car insurance

• There are many automobile insurance companies in the UAE but ask around for personal opinions - like anywhere in the world, there is a huge variety of levels of customer service and satisfaction. Ask friends and colleagues for opinions on claims made. Most, if not all, insurance companies are much more helpful when they want your money than when you need your car repaired.
• Nissan Maximas are difficult to insure, find out if you can get it insured first before buying one (they seem to be involved in a disproportionately high number of accidents). Sports/fast/luxury cars are expensive to get insured.
• Drivers under 25, especially males, will find insurance difficult and/or more expensive.
• Cars older than 5 (or 7 depending on the company) years may be difficult to get comprehensive insurance for.
• Some policies do not insure cars when driven off-road. This might include parking your vehicle on the sand behind the building. This might also just be urban legend but potential for disagreement with your insurance company is there.
• Even if an insurance policy insures vehicles for off-road driving, don't expect it to apply if you damage your 2wd Toyota Echo while dune-bashing in the Liwa Sands.
• Drinking + driving + crashing = no insurance (including the 200,000 dhs blood money you have to pay if someone dies).
• A car cannot be registered until it's insured. A car can be insured without being registered - check policy carefully but it would be unusual that an unregistered car is not covered unless there is something preventing registration eg worn or old tyres/tires).
• There are 3 or 4 motor vehicle insurance types:
  • TPFT (Third Party, Fire & Theft) which is the legal minimum you are required to have - and is the cheapest. In an accident, your insurance company will not pay for damage to your own car - someone else's might if they're to blame.
  • Comprehensive or Fully Comprehensive (basic level) - there is a legal obligation for insurance companies to provide this at a certain maximum price level of about 3-5% of the value of the car. It covers damage to your own car but expect lots of restrictions and loopholes or get-out clauses.
  • Comprehensive with options - for extra cost you get options like dealer repair, free hire car, free insurance in Oman and other GCC countries, recognition of no claims bonuses (either UAE and/or from overseas). Expect to pay 3-10% of the value of the car depending on company and no claims bonus.
  • Comprehensive, premium level - for even more money you get options similar to previous level. Usually there are some restrictions on who can buy this level of insurance. Expect to pay an extra 1 or 2% of the value of the car.