Car Insurance FAQs

Car Insurance FAQs

The following are a list of frequently asked questions and answers, which will help you better understand the excellent coverage that an Allianz car insurance policy provides.

Our car insurance policy documents and forms are available at the bottom of the page for you to print off.

• Answering insurance questions

  Do I have to answer all insurance questions?

  All questions must be answered truthfully and fully. If you do not, you could make your insurance invalid and you may also be prosecuted under the Road Traffic Act.

• Beyond economic repair

  What happens if my car is written off?

  If your car is written off and you have Comprehensive Cover, you will be paid its market value at the time of the loss.

• Breakdown assistance

  Does Allianz have Breakdown Assistance service?

  Yes

  The basic policy does not include Breakdown Assistance however it is available as an optional cover on ALL of our Motor Policies which complements our already established Motor Accident, Fire & Theft Emergency Service.

  More on Allianz Breakdown Assistance >>

• Drivers

  Who can drive my car?

  Cover is restricted to persons named on the certificate.

  Do you offer special rates on car insurance for women?

  No, from 1st December 2012, Allianz will no longer use a person’s gender as a factor in determining his/her premium.

• Driving another car

  Will I be covered if I drive someone else's car?

  Driving other people's cars may be covered, but only for third party cover. Your legal liability to third parties is covered while you drive any car not belonging to you. Please note: Fire, Theft or Accidental Damage cover does not apply while you are driving in these circumstances. Contact us or your Broker for further information. (Restrictions may apply)

• Gender ruling / legislation

  What is changing?

  Under the current legislation insurers are allowed to use a person’s gender as a factor in determining their premium.

  The legislation is now changing: From 21st December 2012, insurance companies can no longer use a person gender as a factor in determining their premium. This means that insurance companies must rate males and females the same.

  Why is this legislation required?

  The legislation is required because of a ruling by the European Court of Justice (commonly referred to as the gender directive) that insurers can no longer take gender into account when calculating premiums.

  When does the legislation come into effect?

  It comes into effect on 21st December 2012 but Allianz are implementing the change from 1st December 2012 for all of our new and renewal business.

  Does Allianz use a person’s gender when determining their premium?

  From 1st December 2012, Allianz will no longer use a person’s gender as a factor in determining his/her premium.

  If Allianz no longer use a person’s gender as a factor in determining his/her premium, why do they still ask this question?

  Allianz will still collect this information for other permitted purposes, such as to help us to accurately set capital reserves and for our internal risk assessment. This information is not used as a factor in determining a person’s premium.

  Why were there such significant rating differences between a male and female driver to begin with?

  Insurers charge the premium based on a number of factors, so called risk factors, like for example a person’s age, their claims history, the type of car they drive etc. When an insurer analyses the risk for a particular individual (in this case for car insurance), they mainly rely on actuarial analysis. This analysis has proven that female drivers are at a lower risk of causing accidents. That is why historically a male driver would have had to pay a higher premium than a female driver. 

• No Claims Bonus

  What is a no claim bonus?

  A 'no claim bonus' is allowed for each accident-free (i.e. claim free) year driving in your own name. Our maximum bonus is reached after five years.

• Payment options

  Can I pay my premium by Direct Debit?

  Yes, you have two options:

  1. You can pay by a single annual direct debit, with 0% service charge applied

  2. You can pay over 12 monthly direct debits, with 0% service charge applied

• Policy excess

  What is policy excess?

  Policy excess is the amount you pay towards repairs after an accidental damage or theft claim. If you increase the amount of the excess, you can reduce your premium.

• Use of car

  How can I use my car?

  All policies cover social, domestic and pleasure use, including travel to and from work. Business use is available but must be specifically requested.

• Windscreen protection cover

  Can I have windscreen protection cover?

  Yes, Windscreen cover is provided if you select Comprehensive cover. Details are shown in our car insurance policy summary below.