How Does Car Insurance Work in Malaysia?

Renewing car insurance is one of those routine things Malaysians do annually, but do you really know how it works or what it means to have car insurance?

What is car insurance?

Well, car insurance is designed to protect you financially against the risk of getting involved in an accident and having to pay a huge lump sum of money over the physical damage and vehicle repair costs.

Before Bank Negara announced the liberalization of the car insurance sector, which will take effect on 1 July 2017, local auto insurance was once standardized with the same price and coverage details.

While the outlook of car insurance after liberalization comes into effect is still unclear, you might want to familiarize yourself with the types of car insurance in Malaysia and your claim entitlements in different scenarios.

Click here to purchase or renew your car insurance and get eVouchers worth up to RM200 for FREE!

In general, there are three types of car insurance available:

1. Third party coverage

This is the most basic and common car insurance bought by car owners as it is mandatory to have this type of car insurance for every vehicle. Having this insurance coverage allows car owners to be protected from having to pay the damages of another car in the event of an accident.

2. Third-party, fire, and theft coverage

Other than third party coverage, the car owner will be entitled to claim for their own vehicles damage caused by fire or theft.

3. Comprehensive coverage

Car owners are entitled to claim not only for a third party’s physical and vehicle’s damage repair costs but their own as well. On top of that, they are entitled to fire and theft coverage too. Usually, car owners of expensive vehicles will sign up for this type of insurance plan.

Related: 3 Main Types of Car Insurance Coverage (And What They Actually Cover)

Here is a better view of the three types of car insurance in Malaysia:

However, you need to know that your standard motor insurance policy DOES NOT cover:

• Your own death or bodily injury;
• Your liability against claims from your passenger;
• Theft of non-factory fitted vehicle accessories (car stereos, leather seats, sports rims, etc.) unless otherwise declared.
• Consequential loss, depreciation, wear and tear, mechanical or electrical breakdown failures or breakages; and
• Loss/damage arising from an act of nature e.g. flood, landslide (unless you sign up for additional coverage with extra premium)

Who are the providers?

There are 32 car insurance providers in Malaysia as listed below:

• ACE Jerneh Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• AIA Comprehensive Private Car Insurance
• AIG Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• AXA Affin Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• AXA Affin SmartDrive
• Allianz Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• AmGeneral Private Motor Insurance
• Berjaya Sompo Private Motor Insurance
• CIMB Motor Insurance
• Citibank SmartDrive
• Easy by RHB Easy-Insurance Kasih Motor
• Etiqa Comprehensive Private Car Takaful
• HSBC Comprehensive Car Insurance
• Hong Leong Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• Kurnia Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• Liberty Comprehensive AutoStar
• Lonpac Comprehensive Private Vehicle
• MAA Takaful Comprehensive Motor Coverage
• MPI Generali Comprehensive Private Car Insurance
• MSIG Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• Maybank Comprehensive eMotor Takaful
• Overseas Assurance Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• Pacific Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• Pacific and Orient Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• Progressive Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• QBE Private Car Comprehensive Insurance
• RHB Comprehensive Private Car Insurance
• Takaful IKHLAS Comprehensive Commercial Vehicle Insurance
• Takaful IKHLAS Comprehensive Private Car
• Takaful Malaysia Comprehensive myMotor
• Tokio Marine Comprehensive Motor Insurance
• Zurich Comprehensive Motor Insurance

How do you buy car insurance?

So, if you are shopping for a new car insurance plan, or looking for a renewal, you can either visit these providers’ websites or visit Pos Office Malaysia branches near you to buy your car insurance and road tax.

You can use this tool to estimate your car’s market value and then use the figure to estimate the car insurance premium you need to pay based on your criteria using this calculator. Every year, you have to renew both car insurance and road tax by visiting JPJ offices, post offices, or do it online with us here. (You are not allowed to renew road tax without renewing your car insurance policy.)

You are entitled to enjoy No-Claim-Discount (NCD) from your car insurance premium every year if you do not claim any incidences within that year from your insurance provider.

NCD table

Four simple steps in claiming third party insurance (if accident was not your fault)

1. Make a police report within 24 hours of the incident to enable you to claim from the other party’s insurance company.
2. Send your vehicle to the panel workshop of the other party’s insurance company.
3. Appoint a vehicle Independent Licensed Adjuster on your own or through a workshop to help evaluate the total cost of the damage and also the loss of use (CART) to get compensation for not having a car over the period your vehicle is under repair.
4. You will have to pay for the damage first. Then send these documents to the other party's insurance company:

• Original copy of the police report made by you
• The Keputusan (Result) report issued by the police department
• Copy of your NRIC
• Copy of your driver’s license
• Car registration card
• Adjuster report including bill of repair cost for your car (or your damaged property)
• Photo if any, of the damaged car (or property)

Note: The other party will claim from your insurance company if it was your fault in the accident.

By now, you should have a better understanding of what a car insurance means to you and where to get one. If you want to know more, check out our articles and leave your question in the comment section!