivers, so insurance companies will charge you more so they can make more money.

There are also other factors that can affect the amount a student will pay for student car insurance, such as:

• Age
• Gender
• Driving record
• Location of vehicle
• Damage history of vehicle
• Distance driven daily

You can’t avoid these factors when you are applying for student auto insurance, but there are many ways that you can lower your premium payments. You just need to take the right steps towards choosing your student insurance.

Tips for Choosing Your Student Car Insurance

You can’t avoid being young and in college, but there are steps you can take to lower your student car insurance payments. And even though you want to find an insurance company that offers car insurance specifically for students, not all of them do, so if you can’t get student car insurance, then follow these tips to get a cheaper car insurance plan:

Shop Around for Options

Find out as much information as you can for at least 3 different insurance companies. Compare their premium quotes and see who has the best benefits for your money.

Know Plan Basics

Knowing the basics of a student car insurance plan is very important in choosing the right kind of plan for your needs. Not all car insurance for students is the same, but the parts that make up the plan usually cover the same areas.

Here are the six basic parts of a student car insurance plan:

1) Bodily Injury - Covers you for bodily injury you might have caused to another person.

2) Personal Property Liability - Covers damage or injury you might have caused to another person’s property.

3) Collision - Covers you for any type of accident with another car or with an object like a parking meter or a utility pole.

4) Comprehensive - Covers you in case someone steals your car or something in it, or the weather damages your car. It is best to get both of these types of student car insurance coverage.

5) Personal Injury Protection (PIP) - Covers medical costs and any lost wages from a job for the policy holder and any injured passengers.

6) Uninsured Motorist - Covers you for accidents with motorists who do not have car insurance. Also covers you for hit-and-run accidents.

Maintain Good Grades

Many insurance companies offer discounts to students who maintain a B average or higher. Make sure you bring proof of your grades when you apply for your car insurance.

Apply for all Discounts

Even if you get a student discount, always apply for any discount that the insurance company is offering. Most insurance companies will offer you a great deal if you purchase multiple insurance plans together, like car and renter’s insurance, and they might even offer you a family discount if you sign up for the same insurance as your family members.

Buy the Right Car

Before you even get student car insurance, you need to get a car that is right for you. Car insurance is often based on a car’s safety probability, so high speed sports cars and smaller cars have a greater risk of damage. They are also more likely to be targeted by thieves, so you should buy a more practical car with good gas mileage and reliability rather than a car that costs more than your entire student budget.

Walk or Bike More, Drive Less

Even if you have a car, that doesn’t mean you have to use it everyday. If you live on campus and you’re close to class, either walk or ride a bike and save on gas money. Some insurance companies will give you a low-mileage car insurance deduction if you drive below a certain number of miles each year, so save your long-distance car driving for the weekends.

Increase Your Deductible

If you increase your deductible – the amount you pay towards a claim before your insurance company pays – then you can save from 15% to 40% on your student car insurance premium.

Install Secure/Anti-Theft Devices

If your car’s seat belts and airbags don’t’ work, you should get them fixed as soon as possible. Also, if you don’t have an alarm system, get one installed. The safer you are against accidents and burglaries, then the less your car insurance company will have to pay and the less you’ll have to pay to them.

Be a Safe Driver

The most important step you can take towards lowering your student auto insurance is to be a safe driver. The fewer driving violations and auto accidents that you have the more money you will save with your car insurance. That means you should never drink and drive, you should park your car in a safe area or in a garage and you should always maintain the proper speed limit.

College should be both a fun and safe experience, so if you have a car and use it as part of your daily routine, always have student car insurance for protection.