Adequate insurance cover even more essential on over-crowded roads
With 15 new cars sold in New Zealand showrooms every hour, seven days a week, little wonder our roads are becoming increasingly congested.
All the more reason then to ensure our vehicles are adequately insured against potential collisions.
While new vehicles are undoubtedly safer and better equipped than those they are replacing, the total number of vehicles on our roads is increasing by the week.
Every motorist who uses Auckland’s roads in particular knows there is greater traffic congestion than there was even two years ago.
It follows there is a higher chance of being involved in a random crash, especially in urban streets teaming with other vehicles and at times, cyclists, trucks, vans and pedestrians.
While it may be tempting to skimp on car insurance, especially if you have managed to drive for years without having an accident or claim, failing to be adequately covered in the event one occurs can lead to huge inconvenience to say the least.
Crashing when you’re uninsured can leave you with a lot of expenses to be able to get your car back on the road. If you have insurance and you get caught in an crash, not only will it help out on costs, it’ll also give you peace of mind as your insurance company will generally do all the running around for you.
Depending on what type of coverage you have, car insurance can also protect you against many other factors — not just crashes with other vehicles. Some policies protect your car if it’s been stolen or damaged outside of a crash. Sometimes they’ll provide roadside assistance and the benefit of towing free of charge.
As part of your insurance you may also get legal liability cover, which means if you’re at fault in an accident your insurer will provide cover.
If you have a crash with an uninsured vehicle, depending on the policy you have, you may still be covered. It’s worth checking, especially if you have a third-party policy because if the crash was your fault, your insurance will only pay for the damage on the other vehicle. If the crash wasn’t your fault, with third party cover it’s likely you’ll get nothing, unless you can successfully identify the driver who caused the crash and they admit they were at fault.
There are various types of cover — whether it’s third-party, fire-and-theft or comprehensive — make sure you're selecting the best policy that’s right for you.
If you're driving a vehicle that’s 20 years old with dents and scratches, you may find you don't need comprehensive cover.It may be cheaper to buy another vehicle rather than spend the cash on repairs. If you're driving a brand new car, you’ll probably want full cover as repairs may be expensive.
If you’re in a crash and it was your fault, you’re responsible for all damages caused. If you’re uninsured, the costs will come out of your pocket and it could ruin you financially, especially if you’re unfortunate enough to have an incident with the increasing numbers of supercars on our roads.