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Car and Motor Vehicle Insurance in Dubai
Car and auto insurance policies and companies (also boats and motorcycles)
- There are many automobile insurance companies in the UAE but ask
around for personal opinions - like anywhere in the world, there is
a huge variety of levels of customer service and satisfaction. Ask
friends and colleagues for opinions on claims made. Most, if not all,
insurance companies are much more helpful when they want your money
than when
you need your car repaired.
- Nissan Maximas are difficult to insure, find out if you can get it
insured first before buying one (they seem to be involved in a disproportionately
high number of accidents). Sports/fast/luxury
cars are expensive to get insured.
- Drivers under 25, especially males, will find insurance difficult
and/or more expensive.
- Cars older than 5 (or 7 depending on the company) years may be difficult
to get comprehensive insurance for.
- Some policies do not insure cars when driven off-road. This
might include parking your vehicle on the sand behind the building.
This might also just be urban legend but potential for disagreement
with your insurance company is there.
- Even if an insurance policy insures vehicles for off-road driving,
don't expect it to apply if you damage your 2wd Toyota Echo while dune-bashing
in the Liwa Sands.
- Drinking + driving + crashing = no insurance (including the 200,000
dhs blood money you have to pay if someone dies).
- A car cannot be registered until it's insured. A car can be insured
without being registered - check policy carefully but it would be unusual
that an unregistered car is not covered unless there is something preventing
registration eg worn or old tyres/tires).
- There are 3 or 4 motor vehicle insurance types:
- TPFT (Third Party, Fire & Theft) which is the legal minimum
you are required to have - and is the cheapest. In an accident,
your insurance company will not pay for damage to your own car
- someone else's might if they're to blame.
- Comprehensive or Fully Comprehensive (basic level) - there
is a legal obligation for insurance companies to provide this
at a certain maximum price level of about 3-5% of the value of
the car. It covers damage to your own car but expect lots of
restrictions and loopholes or get-out clauses.
- Comprehensive with options - for extra cost you get options
like dealer repair, free hire car, free insurance in Oman and
other GCC countries, recognition of no claims bonuses (either
UAE and/or from overseas). Expect to pay 3-10% of the value of
the car depending on company and no claims bonus.
- Comprehensive, premium level - for even more money you get
options similar to previous level. Usually there are some restrictions
on who can buy this level of insurance. Expect to pay an extra
1 or 2% of the value of the car.
- If you're coming from overseas, make sure you bring an original no
claims bonus certificate (if you have one). Usually it's worth 0-40%
discount on the normal rates. No claims bonuses rarely exceed 40% discount
in the UAE.
- Try negotiating with the insurance company - if you have some wasta,
their rates may be flexible.
- Insurance brokers will sometimes find a cheaper deal. A downside
is if they are disorganised and you rely on the broker to send you
policy renewals and deal with accident claims - not that insurance
companies are necessarily always organised but it's one less step in
the chain of bureaucracy if you deal direct with the company. HSBC
bank has a brokerage service which seems to be a reasonably good choice.
- Three well-known companies worth trying (also for boats, yachts and
motorcycles) are
- Al Ittihad Al Watani General Insurance Company, Al Garhood Center,
Deira, tel +971-4-2823266. Websites are unhelpful - www.unic.ae and
www.alittihadalwatani.com.lb each
tell you to visit the other one.
- AXA (was previously called Norwich Union) - tel +971-4-3243434,
in the Wafi Residence Ground Floor.
- Royal & SunAlliance - tel +971-4-3344474
This information last updated
Sunday 10-May-2009
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Related pages - Internal Links
- Dubai - FAQ home and index
Related websites - External Links (open in new window)
- www.fasterquote.ae - provides online car insurance quotes from Royal & SunAlliance (but slowly).
- Dubai directory - add your link free
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