Things Your Comprehensive Car Insurance Does (And Does Not) Cover

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We are told that a comprehensive car insurance cover is the policy that offers the most protection for car owners (the other two being third-party and third-party, fire & theft).

But are you really protected against everything that could possibly happen to your car? Or are there limitations to your comprehensive car insurance policy?

Here’s what you are actually insured against, and the things you are not, when you take up a comprehensive car insurance policy.

The coverage you enjoy

First, let’s start off with the coverage you enjoy with a standard comprehensive car insurance policy:

– Loss or damage to your own vehicle due to accident, fire and theft
– Third-party death or bodily injury
– Third-party property damage or loss

Take note that unless otherwise stated in your car insurance policy, the three items above are the only things you are insured against, and nothing else.

And yes, your own death or bodily injuries are NOT covered… despite what many people think.

The coverage you think is included, but actually you need to pay for

Money talks, even for car insurance. By paying extra premium, you can enjoy plenty of additional coverage in addition to the three items mentioned above.

The following are some of the common items you do not have in a typical comprehensive car insurance policy, that can be paid for by forking out extra Ringgit:

ADD-ON	COVERAGE
Windscreen	Breakage of windscreens, windows.
Special Peril	Loss or damage arising from flood, storm, typhoon, landslide and other acts of nature.
Strike, Riot and Civil Commotion	Loss or damage caused by strike, riot and civil commotion.
Legal Liability to Passengers	Protects against legal liabilities brought against you by your passengers. NOTE: If you intend to drive to Singapore, you MUST have this coverage. Failure to comply is an offence punishable by law.
Legal Liability of Passengers	Covers the legal liability of your passengers for acts of negligence (eg. a passenger in your car opens the car door and causes an accident).
Additional Drivers	Covers additional named drivers for your car. NOTE: You can name up to two drivers per car for free. Additional named drivers starting from the third driver are chargeable at RM10 per person.

Whenever a flash flood hits Malaysia (which is likely to happen every year) and photos of cars stuck on roads that have turned into rivers are all over social media, most people’s thoughts will turn to the cost to clean up and fix the damaged cars. All cars on the road should have insurance but you can only claim for damage caused by floods if you have bought additional coverage for special peril.

The same goes for other risks that you may need to buy additional coverage. For example, if you use your car to travel frequently on long distances, getting covered for windscreen damage may be a good idea. Or if you share your car with other family members, coverage for additional drivers is a wise move.

Ultimately, understand that your comprehensive car insurance policy is not that all-encompassing as you may have thought (despite the word “comprehensive” being in the title of the policy). If needed, always make sure you protect yourself by buying the additional coverage you need the most!

Looking for a suitable car insurance policy? Compare the ones available in Malaysia and apply for one directly on our car insurance comparison table at no additional charges.

This article was first published in September 2013 and has been updated for freshness, accuracy and comprehensiveness.