Tips for Getting Car Insurance in Dubai and the UAE
With around 11 car insurers in the UAE, motor insurance is easy to get and most of the major insurance companies are well represented in the Gulf region. AXA Gulf is probably the best known for car insurance in Dubai; they have been in the region for many years and offer a comprehensive range of insurance policies, not just for motor vehicles. However, they’re not your only option. RAK Insurance, RSA UAE, AIG UAE, Zurich Insurance UAE and Oman Insurance Company are just a few of the available options.
There are 2 types of insurance cover available – Comprehensive cover and Third Party Liability cover. Comprehensive cover offers complete protection in the case of accidents, whether it was your fault or not, along with a raft of other options which may include, depending upon the insurer:
Personal Accident, Injury and Passenger cover: this cover provides you with the option to make sure both yourself and your passengers are covered in the event of injury during an accident involving the insured vehicle. Usually this is an additional cost on top of the basic cover. Examples include Emergency Medical Expenses, which includes cover for up to an agreed sum if medical treatment is needed as the result of an accident and Personal Effects coverage for loss or damage up to an agreed sum if the damage or loss to the vehicle is the result of fire, lightning or external explosion.
Agency Repair: this policy covers repairs on the vehicle but is often only available on new cars, in which case it is possible to get cover of between 2 to 5 years, or cars that are up to 2 and 3 years old. In most instances the cover is usually only available until the car reaches 5 years of age regardless.
Off road and GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) cover: if you intend to do some desert or off-road driving it’s a good idea to make sure you have a car insurance policy that covers this as well.
Excess fee: if you cause an accident the excess fee is what you pay over and above your cover when the vehicle is repaired.
Additional benefits: some other types of cover that may be included either as standard or as optional extras include a replacement car if your car is being repaired, Road Side Assistance including towing to an authorised repairer / service centre if it breaks down and jump starting in the event of a flat battery and so on.
The other type of car insurance is Third Party Liability cover, which only provides cover for the other vehicle if you cause an accident. Any damage caused to your own vehicle is your responsibility to fix. This policy is most commonly taken out with older cars that do not qualify for comprehensive cover.
Applying for car insurance in Dubai and the UAE
When applying for car insurance you will need information like the car’s make, model, engine and chassis number. Most insurance companies now offer an online service so you can research the best policies to suit your requirements and budget. It may end up being a lot more convenient however to use an online service that does all the research for you and then presents you with a few of the best options based on your circumstances as provided to them. 8keyz has a no-hassle 3 step online process available on their website to make the whole insurance process fast, easy and efficient.
