Okay, hands up, who’s been here before? You’re peacefully driving along, minding your own business, and then – “Crrrrchhh!” – it’s suddenly all gone pear-shaped. You, my friend, have just been in a car accident.
No worries though, right? You’re smart, you got car insurance cover, and it’s time to inform your insurer that yes, you will indeed be making a claim, after years of perfect driving.
Or, so you thought.
Not the smart bit! We know there’s no problems there (above-average intelligence is a common trait with My Auto Shop customers) – but the car insurance. It’s gone. For some reason, your insurance has been invalidated.
Why?
Basically, car insurance policies are notorious for the high level of fine print, often leaving you high and dry after a round of hefty repairs. If you have the misfortune of being at fault in an accident, there’s always that heavy thought of needing to cover theirs as well.
Needless to say, it pays to make sure your insurance is appropriate and up to date. We all know that insurance companies will often find any reason to not pay, where possible, and this can often be the result of factors written into the policy which will invalidate a claim.
With that in mind, here are the top things to stay aware of so you can stay on the right side of any potential car insurance claims you need to deal with in future. Unfortunately, while we can help repair your car, we can’t help repair your insurance claim history!
Make sure your vehicle is in good working condition
You’re going to be “talking to the hand” pretty quickly if your car isn’t in good working order. This includes stuff like both brake lights working, tyres having adequate tread on them, and so forth. It just needs to be roadworthy, they’re not going to be worried about the quality of the paintjob (that’s your problem, buddy!).
Get your driving paperwork in order
Details are important. Is your New Zealand driver’s licence current? Those insurance premiums – have you checked they’ve been paid? Sometimes direct debits and automatic payments can slip through the cracks.
Modifying your car? Always let your insurance company know.
Car modifications can often be a sensitive subject when it comes to insurance, given the high premiums or inability to successfully acquire insurance for the vehicle. Either way, it pays to be transparent with your insurance company.
If you’ve got larger-than-standard sized wheels, a suped-up sound system, a turbo motor, window tints, etc, they need to know about any modifications to your vehicle.
Be a courteous driver
Oh, of course we’re not talking to you! No no, we’re just talking to the person on the other side of the screen. With the proliferation of phone cameras and ready access to social media, you don’t want to be caught in the middle of a roadside maelstrom that the insurance company is able to view. If you’ve had a few drinks, don’t risk it – grab an Uber.
There may be other ways and means that you’ll miss out on the absolute delight of having someone else pay for your mishap depending on your policy, but you’ll only find out if you sit down and examine your insurance policy. If you don’t, it might be time to pull out your roadside breakdown toolkit!
But then, on the other hand, maybe you’ll have a successful driving career and never have to find out. Good luck!