Interview with the Expert on Gold 90.5FM Radio - DirectAsia

In June 2016, Mavis Chew, our personal claims specialist from DirectAsia Insurance, was interviewed by Jamie Yeo on Gold 90.5FM's Homestretch. In the interview, Mavis shared some hot tips on our car insurance coverage plan, accident repairs and making a claim with the listeners on Gold 90.5FM.

Question 1: Do most car insurance coverage plans in Singapore cover accidents/thefts when in Malaysia? What’s the procedure if you do get into an accident or have your car stolen across the Causeway?

The short answer, it depends on the policy you’ve bought. There are 2 factors to consider:

1. Type of coverage We recommend choosing a Comprehensive car insurance policy so you are covered for damage and repairs to your own vehicle as well as third part damage and bodily injury claims.
2. Geographical coverage Most Comprehensive car insurance policies will cover you in Malaysia, but you should always confirm this with your insurance provider before you buy.

DirectAsia gives you the choice to select the geographical limit of your policy:

• If you choose to include Malaysia, we will cover you where your car is registered in Singapore, and is being driven in Singapore, West Malaysia, and in-between both countries, on the Causeway.
• If you do not choose to include Malaysia in your policy, we will still cover you if something happens while you’re driving down the Causeway as it is technically still part of the Singapore region, but this same coverage won’t apply once you cross the border into Malaysia.

If you get into an accident, no matter where it happens, you should immediately report the situation to the local police, and then call your insurance company. At DirectAsia, each claim will be acknowledged within one working day, assigned a dedicated personal claims specialist who will be easy to reach, and reviewed in less than a week.
 

Question 2: In what cases are accident repairs not covered at all by insurance agencies?

This can vary between insurance providers and the policy you’ve bought. We always recommend you choose a policy that’s customized to suits your needs.

• If you choose a Comprehensive policy, accident repairs to your own car will be covered, of course within the policy terms and conditions.
• If you choose a Third Party Fire & Theft policy, your own car will be covered in the event of fire/theft.
• If you end up purchasing a Third Party Only policy instead, damages to your own car are not covered at all.
• One example where accident repairs aren’t covered is if you’ve been charged with drunk driving, you won’t be covered even with a Comprehensive policy. (We always advocate safe driving within the law: don’t drink and drive!)
• We recommend choosing a policy that suits your needs, and at DirectAsia you can customize your plan and only pay for what you need.
   

Question 3: What is the most important thing you want people to know about making a claim?

Before anything happens (touchwood), it’s super important to read through your car insurance policy documents and if you don’t understand any part of it – always clarify with your insurer.

Knowing exactly what you’re covered for, plus what you’re not covered for, will really help you in the longer run.

When making a claim in the event of an accident:

• Report gives support. If you have been in an accident, or are claiming for something that has been stolen or vandalised, you should report the incident to the police and your insurance company before doing anything else.
• Write details down and take photos of everything including a close up of the vehicles and damages, and a wide-angle of the entire accident scene. This is something that most people always miss out. For example, in the event of an accident where the 3^rd party vehicle encroached/cut into your lane and caused the accident, it’s important to take a photo of the entire scene to show the position of both vehicles – as that will be a key piece of evidence for your case. Having an in-car camera will really help support your claim, and in fact DirectAsia gives additional discounts off your car insurance premium for having an in-car camera. Write down what happened as soon as possible so you can tell your story consistently and factually. Always note any:
  • relevant personal details, and this includes the other party in a car accident, or the doctor who treated you.
  • times and dates
  • exactly what happened
  • what you’re claiming for

There seems to be a perception that car insurance companies don’t want to help or pay out claims, but at the end of the day, DirectAsia not only wants to help, we want to resolve the claim as quickly as possible to give our customer a happier experience.