What Your Car Insurance Policy Doesn't Cover

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So, you purchased an expensive car insurance policy for your new ride and think you are now invincible and fully protected on the roads.

But hold up, did you read the fine print on your motor insurance policy? Even a comprehensive car insurance policy won’t cover a few things and actions that caused and resulted in an accident.

In this article, we will first cover what non-comprehensive car insurance policies like Third-Party Only (TPO) and Third-Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT) don’t cover compared to a more comprehensive plan. Following that, we will take a look at what every car insurance policy doesn’t cover.

What’s Covered

Third-Party Only (TPO)

TPO is the minimum you must get, and it just covers any costs you incurred for damaging someone else’s car and their medical bill.

As the name suggests, the plan only covers the damage the other party has suffered. Any costs related to the damage to yourself, your car, belongings and passengers will have to come out of your own pocket.

Third-Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT)

This is considered an extension of the TPO plan. On top of the coverage of the TPO, this plan covers your own car against loss or damages caused directly by fire or theft.

However, other causes resulting in loss or damage to your own car is not covered.

Comprehensive

Aside from all the coverage mentioned above, it also covers accidental damage to your own car if you get into an accident with a light pole, for example.

It also usually has benefits and medical expenses in the event of a car accident, covering the driver, passengers and their belongings.

What’s Not Covered

While the fine print for car insurance differs from policy to policy and company to company, there is a list of things and actions that falls under a “blanket ban” which most, if not all insurance companies would not cover in the event of an accident.

Drink-Driving

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Apart from it being a criminal offence to drive while intoxicated, insurance companies will deny any claims arising from an accident that was caused by a driver that was proven to be drunk at the time of the accident.

Civil Disobedience

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While Singapore rarely has any major cases of civil disobediences, with the most recent being the Little India riots a couple of years ago, car insurance companies seem to have a constant fear of it happening.

Thus, most motor insurance policies do not cover damages to your car arising from riots, strikes and civil commotions.

War

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With tensions between major world powers and the threat of terrorism slowly rising, the threat of war is clearly looming and insurance companies, for obvious reasons, hates that.

Similar to civil disobedience, insurance companies won't cover any damage to your car that resulted both directly and indirectly by war, terrorism and nuclear risk.

Acts of God

(Photo Credit: Straits Times)

While Singapore is mostly immune to natural disasters due to our geographic location, car insurance companies aren’t taking any chances.

Like with civil disobedience, most car insurance companies do not cover damages to your car that resulted in forces of nature. In Singapore, events that fall under this category usually includes trees falling and flooding from heavy rain, for example.

Exceeding Seating Capacity

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I'm sure we are all guilty for overloading our car with more people than we were allowed to at least once. Well, the insurance companies aren't too happy with us for doing that.

If the insurance company finds out that there were more people in your car than legally allowed during the accident, they might reject your claim.

So, the lesson to take away from this article is even the most comprehensive car insurance policies do not cover every eventuality that might befall on your car. So, make sure to read the fine print and ask your insurer questions to find out just how much your car insurance plan actually covers you.

Still hunting around for the right car insurance policy for you? Why not let us help you!

Here at Motorist, we can get you the best motor insurance coverage at the lowest price possible. We will assist you to source for the best coverage from over 10 insurers. In just one working day, we will revert with the most competitive quote with no obligations.

Read more: How to Make a Car Insurance Claim

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