Car Insurance Dubai

Auto and Car Insurance Dubai, UAE

www.dubaifaqs.com

Car and Motor Vehicle Insurance in Dubai


Sponsored Links

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 Saturday 09-Feb-2008

See an error? Have suggestions or comments? Visit the Dubai car insurance discussion.

www.dubaifaqs.com

Car and Motor Vehicle Insurance in Dubai

Car and auto insurance policies and companies (also boats and motorcycles)

This information last updated Saturday 09-Feb-2008

Related pages - Internal Links

Related websites - External Links (open in new window)