One of the most common questions we get asked is how to get low cost car insurance in Dubai, and indeed the UAE in general. Whilst there’s no fail-safe formula to cutting the costs of cover for your car, there are some tried and tested techniques we’re happy to share.
Luckily, securing the best car insurance in the UAE is a relatively simple, straightforward process, with a wide range of providers and plans to choose from. In this blog we’ll tell you our top five tricks of the trade: give them a try and see how you can save!
1. Consider The Vehicle Type Before You Buy
Before buying a car, do your research on how much it is likely to cost to insure. Let’s face it, that Ford Mustang is eye-catching but it’s not going to be as value for money to insure as a Toyota Corolla even if you buy an older model! Buying the car is only the beginning: you need to consider running costs (fuel consumption and maintenance) of which insurance is a part. So always factor these into your overall buying budget!
2. Consider A Higher Excess On Your Policy
Excess is the amount you are required to pay in the event of a claim. Most motor policies have two types of excess: compulsory, which is an amount set by the Insurer according to the cause of claim (for example, windscreen losses may be AED500 and accidental own damage AED1500), and voluntary. As the name suggests, voluntary is the amount you elect to pay and this amount is down to you. Increasing the amount you agree to pay can lower your premium but always ensure you can afford the amount you select, as you will be expected to pay this towards any claim you might have.
3. Consider Your No Claims Discount Before Claiming
Insurers typically give a discount at next renewal if you haven’t made a claim in that insurance year. This is usually a percentage against the rate or premium charged so not making any claims could save you money. This is worth considering in the event of an incident where you could claim on your policy but the amount is one you’d happily cover yourself. This could make sense if you were claiming a small amount for say a cracked windscreen or some bodywork damage for a few hundred dirhams, but the potential to build up no claims discount could save you more than that.
4. Never Auto-Renew Unless You Have To
We all look for convenience when it comes to covering our cars so auto-renew may seem the automatic choice! There’s no doubt it’s the easiest option, but is easy always best and are the alternatives really that much harder? If you elect to auto-renew, you run the risk of:
- Paying too much for your insurance
- Missing out on great deals that are happening in the market right now
- Being unaware of what your “true” premium should be as your previous premium rate may have just been “rolled over”
- Not securing all the value-adds that you could get elsewhere: like rewards, discounts and offers from strategic partnerships that your current insurer just can’t provide
- Not getting the widest coverage available as you are renewing based on your current product/policy structure
It really isn’t hard or complicated to look for alternatives but we appreciate it can take time and that’s why someone like ourselves at InsuranceMarket.ae should be your first call. We search the market so you don’t have to and our services are free and as comprehensive as the policies we sell! And since it’s just a phone call or a click to contact us, the effort is the same needed to renew with your current insurer, but you could be getting so much more!
5. Maximise Your Money
Why stretch yourself when you can stretch your payment term? Talk to your insurance provider about instalments that lighten the load. After all, you might have to have car insurance but you don’t have to feel the pressure of paying an annual premium in one hit!
At InsuranceMarket.ae, we offer a free-to-use, easy to set up, instalment facility through one of our strategic partners, Spotii. Ask our advisors for more details and get the cover you want today and pay later!
