Yahoo Finance Driving Into Malaysia? Here’s What You Should Do If an Accident Happens There
Singaporeans drive in and out of Malaysia everyday, and yet it seems like the hazards change on a daily basis. One day, it’s a speeding driver, the next day it’s a dodgy tow truck offering his car repair services.
With all these different variables and the lack of protection and sense of safety that we take for granted in Singapore, here are 3 things you need to take note of should you be driving in to Malaysia on a relatively frequent basis.
1) Buy car insurance with coverage that extends to West Malaysia
Ok this is something you should do before you get into an accident. If you drive in to Malaysia from time to time, it’d be a good idea to get a car insurance with coverage that extends to West Malaysia. Some insurance providers offering this include DBS Driveshield, Aviva and NTUC Income.
Driving a new, expensive car into Malaysia? Its a good idea to get comprehensive coverage versus the cheapest 3rd party coverage, as it effectively insures your car, accessories and yourself (and your passengers) against damages and injuries. This is required anyway by most financiers if you take a car loan.
Have the emergency hotline number of your insurer stored in your mobile phone and roaming services activated beforehand. This will come in handy when you need help to tow your car away or if you need assistance for repair at the accident scene, or to arrange for a replacement rental car / alternative transport back to Singapore.
Do not agree to let a random tow truck assist you in bringing your car back to his workshop, as this could have severe implications on your insurance claims. Also, he might be trying to scam you.
2) Do the same things as you would if you were to get into an accident in Singapore
In order to make your claims successfully upon returning to Singapore, ensure that all necessary information are collected and a police report is filed with the local authorities.
The necessary information to obtain include:
The other driver’s car plate number, contact and identification details,
The time and place of the accident, and
Photographs of the accident scene
Submit the claims as soon as you can, within 24 hours of the accident occurring.
3) In the case of unsuccessful claims, approach GIA or PIAM
If you have explored all avenues for claims and have been unsuccessful, you may approach the General Insurance Association of Singapore (GIA) or its Malaysian counterpart, Persatuan Insuran Am Malaysia (PIAM) for assistance.
GIA
Tel: 62218788
Address: 180 Cecil Street, #07-02, Bangkok Bank Building
PIAM
Tel: 03-2274 7399
Address: 150 Jalan Tun Sambanthan, 50470 Kuala Lumpur
We hope you feel more assured about driving into Malaysia with these essentials in place!
Also, if you’re looking to compare which car insurance packages suit you best, then head on over to Moneysmart’s car insurance comparison wizard to find the best rates in Singapore at the click of a button.
What are some experiences you’ve had driving in Malaysia? Share your stories here!
The post Driving Into Malaysia? Here's What You Should Do If an Accident Happens There appeared first on the MoneySmart blog.
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