A car insurance policy acts as a shield against any financial crisis that may arise with damage to your car. In most cases, however, the policy is quite basic and does not provide sufficient coverage. Fortunately, you can opt for an extensive cover with value-added features that make sure you are adequately protected in case of a mishap. These supplementary car insurance add-ons broaden the scope of your policy to meet your specific needs and are, therefore, worth spending the extra premium on.
Following are some worthwhile car insurance add-ons that can make your car insurance policy comprehensive and powerful:
Agency Repair Cover
The optional agency repair cover guarantees that your car will be serviced by authorized personnel at your car manufacturer’s workshop in the event of an accident. Since agency employees are specialists at handling a particular brand of car, they can diagnose issues better as well as provide quality control with regard to replacement parts.
Most reputable insurers offer agency repair services for up to 5 years from the date of manufacture with comprehensive car insurance policy.
No Claims Discount Protection
No claims discount is a special concession on car insurance premium offered to customers with a claim-free record upon renewal of their policy. In the UAE, this can help you secure a discount of up to 50 percent on your premium, subject to several limitations.
Some insurance companies offer a special protection feature on your no claims discount which allows you to make claims on your policy without risking your discount the following year. This no claims discount protection cover is a valuable add-on since it guarantees savings on your car insurance premium.
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Personal Accident Cover
In the unfortunate event of an incident resulting in medical expenditure, permanent disability or death, the personal accident cover provides financial protection to the owner, hired driver as well as any co-passengers. It compensates for medical, funeral, repatriation and loss-of-income expenses and comes with a policy limit of up to AED 1 million depending on the specifics of your cover.
In many cases, the personal accident cover also acts as a supplement to health insurance by granting a lump sum, making up for co-payments and deductibles.
Roadside Assistance Cover
This is an essential policy upgrade if you often travel alone, with children or to remote locations. Under the roadside assistance cover, insurers provide some or all of the following benefits:
- On-the-spot repair
- Flat tire service
- Emergency fuel delivery
- Examining battery issues
- Emergency towing service
- Delivery and assistance with spares
- Vehicle key service
- Driver disability assistance
- Taxi and accommodation benefits
Cover Against Natural Disasters
Since natural disasters are hard to predict, it is in your best interest to remain adequately protected by opting for this add-on before a disaster strikes or is forecast. Optional comprehensive natural disaster coverage, which often comes packaged with collision coverage, protects you financially against damages sustained from floods, fires, hurricanes, hail, earthquakes or falling debris. The collision component deals with collision based damages in case of a natural disaster.
Like any other car insurance add-ons, these upgrades also come with a set of limitations. It is critical that you understand what your policy covers before committing.
