‘Give us online car insurance,’ say UAE drivers

Eighty percent of UAE drivers want to buy their car insurance online, according to a Souqalmal.com survey – but many of the Emirates’ car insurance companies still do not offer the option.

Of the 20 percent of drivers who would not buy online, close to half said they could not get insurance online – or could not get enough information online. A third said they preferred to talk to someone.

Of the 11 car insurance companies in the UAE, four do not offer online payment: ADNIC, New India Assurance, Orient Insurance Company and Zurich (see table).

Of the 600 drivers Souqalmal.com surveyed, only 35 percent said they would definitely be renewing their current car insurance at their next renewal.

Customer service key

And despite constant reports that consumers in the region refuse to buy online, 80 percent of the drivers surveyed said they were happy to pay using their credit card online.

Some three-quarters have fully comprehensive insurance and a quarter are insured for third party liability only, dropping to 18 percent in the wealthier 35+ demographic and growing to 28 percent among millennials aged 18 – 34.

Other than price, for millennials, recommendations (21 percent) and good customer service (15 percent) were the biggest factors in choosing an insurer, whereas drivers aged 35 or older were more likely to simply stick with the same provider (24 percent).

Infographic: Car insurance survey June 2014

Car insurers that offer online payment

Source: Souqalmal.com

Drivers want to know what they’re getting for their dollar, and are more online-savvy and less loyal – especially millennials, the ‘connected’ generation.

There needs to be a shift in the industry to take account of not just pricing but offering online facilities, and ensuring loyalty via better customer service. That is exactly where Souqalmal.com fits in – by allowing users to compare 21 different insurance policies with customer reviews and their particular benefits.

Some 84 percent of the 600 surveyed were male and 16 percent female; 37 percent were aged 35 – 44 and 42 percent 25 – 34.

Road accidents down in UAE

UAE roads definitely seem to be getting safer – as more people go fully comprehensive, the number of road traffic accidents is also dropping, with 1,712 in the first quarter of this year compared to 2,026 for the same period last year.

In the three years from 2011 – 2013, the Ministry of Interior (MoI) says total accidents have dropped from 6,700 in 2011 to 5,124 in 2013.

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2013 road traffic accident breakdown

Source: UAE Ministry of Interior, March 2014