I need car insurance – how can my personal shopper help me?

Your dedicated personal shopper’s job is to help you shop for your insurance. Their job is to buy from the insurance companies. They don’t have to sell anything! We understand that (unfortunately) the insurance industry is driven by way too many sales agents and this is what we hate about insurance too! We know that what you really want is someone who is impartial, independent and truly knows what they’re talking about.

 

Of course we want your business, but our experience in providing insurance services since 1995 has taught us that this is not going to be achieved by being pushy, annoying and sales-commission-driven. This is why we don’t pay out a commission for every deal that your personal shopper closes (contrary to usual business practice here in the UAE). Rather, we understand that have to be helpful and that we have to be there for you whenever you need. We just need to promptly get you a good deal for the right product for you and this is what we promise to do for you. always!

So, this is what your personal shopper will do excellently well for you:

Explain – insurance is confusing and you just want your asset to be protected from any accident or risk. In the process of doing so, you may have many questions. Our personal shoppers have been trained to simplify things for you and explain the practical aspects in deciding on your insurance policy. Moreover, it really helps that we have a fast track claims unit within our own organisation, so we can see our policies at work on a daily basis. We’d love to share examples should you be concerned about a specific scenario.

Advise – your dedicated personal shopper has been trained to make sure that they’re never one of the two extremes: an indifferent source of information without any opinion or (perhaps worse) a sales agent of one particular product. We want to understand your requirement, what covers you require, which insurance company would most like your risk profile and then we recommend which options are most suitable for you. Usually, these are the most cost effective options (with the covers you need) but not always.

Modify – we realise that you initial quote comparison may need some changing in terms of covers or material information like car value or your Emirate of registration. Your personal shoppers will help you to make any modifications to your quotes quickly and accurately.

Negotiate – as mentioned above, your dedicated personal shopper is here to buy for you and on your behalf. Your personal shopper knows that they must assume that they are themselves spending the money to buy your car insurance policy and accordingly negotiate with the insurance companies to bring you the best possible deal. If you have some positive information about your risk profile (for example, your driving experience or your claims experience), then your personal shopper will definitely take that information back to the insurance companies and bring down the prices as much as possible.

Commit – your dedicated personal shopper knows that many things, when it comes to an intangible product like insurance, are not written on paper. Rather, some things are a promise from one person to another. They have been trained to understand the value of a commitment and have been taught to appropriately commit to something being as it is being explained – they will put themselves and their career on the line by doing so. So, if they are really telling you that your claim in a particular scenario would be paid, you can really take their word for it! Even if it isn’t written explicitly on your policy – after all, you cannot write about every scenario! Moreover, for an industry driven so significantly by interpersonal relationships, we will make sure that what the personal shopper promised you really comes true at the time of a claim – through the use of our relationships with the insurance companies.

Remind – we know that the Dubai life is very busy and that while you wish you could give enough time to things like car insurance, you’re not able to. Hence, in order to avoid you being in a situation where your insurance has to be impulse bought at the last moment, your personal shopper will ask you when you plan to register your car and accordingly remind you about choosing the right insurance with a sufficient amount of time beforehand. They will make sure that it is not completely forgotten.

If you really need something to be done very urgently, please feel free to contact any one of your dedicated personal shoppers directly and they will process your requirements on priority. So come visit insurancemarket.ae – we’d love to help!

 

I’m thinking of going ahead with Insurance Market – how fast can I expect my quotes and my policy?

Hey Alfred – how fast can I expect my quotes and my policy?

We realise that you are usually pushed for time when you come to us looking for car insurance. In fact, when we set up insurancemarket.ae one of our main objectives was to save you a great deal of time and effort.

As Alfred says, “we do the shopping around for you so that you don’t have to!” We know that you need your car insurance policy in order to be able to register your car and you need to register your car as soon as possible. It is also natural and normal to not have insurance at the top of your list of priorities!

But what we also know is that you don’t want to pay more or buy the wrong product because you’re in a rush. After all, your insurance is protecting probably one of the most valuable things that you will own in the UAE.

It is for the above reasons that we have set up our systems to deliver truly tailor made solutions in minutes. We really manually analyse your profile and requirements and we value this step of the process hugely – after all, we wish to retain you as our client as long as you’re in the UAE and hence need to make sure that we give you the right product at the best possible price. Read more about why we don’t sell online here.

Our Current Service Commitment

• You will receive your quote comparison within a maximum of 4 working hours
• You will receive a call and email from your dedicated personal shopper within a maximum of 4 working hours after your quote comparison has been sent to you
• You will receive your policy within a maximum of 2 working hours of sending across your documents and pending information (if you need it sooner, just let us know, it can sometimes be done in as soon as 10 minutes)
• You will receive your claim registration within a maximum of 4 working hours of sending across your documents and pending information
• You will receive a helpful and detailed reply to your email within a maximum of 3 working hours of us receiving it
• If your personal shopper misses your phone call they will make sure they call you within a maximum of 1 working hour of missing your call

We really aspire to meet and exceed the above commitments all the time, however some days can be unusually busy and the volume of requests can delay things a bit – but never by too much. Your enquiry is truly very important to us!

If you really need something to be done very urgently (sooner than the time frames mentioned above), please feel free to contact any one of your dedicated personal shoppers directly and they will process your requirements on priority.

Salvage of Vehicles

People are always asking why they cannot keep their vehicle after it has been involved in an accident and is written off by their insurance Company. You may think the damage is not that bad but, looks can be deceiving. They used to allow the owner of the vehicle the choice of either just allowing the insurance company to salvage it or they would offer the client the option of keeping it. 

The damage to your vehicle would cost more to repair than the car is worth. They will not pay more than it is worth, so they may offer you a settlement of 3672 AED. They would keep the vehicle. If you wanted to keep and car, the settlement amount would be reduced to say 2571 AED, with you keeping the car. They lower the payment as the insurance company will be responsible for the salvage charges.

The option of buying back your car was discontinued due to a couple of different reasons.
1. The vehicle may not look too bad on the outside, but it was the inside frame of the car which was compromised, so it would not be safe to drive.
2. The vehicle might be fixed by a friend down the road that owns a garage and would fix it just enough to legally put it on the road.
3. Nothing would be done on it. Looks fine. Insured keeps driving it.

I was told by my underwriter at an Insurance Company that they stopped using that practice. They were finding that people took the money and vehicle but would not get it fixed. These vehicles were not repaired and were being driven on the road again. One of their clients sold off the vehicle to another person. That person ended up in a serious at fault accident. The claim proceeded as normal until it showed that the vehicle had already been written off in an accident. The Original Company ended up being sued because they allowed the vehicle back on the road.

It has become law through many DMV, Insurance Authorities, that any vehicle that has been written off by an insurance company will have the vehicle blacklisted and marked on the ownership.

There are now car history reports that you must purchase, before it is licensed showing all accidents that occurred with that vehicle.

If your vehicle is stolen and then returned to you. The adjusters will want your vehicle checked for all issues that could have been compromised while not in your care. Baby seats are an important factor as well. They should be replaced if they are involved in any type of accident.

Visit insurancemarket.ae to compare up to 10 car insurance quotes in minutes, with the help of a dedicated personal shopper.

Commercial Fleet Insurance in Dubai

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Fleet insurance essentially is a group insurance for cars. It allows for cost reductions as well as ease of administration. For any company that owns more than four or five vehicles, we strongly recommend structuring a fleet insurance policy. Fleet insurance is very popular across large corporate entities in Dubai however it’s slowly gaining popularity among the SME sector, who usually just insure all their vehicles individually.

If you take as an example, a hydro company, they have multiple vehicles on the road that their workers use for business. They range from executive driven vehicles to the work trucks packed with equipment.  Some of these businesses have 50-60 vehicles on the road each day.

Commercial Insurance Companies have recognised the enormous price of insuring these vehicles separately. They have set up a fleet insurance policy for businesses that have more than 5 vehicles in use. All commercial vehicles are rated for their individual use. You can have one rate for a car, and a different one for the truck that is fixing hydro lines. The rates vary depending on what the vehicle is used for each day. The commercial fleet policies often are given a standard discount of 30-40% off the premium of all the vehicles insured.

There is always a large turnover of vehicles. They are damaged, out of date, or have been totalled in an accident. At one time, and probably still in some companies, the insurance policy was written so the insured’s business could substitute vehicles on their own. They would just have to submit records at the end of the policy term. The liability insurance cards are sometimes written up as follows: ALL VEHICLES OWNED AND/OR OPERATED BY DUBAI HYDRO. This created less work for both parties. All vehicle descriptions are updated at the end of the year with DIN and the correct VIN of all vehicles.

Along with the change of vehicles, there are drivers who come and go each year. The client knows the rules as far as the type of drivers they can insure. They will have to produce the drivers abstracts each year when the policy comes due for renewal.

The coverage available is basically the same as you would put on your vehicle. There are Mandatory limits as described by law. The policy would include Full comprehensive or third Party liability, medical expenses and emergency care. There are a few Companies that are offering a Personal Accident Benefit.

There are commercial products available that can be paired with fleet insurance. If one of your vehicles happens have an accident, whereas the contents have spilled all over the road. You will no doubt want to have coverage for the cargo. Always speak to your broker to make sure your business is completely covered.

More and more people are turning to the road assistance programs available. AAA, or CAA are the most popular. It assists the Insurance Companies by absorbing some of the costs of towing, start-ups and fuel.

At insurancemarket.ae we can setup a custom-made fleet insurance policy for a company that owns two cars or more.

Car Insurance in the UAE – Weather

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How the weather in the UAE effects all aspects of your life and what you can do to be insurance proof your investments.

In the UAE it seems that during a few months, the problem there is the Sandstorms which are similar to a blinding blizzard.

It is a double or trip whammy in UAE. The sandstorms can affect the performance of your vehicles, pipes in your home and most importantly your life. Here are a few ways to avoid insurance claims on your policy for auto and medical insurance policy.

Auto Insurance

It is possible that these sandstorms can create major engine problems. It is possible for it to get into the engine, exhaust, fuel tanks, windshield wiper holder and possibly into your transmission lines. If you can’t see while you are driving, it will be very hard to avoid having an accident. Remember there are other people out there trying to drive too. The best advise is not even to drive in conditions like that.

There are a few preventative tasks you can do to lower the risk of any of these things happening to you.

1. Always check your tires. If the tires have no tread, your car it not going to be able to stop suddenly to avoid an accident.
2. Check you filters everyday and make sure they are clear.
3. If possible, cover the vehicle when not in use.
4. Always make sure you check your fluids to make sure they are clear.
5. Make sure your windows are closed

Home insurance

1.  Make sure all your windows are closed.
2.  Check the outside piping to make sure all is secure
3.  Electrical panels or plugs for outdoor lighting.
4.  If you do have a pool, cover it 

The main concern here is really the blockage of sand in a live electrical plug or panel. Even a pool filter could be affected.

Insurance on a Boat, ATV or other recreational type vehicle.

1. Boat should be totally covered especially the motor. Sand around water is mud and you could have a big expense on your hands if sand gets into the electrical area. Motors are not cheap and you will probably have large an excess or deductible.
2. The ATV and other recreational vehicles also have the motor, electric issue as well as an excess or deductible.

Sickness and Health

1. If you put water into a small balloon and then empty it, pour in a handful of sand, shake and them empty it, it you look into the balloon, you can get an idea of what your lungs are dealing with every time you step outside without a mask.
2. This must be taken seriously especially with young children. Asthma is a killer for many. Adding sand to the mixture could cause irreversible damage. Situations like this are the reasons you need to take out an accident and sickness policy or make sure you are covered properly.

Please visit insurancemarket.ae for car insurance in Dubai and across the UAE – compare from up to 10 insurers.

Questions you asked and the answers you wanted to know about car insurance in Dubai

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What happens if my unlicensed child takes my car out for a joy ride and smashes up the car and damages another person’s property?

In order to have your vehicle fixed by the insurance company, you would actually have to charge your son/daughter with theft. Your Insurance would pay for the other persons damages.

Can I keep the collision and comprehensive on my vehicle if it is over 10 years old? 

Collision Coverage

If you call a car dealer just to get an unbiased opinion, they will give you the book value of the car. This is normally how the insurance adjusters value your vehicle. As an example: You have an accident and total the car. It is a 1999 Dodge Neon and the dealer has told you it is worth about $900. You have collision coverage on the vehicle, however your excess is $500 and the premium you paid to have the collision was $150. You would only end of getting $900 – $650 = $250 and there is a chance it would be more depreciation on the car.  It is not worth it. Many of the Insurance Companies wont insure vehicles at that age, but some still do. There are cases that the vehicle is not a classic or antique but is in perfect condition, has low mileage and only driven in the summer months. If this is the case, a picture of the vehicle and perhaps an appraisal, they may insure it to value.

Comprehensive coverage

Comprehensive is another physical damage coverage which, if allowed to keep on the policy would be good for windshield coverage. You may have your excess to pay, but it may be worth your while to pay and keep it. This of course depends on the specific rules of the company.

If I leave the Country, should I cancel my auto insurance? 

It is a good idea to check on that. Some of the auto accident benefits coverage may not cover you of out of country or even local areas.

Why should I put my home and auto policies together?

This is a question that is asked all the time. One answer is because you will get a multi-line discount. Another reason is the contents of your car are insured under your home policy. You will only have to deal with one adjuster and possibly only have to pay one deductible.

What happens if my policy gets canceled?

Insurance premiums are spread over a year. If you cancel prior to the expiry date of the policy you will get a portion of the money back unless you have had an accident.

Can the Insurance and Registration be in two different names?

No. The ownership and insurance must legally be in the same name. 

Do you insure high value cars?

The best way to get a quote on a high valued vehicle is to call your agent. These vehicle differ in the way the insurance calculates the premiums.

Homeowners Insurance

If all my belongings are lost in a fire, how do I prove to the insurance company that I had what I say I had?

There is a burden of honesty that is expected from Insurance Customers. Insurance Company can investigate your claims, however it is a good idea to take pictures, videos appraisals, anything of great value. This information should be kept elsewhere.

Alfred has recently shared some wonderful videos on car insurance. You can watch them and share your personal thoughts with us. 

Car Accidents in Dubai

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You have finally obtained your driver’s license and more importantly, are you financially sound. If you are in this situation, you are on your way to purchase a car.

Once you have purchased the car of your dreams, call an insurer. Unfortunately, your four-wheeled beauty could become an obstacle in the path of a thrill-seeker, drunk or otherwise. Accidents are mostly unintentional and unfortunate, but sadly not uncommon. What’s even sadder is the amount of time wasted in pointing fingers instead of sticking around and cooperating with each other till (and even after) the police arrive at the scene.

In such an event, there’s just one simple rule: interact, don’t react and don’t admit fault. Check to make sure everyone involved is alright. If there are casualties, call an ambulance; be honest while explaining the incident, get the names and contact details of the other drivers involved in the accident and information about their cars, insurers, etc., and try to obtain as many eye-witness accounts as possible. From the legal point of view, taking pictures of the damaged vehicles is of utmost importance. In fact, here’s a tip for all parties involved the accident: have the ‘before’ picture of the car handy as well. Cell phones with cameras are a god send.

Lying is a strict no-no when it comes to talking to your insurer about it. You have to remember that you could be denied coverage for the damage if all the facts are incorrect. Carrying a copy of the police report is an absolute must: it could establish who violated the traffic law at the time of the accident. If you feel your insurer is not giving you a fair valuation for damages to your car, don’t hesitate to seek a second, and possibly a third opinion (including that of your car dealer).

Also, if needed, receive medical treatment as soon as possible. As far as visits to your doctor are concerned, all you have to do is be regular and heed every piece of advice. It’s very important to have a diary; it’ll help you keep track of the next appointment and amounts outstanding to your insurer, lawyer, etc. If the other insurers adjuster calls you, don’t speak to them, politely refer them to your adjuster.

Another consideration is waiting to make a decision once you have been made an offer. If it is a serious accident, speak to your lawyer and don’t settle a claim until you have made sure that you’ll be suitably compensated for all the injuries you have suffered. A doctor’s prognosis is critical, because some injuries could cause a great deal of discomfort for a very long time.

In the insurance industry, when a claim is presented to a Company and an adjuster is assigned to the claim, if it turns out that either party has called lawyers in for injuries, the companies will usually just take care of the physical damage of the vehicle and step back and allow the lawyers deal with the respected parties.

For more information you can visit car accident page of InsuranceMarket.ae and can also watch our YouTube videos for avoiding car insurance claims in Dubai.

What, Where, Why, Who – Car Insurance in Dubai

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Here are a few frequently asked questions about car insurance with quick and easy answers:

• What is the difference between renting a car for your pleasure or renting a car to use because of an accident?

The rental vehicle is usually paid for by the insurance company. The pleasure rental is paid for by you.

• Why are the rates for young men usually more than young girls?

Men usually show off a lot more than the girls do and rack up more speed tickets and accidents. That being said, woman drivers are getting more traffic offenses than ever. Depending on the Country, distraction offenses are rising on cell phone use.

• Why is a Ferrari so expensive to insured?

Price, make, model, all the accessories and the top of the line materials used for each and every car. 

• Tell me what is the difference between an Insurance Agent and an Insurance broker?

A broker has many companies that have access too, an agent works directly with one Company. 

• What is the difference between a CSR and an Insurance Broker?

A CSR usually works in the office writing new business and assisting client with questions. An Insurance Broker does basically the same job, but they are on the road most of the time looking for business outside the office.

• What’s the difference in rates if you are a young driver and don’t take a driver training course?

The course itself is around AED300 and up.

A young driver in the first year of being licensed may have to pay AED3000 with no experience or no driver training.

A young driver in the first year licensed with driver training would probably pay $1500. There are other factors however, just this one example, pays for the course the first year. 

• Who sets the rates, the CSR, The Insurance Broker or the Insurance Agent?

None of the above. Insurance is regulated by a Government Authority. The people above must use the rates set by this rates approved.

• What is the rate difference between a 2 door and a 4 door vehicle?

The 2 door models are normally higher as they tend to be  more of a sporty design which young drivers are attracted to buying.

• What is the difference between an uninsured driver and a person being under insured?

Uninsured is when there is absolutely no insurance on the vehicle. Minimum amount required to drive. This is a problem if you are involved in an accident with this person and your injuries and damages exceed the coverage carried by the third party.

• What happens if I have tickets for speeding or any other  driving infractions on my license?

Depending on the number of tickets, the company could charge you a higher premium.

• What is the difference between the lessee shown on the policy and an lessor?

If you are leasing a vehicle from a dealer, the lessee is you, and the lessor is the Company leasing you the vehicle.

• On an auto application it asks ‘has the vehicle been modified’. What does that mean?

If you have modified your vehicle, as an example, put in a higher HP of motor, or put the off road tires on it, or changed the vehicle from way the original vehicle was built.

Come and visit InsuranceMarket where your dedicated personal shopper can help you with any queries pertaining to your car insurance in Dubai.

Questions to ask your Broker when shopping for car and home insurance in Dubai?

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Auto Insurance Dubai:

• Why have my rates gone up when my vehicle is older than last year?

The premiums are not only based on the vehicle itself, they are based on driving experience, driving record and previous accidents.

• What can I do to bring the cost down?

Ask your broker about any discounts you are qualified for this year or  if you can change any type of coverage like a deductible.

• Am I qualified for any additional discounts this year?

If you have you home insured with your auto, you can get a multiline discount and possibly more.

• Why are the rates so high for my son?

Most statistics show that young drivers, are involved in more accidents than those with more experience.

• My car is only worth AED 10,000, why is my comprehensive insurance AED 1000? That is a 10% rate.

Comprehensive insurance in Dubai is subject to minimum premiums which must be charged regardless of car value. This is usually around the AED 1000 mark.

• What are these new medical benefits? Are they mandatory? If you only had one question you could ask your broker, this would be it.

Accident Benefits are a very complex and you will find there are    different layers consisting of injuries, medical care, long term health issued. You should call and make an appointment with us for a breakdown of what coverage you have.

• Can I increase the limits and the deductibles on my policy?

Yes to both, sometimes any additional premium is wiped out by the credit you will get increasing your deductible.

• Does the alarm system on my vehicle lower my rates?

Yes, but in two different ways, first, the alarm system put in the vehicles by the manufacturers; have already been taken into consideration when originally assigned a vehicle code. Secondly, alarm systems you put in the vehicle will probably give you a discount. It is wise to check with your broker to find out the make of the system, as some do not qualify.

Home Insurance Dubai:

Image source: emirates247.com

• Does my coverage allow me “new for old” personal belongings

Yes within reason. It is best to video your inside belongings and keep receipts for high value items.

• Do I have the highest Liability Coverage in case someone sues me?

This is very important. If you feel you need more coverage, and you are already at maximum limit, inquire about an “Umbrella or an Excess Liability” policy.

• What if I have to leave my home because of a fire. Would my temporary living costs be covered

Most homeowner polices do have that type of coverage built in to the policy. That coverage is worth the premium in itself.

• Are there any discounts on the home policy?

Yes, if you insure your home and auto with the same Company. Each company has its own.

• I have expensive jewelry. Is there a limit on the policy.

There are limits with different insurers, your broker will be able to give you the advise you need to insure jewelry properly.

• Do I have the best rates or is there another company that has lower rates that I can move to?

We provide the best coverage and rates of any insurance company in the area.

• If I have an alarm, do I get a discount.

Yes most insurers will offer an alarm discount with receipt of an Alarm company certificate.

• If I am traveling, should I have someone checking my home?

Yes, you should not leave your house unattended for more that 4 days. Other than the obviously reasons, the concern is the water pipes are not leaking.

Liability Insurance Dubai

• My dog bit the guy next door, he said he may sue us. Do we have coverage for that?

This is the type of situation that you need the personal liability insurance.

• I knocked over a glass of red wine on my neighbors carpet – can i pay for the cleaning under my policy

This would fall under your homeowners personal liability for property damage.

• I drove my car into my neighbors garage, he is not happy.

Yes there is coverage; it would be paid through your auto policy.

• The tree in my back yard fell on the same neighbors pool, and now he is really unhappy.

Yes, you can inform him that your insurance will take care of the damage.

You can visit insurancemarket.ae to learn about the best deals on your car or home insurance in Dubai.

Being Frugal Rocks – Saving Dirhams on Auto Insurance in Dubai

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What is my car insurance premium?

Those six words are probably said everyday by someone when they open their auto insurance renewal. It comes as a complete shock if it has increased because they have had no accidents, no traffic tickets or no claims.

Many say, it is, what it is. Well it’s not. There are consumers who are to busy to worry about it. They just let the payments come out of their bank account each month. There are others who do call, and are given that global excuse that the rates have gone up everywhere. Many consumers get angry but do not inquire any further. This is the point that you should start asking questions. Don’t ever feel intimidated or inferior when calling your broker, they will explain the legal jargon to you. It is their job.

Having had hundreds of people call me and ask me that question over the years, I probably have saved people enough money over the years to buy a car, a boat, maybe both. Here is a list of the questions you need to ask your broker.

• Do I get an age discount?

Many Insurance Companies are starting to offer age discounts at 50yrs. The rate usually starts at 5% and it increases every 5 years. When you turn 55yrs, it should increase to 10% .

• How is my policy rated?

Insurance premiums are set with many variables. One is the cost of driving to and from work. If you are not driving to work, be sure to ask about that. There are low mileage discounts are available for you.

• We only have one car, but my son lives at home and has a car

Each Company differs, however they will usually give you a multi-car discount if he is insured with them, plus he will get the same discount plus an additional multi-line discount.

• We have a home policy with you, do we get a discount for that?

Yes, discounts for insuring your home and auto together is usually about 10%.

• My husband and I are retired, is there a discount for that?

If you are retired, there is a retiree discount that you should get on top of the age discount.

• Do I have to pay a service fee to take advantage of the monthly payment plan?
  

Yes, the service fee is usually around 5% of the total premium. That can be a lot of money if your premium is high. There is usually an alternate pay plan which is set up 40/30/30. You would pay 40% when it is due, 30%,three months later and the remaining 30% three months after that.

• Is there any coverage we don’t need on the policy?

Yes there is optional coverage, but get your broker/agent to explain all the pros and cons before deleting anything.

• Do we have an accident protector endorsement on the policy?

Ask to make sure you do have this coverage. If not, ask them to add it to the policy. It may cost $50, but if you have an accident, without it, your rate will drop and you will pay hundreds over the years.

• We have been with this Company for many years, do we get a loyalty discount?

Yes, there usually are loyalty discounts and new business discounts if you go to another Company.

At insurancemarket.ae we work very hard to get you a better deal!