Unfortunately, due to wear and tear of the movable parts, your car will not be the same powerful machine you purchased two years down the line. If you are keen on maintaining the same looks as well as performance several years after purchase, this is the time to start learning about car service and maintenance.

This 3-minute article will introduce you to simple tips that will keep your ride in perfect condition.

When it comes to vehicle servicing, most car owners resort to the easiest option, which is drive the car to the garage every few months. While this is an indispensable routine if you need your car to remain in good shape, there is a lot you can do on your own.

The best part about learning some do-it-yourself car service and maintenance tips is that you will save significantly on service station charges. In any case, what will you do in case your battery fails away from the garage? Have a look at how you can troubleshoot common car power problems.

Replacing the car battery

At times, the battery could malfunction due to the buildup of white sulphate on the terminals, which can be removed with a stiff brush. Another car service and maintenance tip to try is tightening up lose terminal connections.

When the battery has to be replaced: Shut off your engine, open the hood and disconnect the battery. Always start with the negative (black) cable then the positive (red).Remove the clamps holding the battery in position and haul from the bottom using both hands.

Replace it with the new battery and clamp the positive terminal then the negative. Before tightening the terminals, remove any sulphate buildup with a brush.

Jumpstarting your car

Before you attempt to jumpstart the car, you need to know that trying to do so with a damaged car battery can lead to serious damages in the unfortunate event of an explosion. If the battery is broken or cracked at any part, seek car service and maintenance from your mechanic.

Nevertheless, here are the steps you need to follow if you really have to jumpstart your car using power from another: Turn off the engines of both cars and position them front-to-front. Open both hoods and prop them up. Locate the negative and positive terminals of the batteries.

Connect a red clamp from the jumper cables onto the positive of the flat battery as well as a black one to the negative of the live battery. Connect the remaining black clamp to a ground around the engine block, ensuring it is away from all movable parts. Then attempt to start the car with the dead battery.

If it does not, start the live car’s engine for the dead battery to charge for several minutes.Try starting the car once again. If it does, disconnect the cables in reverse order.

Do not be in a rush since the dead battery has to charge for a while longer before it has enough energy to crank up your engine.

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

1. Basic Car Maintenance – Concepts You Must Learn About
2. How To Make Brake Pads Last Longer
3. A Closer Look at Tenet Car Insurance – Exploring The Excel Drive Gold Plan
4. Renewing Your NTUC Car Insurance Policy
5. Tokio Marine Car Insurance Features and Benefits

Needless to day, there are many different ways you can stall for time before burning more money on a brand new set of brake pads. These tips also help you save petrol, which lowers your car ownership cost.

Biggest Killer: Speed

Speed kills…your brake pads. The faster you go, the more your brake pads wear off. This is obvious. Your brakes have to work harder to bring a faster vehicle to a stop. What’s not so obvious is if you drive a little faster (say from 100 to 110 kmph), your brake pads have to work more than 10% harder. This phenomenon can be attributed to the physics governing kinetic energy within a squared relationship to speed.

By driving within the speed limit, you are not only keeping yourself safe, you are saving a lot of money in petrol costs and car maintenance.

Brake Only With Your Right Foot

While this will not be an issue for many Singaporeans, there are some folks who are addicted to race driving. By braking only with your right foot, you can easily make sure you are not stepping on the accelerator and the brakes at the same time.

Build Familiarity

If you are familiar with the area you are driving in, you will save yourself a whole lot of braking (which saves your brake pads from premature wear and tear). On top of this, your drive will be much smoother and safer. If you drive into a new area, go slow to find your way around and make an effort to study the way before starting your journey.

Look Ahead

Simply by knowing what’s ahead of you, you will be able to anticipate any obstacles and traffic lights in the next 10 seconds. This is invaluable. You will be able to avoid hard braking and even possible accidents each time you are behind the wheel.

Driving also involves a great deal of peripheral vision. So train yourself to use this innate ability you already have to improve your driving skills.

Break Away From The Crowd

There are too many drivers on the road who like to step on their brakes unnecessarily. Needless to say their brake pads will suffer additional wear and they will also have to step on more gas to play catch up. You have to learn to read the speed of those vehicles in front of you and respond accordingly. Keeping a good safety distance can also help you to coast along without grinding your brake pads more often than you wish.

Throw Those Junk Overboard

Get rid of all the dead weight in your car. If you have installed some aftermarket parts, you have already loaded your car with some weight. So do not weigh itdown with more fluids, metals and tools you do not need. Heavy vehicles are no good for your brake pads, your wheels and your petrol budget.

Open up all the compartments in your car and do a strict audit. You will realize many things on your car are there simply because you forget to take them down.

Flush your brakes

The braking system requires a little maintenance (bleeding and flushing) from time to time. By flushing the brake fluid, you will make the internal components last longer. Your brakes will work better as a result. Many manufacturers recommend changing your brake fluid every couple of years. You can do this yourself if you have the skill, or bring your car to a mechanic to get this done.

Upgrading Your Brakes

Just like every other things you use, there are quality ones and bargain types. Brakes are rather complex systems on their own and you have to know what your car needs. If you fall into the temptation of using cheap brake pads, then who can you blame when they wear out at the blink of an eye? If you use your car extensively, go for a good set of wheels and a suitable braking system. You will have a smoother ride throughout.

If you are shopping for a set of brake pads, check out which types are the most reliable. In addition, find out what materials are used. Many governments are now enlightened to the environmental effects of reducing asbestos and several heavy metals in brake materials. (Ref: Washington State Issues Proposed Brake Pad Regulations) You never know…this trend may reach Singapore real soon.

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

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2. When Ferrying Pets In Your Car, Consider Their Safety
3. Tokio Marine Car Insurance Features and Benefits
4. Advantages Of Getting An Etiqa Car Insurance Plan
5. Car Fuel Efficiency Killers You May Not Know About

So if you are interested in slaying these baddies, read on.

Fuel inefficiency is rarely the result of any single issue. Almost always, the problem stays on even after you have fixed one of those problems. Thus you have to get your car properly diagnosed by a qualified mechanic.

Under Inflated Tires & Other Tire Issues

One of the most common drags your engine has to fight against is under-inflated tires. Fortunately this is very easy to fix. Nevertheless this is also most overlooked.

Under-inflated tires lower your mileage by 0.3 percent for each psi drop in pressure (in all four tires).  This may not seem significant. Yet if you ignore this, the cost will not be limited to just a drop in fuel efficiency. You will end up with a set of prematurely bald tires too.

Each week, you should (actually you must) check your tire pressure and inflate it to the recommended pressure. This is usually found on a sticker at the driver’s door pillar.

Other than under-inflated tires, improper wheel alignment can also contribute to fuel inefficiency. So get your mechanic to check these each time you are at his workshop.

Engine Oil Issues

The engine oil lubricates the moving parts inside the engine. Over time, the oil thickens. As a result, drag increases and so does fuel efficiency. And if the oil filter gets clogged up, oil flow gets restricted and the engine has to push harder.

Using the correct quality and type of engine oil can save you lots of repair costs in the future. For example, using 10W-30 engine oil on an engine that suits 5W-30 oil can increase the oil consumption by up to 2%.

Broken Oxygen Sensor

An oxygen sensor is part of the emissions control system and feeds data to the engine management computer. This component is responsible for determining how much fuel is injected into the engine. Many cars have an air-fuel ratio sensor installed instead of an oxygen sensor. Although it works differently, its functionality is the same as an oxygen sensor.

Your car burns fuel most efficiently only when a particular ratio of air and gasoline is present. The magic number is 14.7:1. Different fuels have different ratios though. And if this magic number is not present, your engine will not be able to maximise the energy from the fuel. Thus fuel efficiency drops.

Using an oxygen sensor scan tool, your mechanic can quickly determine if this component is still in good working condition. If it is not, it doesn’t take much to switch it out either.

Fuel Injectors – Leaking, Clogged, Worn?

Fuel injectors transport the air-fuel mixture into the engine so combustion can occur. This is a component that wears out over time. Once this happens, spray pattern changes. This results in decreased fuel efficiency too. Even leaky fuel injectors can result in high fuel consumption. Thus you have to clean your fuel injectors regularly or get them changed. Fortunately fuel injectors rarely break and even if they do, it wouldn’t take long to change into new ones.

Spark Plugs

Have you ever noticed your car becomes a little more powerful whenever you change your spark plugs? This component is responsible for igniting the air/fuel mixture in the engine combustion chambers. Carbon deposits on spark plugs increase resistance. The result is incomplete combustion – and fuel efficiency nosedives. In Singapore, many car owners do not clean spark plugs because it is just too troublesome. But if you are interested, read up on how to do this. After all, spark plugs are relatively inexpensive and you can throw the old ones away if you make a blunder.

Clogged Catalytic Converter

Catalytic converters are seldom clogged. But if they do, your mileage will spiral rapidly. If your car does not respond adequately as you step on the gas pedal, you may have issues with the catalytic converter. However many other issues can cause this symptom too. Therefore you have to perform a proper diagnostic, which includes measuring the exhaust back-pressure.

Hopefully when catalytic converter issues occur, it is still covered by warranty. Otherwise this can be an expensive component to replace.

Worn Timing Belts

A timing belt (or chain) orchestrates the movement of the camshafts and valves. If the timing belt gets stretched or worn, improper ignition can occur (read: bad fuel efficiency). A trained mechanic can help rectify a problematic timing belt or chain easily. Nevertheless if you change it every 90,000 to 170,000 km, you should not face any issues.

Faulty Thermostat

A thermostat is an important feedback mechanism that enables your engine to run at its optimum temperature. It is a part of the engine cooling system too. With a thermostat, your car can warm up faster and maintain normal operating temperature throughout.

A faulty thermostat upsets this balance. In the end, your vehicle needs more fuel than necessary. Although thermostats are not incredibly expensive, they will usually be difficult to find. Fortunately this is a problem that few car owners will face.

If you get the above points covered, you will almost always attain good fuel efficiency for your car.

Are there any other tips you swear by to get the most mileage out of your vehicle? Share them here with us…

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3. How To Make Brake Pads Last Longer

If you haven’t done so, read through your car owner’s manual. It has all the important information on maintaining your car. It also states the allowable specifications for any parts you may want to replace in the near future.

Here is a summary of some general information you will find in any car owner’s manual:

1. Keep all fluids clean and topped up. Some examples are engine oil, coolant and brake fluid.

2. Keep to the servicing schedule so your mechanic can replace your spark plugs, engine oil, brakes, air filter, timing belt and oil filters regularly.

3. Check your tire pressure each week.

4. Change your windscreen wipers if it doesn’t work well.

5. Observe any strange noise coming from within the car.

6. Wash your car regularly and wax it to make the paint job last (and to prevent corrosion).

7. Use original parts.

These car maintenance tasks seem really simple and it can save you lots of money in the long run. For example, if you keep your tires pumped up, you will prevent early wear and tear. If each rim costs you $50 to replace, you will have saved yourself $400 simply by checking the tire pressure each time you fill up your petrol tank.

In Singapore, there are many things that the mechanic will help you with. Nevertheless it will be good for you to know how to perform a few basic maintenance tasks if you do not want to visit your mechanic as regularly.

Checking your engine oil

The engine oil cools down and lubricates your engine. Driving with a low engine oil level can cause significant issues in the engine. So make sure you check this once in a while.

To check your engine oil, park your vehicle on a level ground, then cut your engine. Wait for a few minutes to allow the engine oil to drain back into the oil pan. After that pull out the dipstick and clean the oil off. Then insert back fully. Finally, pull out the dipstick to read where the oil level is.

The engine oil level should be between the “LOW” and “FULL” markings. The colour of the oil must also be brown but clean and transparent. If it is blackish or is opaque (like coffee with milk), it is time to change the engine oil.

To change (or top up) the engine oil, you have to buy the recommended type of oil as stated on the oil filter cap. If it states “SAE 5W-20”, please use only this type of oil. If your engine uses only synthetic oil, please use only this type of engine oil. Otherwise you may promote early wear and tear within the engine.

Engine coolant

The coolant helps to keep your engine within the acceptable temperature. Some vehicles make use of distilled water while some others require commercial fluids that are readily available.

To top up your coolant, you have to make sure your engine is cool. Hot coolant is pressurised. Thus opening the radiator cap while it is still hot will often send boiling coolant spewing and gushing out of the outlet. This can give you a bad scald.

After opening the cap, simply pour in the coolant till the level is between the “LOW” and “FULL” markings.

Engine air filter

The air filter keeps unwanted dust and debris from entering your engine’s combustion chambers. Over time, it gets dirty and the air flow becomes restricted. As such, the engine will not be able to perform as well and you may feel that your car has lost some power.

Most user manuals require you to change your air filter every 20,000 – 24,000 km. There are different types of air filters in the market. In order to make sure you buy the correct type of air filter, remove your existing filter and bring it along with you to the store.

When you fit the air filter into its position, make sure it fits snugly into where it should be. If unfiltered air bypasses the filter, it can damage the airflow sensor and increase engine wear.

Automatic transmission fluid

If you are driving an automatic transmission car (most of us do), then you have to make sure the fluid is at its correct level. The procedure to do this is exactly like how you will check for the engine oil level. Very easily done. You (or your mechanic) should do this routinely just to make sure things are ok. Usually there are very little issues with transmission fluids and you do not have to top them up even after one or two years. Yet many owner’s manual will recommend changing them after 45,000 – 50,000 km.

Battery

You may have to change your batteries every 12 to 18 months, depending on how lasting they are. While you are doing your regular car maintenance checks, make sure the battery terminals are tight and not corroded. Corrosion at the battery terminals will cause poor connection, which can result in all kinds of problem.

If possible, use sealed lead acid or maintenance-free batteries. This will save you some hassle. But if you want to use those traditional lead acid batteries and have fun maintaining them, you are responsible to keep them in ship shape. Otherwise they can fail on you.

Tires

Tires are easy to handle. You simply have to make sure they are pumped to the correct pressure each time you visit the petrol kiosk.

Since your front tires wear out at a different rate as the rear ones, you also have to rotate your wheels. This makes sure that your tires wear more evenly and last longer. Some manuals recommend wheel rotation at every oil change while others recommend a specific mileage. Tire rotation pattern is also different for different tires. The correct direction will be indicated on the tire. If you are not sure about this, check with the retailer or the manufacturer.

Through time, your tires will eventually wear off and you have to change it. Otherwise there will be insufficient traction between the tires and the road. This is dangerous for you and your family. Therefore as soon as the tire is worn to its limit (as indicated on the tire), replace it right away.

If you feel your car vibrating while you are at cruising speed, you need to have your tires balanced. Uneven tire wear also indicates alignment problem. Improper alignment causes increased tire and suspension components wear. If your car pulls aside, wanders or feels unstable on the road, have the alignment checked. Proper wheel alignment (as well as regular car maintenance) will make your car’s ride smoother and more enjoyable.

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

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2. How To Make Brake Pads Last Longer
3. Protecting Your Car With Chartis AutoPlan Car Insurance
4. No-Claim Discount (NCD) for Car Insurance Policies
5. Using A Private Settlement Form To Handle A Minor Car Accident

Many people simply command their pets to hop onto the back seat and off they go. Nevertheless they do not realise that their lovely companions can suffer broken ribs or legs and even sustain eye injuries even in a low speed crash. They can also be thrown against the windscreen or out of the car.

If your pets are anywhere near you and are allowed to roam freely, they can climb into the foot well and start interfering with your driving. At best, you could be distracted by all his movements.

Use a harness or seat belt designed for pets

In order to prevent any bad things from happening to your pets, you need a well-designed harness or a seat belt. Such restraints can save the life of your pets, just like the ones you use can save yours.

An alternative is to use a crate. However you have to get one that your pet can fit snugly into. Otherwise an emergency brake or a crash can still send your pets slamming against the sides of the crate. And if you choose to use a crate, make sure it is well secured. Whenever accidents happen, there will be great forces pulling the crate off its fasteners. So be sure this does not happen.

Even though many vets will recommend using a harness or a seat belt, it is really up to you to decide which solution works out for you.

A Confession

In August 2010, one thousand dog owners were surveyed in the USA and nearly a third of them confessed that they have been distracted by their pets. They either allowed their pets to sit on their laps or were playing with them while driving. These certainly increase the risk of a crash.

Studies have shown that if you look away from the road for a mere 2 seconds, you can double your crash risk. Not knowing this puts yourself, your family, your pet and other road users in danger.

Letting your pets enjoy the ride

Even though you want your pets to enjoy the ride, you also have to make sure their safety is not compromised. Some furry companions love to stick their heads out of the window. While this may be cute, it will not be a pretty sight if his eyes, nose, ears, mouth or face is hurt by flying debris.

If you drive a truck, make sure you do not put your pets on the open bed. He can jump away when frightened or be thrown from the moving vehicle. He can suffer multiple fractures and abrasions because of this. Even if he is restrained, he can become ill after being exposed to the elements of nature. The tropical heat or torrential rain in Singapore can make him ill…easily.

Talking about heat risk, you should remember not to leave your pets in your vehicle unattended. The heat in your car can accumulate quickly, aided by greenhouse effect. This is tantamount to wearing a fur coat inside a car that is exposed to the mid-day sun.

Dogs that are short-nosed, are old, heavy or have heart problems will have more issues with heat than other dogs. Unfortunately dogs that are in heat distress will not show immediate symptoms. However if you find that he is panting heavily, is sweating through his paws or show signs or disorientation, you should bring him to a vet immediately.

As you lead your pets into your car, remember the above points. Just as much as you would not let any of your family members be hurt by a traffic accident, you will not want your little friends to suffer the same. Therefore use proper precaution and seek advice when in doubt.

Finally… Do you know someone who has a pet and drives a car? Do him a favour and share this article with him now.

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

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2. Different Types of NTUC Car Insurance
3. NTUC Car Insurance – Should You Sign Up For The Drivo Classic Plan or The Drivo Premium Plan?
4. OAC Car Insurance – Insuring Your Vehicle With Overseas Assurance Corporation
5. Basic Car Maintenance – Concepts You Must Learn About

Let’s find out about a few features that Chartis car insurance has done far better than the competition.

1.    Chartis car insurance policy takes the rest of your family into consideration

Some families have two or more drivers who share a single car. For most other motor insurance policies, you have to add them as named drivers into the policy document. This can cost a little money, especially when you want to add a third named driver.

Nevertheless for Chartis Insurance, authorized drivers are automatically considered named drivers. This means anyone whom you authorize to drive the car will share the same excess as you.

However, if the authorised driver is an elderly, young, or inexperienced driver, an additional excess of $3,000 will be imposed. This is not a strange thing, really, because all other insurers impose this rule.

(Elderly drivers are defined as people above the age of 65, while young and/or inexperienced drivers are those under 23 years old and/or have less than 2 years driving experience.)

2.    They have excellent towing service

Chartis Insurance exceeds the industry standard by offering a free towing service for your vehicle even for mechanical breakdown. For other insurers, you can only expect them to use their tow truck when you meet with a car accident.

3.    You can use their courtesy car so it becomes easy to get around

While the car is being repaired, Chartis Insurance will provide you with a courtesy car. In many cases the courtesy car can be delivered to where you are. For most other insurers, you have to travel to where the car is, which is rather inconvenient without a form of transport. (You may use this car for up to 10 days.)

4.    You can bring your car to the distributor workshop for accident repair

If your car is still under the 3-year warranty, you can take it back to the distributor workshop for accident repairs. This is especially useful if you are driving a European model that has very few spare parts available in the market. By going to the distributor workshop for repair, spare parts may be more available and the warranty can often be longer.

However if your car is parallel imported and is still under the warranty, you will need to take it to any Chartis authorized workshop for repair.

5.    You can pay for your car insurance in almost any way you please

As a leading insurer in Singapore and the world, Chartis accepts various forms of payment. You can pay using cash, cheque or credit card. If you are thinking of paying via a 12-month (or 6-month) installment, it is also possible through any DBS, POSB or UOB credit card.

Certainly, there are other benefits that Chartis car insurance offers. The above few points are those that Chartis has done better than the rest of the insurers.

Thus if these benefits are really important to you and the premium is not much higher than the other insurers, you should seriously consider signing up for a coverage with them.

After all, you can rely on this insurer like many others do. Chartis Insurance caters to more than 70 million clients from across the globe, making it one of the leaders in the insurance business. This company offers a wide range of products and services, and its financial strength makes the rest of the insurers pale in comparison.

In Asia-Pacific, Chartis Insurance goes beyond what is mandated by local regulators when it comes to assets and cash reserves. This certainly speaks of their stability and strong commitment towards their customers.

If you want to find out the price of Chartis car insurance for your vehicle, check it out at www.MotorInsuranceSingapore.com

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

1. Should You Insure Your Car With AXA Car Insurance or Chartis Car Insurance?
2. Protecting Your Car With Chartis AutoPlan Car Insurance
3. AXA Car Insurance Plans To Insure Your Car With
4. NTUC Car Insurance – Scope of Coverage For Your Vehicle (Own Damage and Loss )

In Singapore, owning a car is an option but having it insured is a requirement. With this in mind, you might as well get a good car insurance that can cater to all your protection needs. SHC car insurance may just be such an option, for all you know.

That being said, let us take a closer look at SHC Capital’s car insurance product, which aims to provide customers with the protection that they need and deserve.

Let’s talk about Workshop…

A workshop is the place where you take your car in case it needs accident repair or spares replacement. SHC’s car insurance plan provides policyholders with two options: the first option is that they can take the car to any workshop of their choice for an additional excess of $300 above the agreed excess. The second option is to take the car to the distributor’s workshop if it is still under warranty. No additional excess will be imposed if the policyholder takes the car to a distributor’s workshop.

Certainly, clients can take the car to an SHC authorized workshop if they desire to do so.

Next, let’s look into windscreen protection…

Windscreen is probably the most replaced part of a car. Gravel coming from the tires of other cars, which hits your windscreen, will cause visible scratches to appear. These scratches will have an effect on the visibility. And if the windscreen breaks, a replacement is required. With SHC’s car insurance, you get 2 reinstatements. The first claim will cost $100 plus 7% GST, and the second replacement will cost $150 plus 7% GST.

Then comes towing…

In the event a driver needs towing service, SHC would be more than happy to provide it. SHC’s towing service is limited to $300, which is more than sufficient for the majority of situations.

Accidents are unfortunate, yet they occur. You never know when it will happen, no matter how careful you are. As a result of accident, injuries may sometimes happen. Under SHC car insurance’s personal accident benefit, you’ll be able to claim up to $20,000 for sustained injuries. This feature only applies to the insured though.

In case your car is involved in an accident while it’s being driven by someone who is under 25 years old, there will be an excess of $2,500 imposed (on top of the original policy excess). This is regardless of whether the authorized driver is named or not.

If an unnamed driver who uses your car gets into an accident, an excess of $500 is required.

When adding named drivers under SHC’s car insurance, bear in mind that the first named driver is free, subject to age and driving experience. So this is a good chance for you to add your spouse or someone who may use the car frequently.

You’ll need to insure your car to adhere to the Road Traffic Act anyway. So why not get a good car insurance. If you are ready to sign-up for an SHC car insurance, take note that only cash or cheque is accepted.

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

1. Advantages Of Getting An Etiqa Car Insurance Plan
2. NTUC Car Insurance – Should You Sign Up For The Drivo Classic Plan or The Drivo Premium Plan?
3. Insuring Your Car With MSIG MotorMax Car Insurance
4. Benefits Of Signing Up With EQ Car Insurance Classic Plan
5. A Closer Look at Tenet Car Insurance – Exploring The Excel Drive Gold Plan

Nevertheless it may still be worth looking at what Tenet Insurance offers for their vehicle protection package. Here, we’ll touch specifically on the Excel Drive Gold Plan.

First and foremost, Tenet Insurance covers the standard mandatory third party coverage. What this means is Tenet Insurance will pay for your legal liability in case you cause death, injury or vehicle/property damage to any Third Party during the course of an accident.

Since the Excel Drive Gold Plan is a comprehensive package, it also provides cover for any loss or damage to your vehicle by fire and/or theft. On top of this, there is a repertoire of own damage benefits which we will cover in detail below.

Windscreen Protection

A car’s windscreen should be well taken care of. But no matter how much we take care of it, visible scratches or cracks would surface at times. These cracks or scratches may develop into serious fractures that break your windscreen. Therefore a replacement is called for. Windscreen replacement is not cheap as others might think. However, under Tenet’s Excel Drive Gold Plan, be rest assured your windscreen replacement will be a breeze. You are entitled to a maximum of 2 windscreen replacements within the policy period.

Personal Accident Coverage

Road accidents are somewhat inevitable at times. It is a good thing Tenet Insurance provides their customers with a personal accident coverage amounting to $20,000. For named drivers, they can claims up to $10,000. Medical reimbursement will also be given if it’s needed. $300 each will be provided to both the insured and the passenger.

Towing Service

In case the accident renders your vehicle unusable, Tenet Insurance will also provide free towing assistance to get your car back to the authorized workshop for repair. All you need to do is contact any customer service officer through their 24-hour hotline. She will advise you on what to do and where is the nearest workshop you can go to. And to wrap things up, she can also help to get a tow truck to where you are.

Own Damage Excess

Just like motor insurance plans from other insurers, Tenet’s Excel Drive Gold Plan has its own provision as far as authorised driver excess is concerned. We can better understand how it works by looking at the table below.

NOTE: The excess stated in the table is paid on top of the own damage excess.

A young driver is defined as someone under the age of 25. An inexperienced driver is someone with less than 2 years driving experience. And an elderly driver is defined as someone who is over 70 years old.

Warranty for Repairs

Under this package, you have to send your vehicle to any Tenet authorized workshop for repair. You can enjoy a limited period warranty for the workmanship and spare parts used.

No Claim Discount Protection

If you have an NCD (no claim discount) of 30% and above, you will be given a free NCD protection free-of-charge. With this complementary extension, you can maintain your NCD level even if you meet with an accident and has to make a claim.

There are other extensions you can include into your main car insurance policy with Tenet Insurance. An example of which is the Loss of Use Benefit (for up to 14 days). However additional premium is required.

Payment Options

If you want to sign up for Tenet’s Excel Drive Gold, then you can pay for your policy using cash, cheque or credit card.

Tenet Insurance has been providing protection to car owners in Singapore since 1957. Sompo Japan Insurance Inc. has bought over the business in May 2010. Even though the company has changed hands, the features and benefits of Tenet car insurance remains.

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

1. NTUC Car Insurance – Should You Sign Up For The Drivo Classic Plan or The Drivo Premium Plan?
2. Benefits Of Signing Up With EQ Car Insurance Classic Plan
3. Advantages Of Getting An Etiqa Car Insurance Plan
4. Different Types of Car Insurance Policy – Comprehensive Coverage, Third Party Fire & Theft Coverage and Third Party Only Coverage

For starters, Tokio Marine Insurance protects you against any liabilities involving any third party vehicle damage, property damage or bodily injuries. Compensation is also made in case death occurs. This array of coverage is known as third party car insurance, which is mandatory for all car owners in Singapore.

On top of this, you are entitled to other benefits under Tokio Marine’s comprehensive car insurance plan.

Let’s first take a look at windscreen insurance. Windscreen is an important part of the car. The windscreen lets the driver properly see what is in front of him. In as much as we want the windscreen to last forever, it won’t because it suffers wear and tear. However, if you sign up for Tokio Marine’s Car Insurance, windscreen replacement is something you don’t have to worry about.

Tokio Marine provides unlimited windscreen coverage. All you are required to do is bring your car to any Tokio Marine authorized workshop for replacement. (In the event your car is still covered under the standard 3-year warranty, you still need to bring it to the authorized workshop instead of the distributor workshop.)

Other than windscreen insurance, personal accident coverage is one other benefit Tokio marine provides.

Accidents are events that cannot be avoided especially if a person lacks driving experience. The good news is that if you go for Tokio Marine’s Car Insurance, they will provide $50,000 for personal accident coverage. The compensation, however, only applies to the policyholder and the named driver(s).

Apart from personal injuries, there may be times when accidents can render your car immobile. Sometimes it would just fail to start or it might be wrecked so badly you can’t drive it anymore. Just like other car insurance companies, Tokio Marine provides a 24-hour towing service to policyholders. However, keep in mind this particular road assistance is only offered to accident-related breakdowns.

One of the best reasons why you should sign up for Tokio Marine’s Car Insurance is that they provide medical reimbursement of up to $1,000 each. Injuries, however minor they may be, require some medical attention. And such costs are not cheap. The medical reimbursement is applicable to the insured, authorized driver and passenger.

With Tokio Marine Insurance you have the option to take your car to the nearest authorized workshop or a workshop of your choice. The only difference between these 2 options is the price. If you take your car to a workshop of your choice, the premium you have to pay is going to be a bit higher.

Tokio Marine imposes an additional excess of $3,500 (on top of the prescribed excess) in case the car is driven by someone (an authorized driver) other than the policyholder or named driver(s), whose driving experience is less than 2 years.

Unnamed drivers are required to pay an excess of $500, provided they are more than 26 years old and has more than 2 years driving experience.

At the moment, you cannot pay for Tokio Marine’s Car Insurance plan by installment. You must make full payment using cash, cheque or credit card.

Tokio Marine Insurance has been in the insurance business for more than 130 years. It is one of the biggest not to mention oldest non-life insurance company in Japan. The company specializes in a variety of businesses ranging from domestic, life & non-life insurance, financial and other general insurance.

This speaks of Tokio Marine’s stability as an insurer that can provide you the best support when you need it.

With the above features in mind, you will be able to make your mind up whether or not Tokio Marine car insurance suit your needs.

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

1. Advantages Of Getting An Etiqa Car Insurance Plan
2. Benefits of Using the AXA Premium Workshop Car Insurance Plan
3. Benefits Of Signing Up With EQ Car Insurance Classic Plan
4. NTUC Car Insurance – Should You Sign Up For The Drivo Classic Plan or The Drivo Premium Plan?
5. Should You Insure Your Car With AXA Car Insurance or Chartis Car Insurance?

As you go through each benefit, think about what is important to you:

Windscreen Coverage

If you have been driving for a couple of years you should know that your windscreen, just like any part of your car, suffers wear and tear. It weakens over the course of time and naturally results in damage, even breakage.

With Etiqa’s Car Insurance Plan you need not worry about your windscreen. In case it needs replacing, all you have to do is fix it at any Etiqa authorized shop. You have to pay $0 excess and a reinstatement fee of $40 plus GST.

Personal Accident (PA) for Insured / Passengers

Now, you are going to feel more at ease while driving with your family. Under Etiqa’s Car Insurance personal accident benefit, you and your passengers are eligible to get up to $20,000 in the event you get into some sort of mishap. This is a huge relief for you as a policyholder. Both you and your passengers are automatically covered by this benefit as you sign up for their plan.

Workshop

When it comes to workshops, Etiqa Insurance gives their customers a choice. Policyholders have the option of going to an authorized workshop or any workshop of their choice. You only have to decide which suits you best and sign up under an appropriate product. At least when it comes to the choice of workshop, customers are not restricted.

Excess for Young / Inexperienced driver / Unnamed driver

This bit right here is a little tricky; you need to take some time to understand this portion.

For Etiqa’s Car Insurance Plan, an additional excess totaling to $2,000 will be imposed if the insured’s car was driven by an authorized person (aside from the policyholder and named driver), who is under 22 years of age and has less than 2 years driving experience.

Let me just clarify that the additional excess of $2,000 is paid on top of the policy excess.

For example, your policy excess is $500, and an authorized driver under the age of 22 with less than 2 years driving experience wrecked your car; you will have to pay the policy excess of $500 plus the additional excess of $2,000, which makes the grand total to $2,500.

Installment Plan

At this moment, Etiqa’s Car Insurance Policy is not payable by installment.

Payment Method

If you are interested to sign up with Etiqa’s car Insurance Plan, then you need to pay using cash or cheque. Credit card payment is not accepted as of yet, so make sure your cash or cheque is ready upon signing up. Nevertheless Etiqa has plans to extend their credit card facility for your payment convenience. So you can expect some changes in due time.

Named Drivers

As with other car insurance policies, you are free to add named drivers to your plan…with applicable charges.

The first named driver that you add to your policy is free of charge (subject to age and driving experience); however, the second and succeeding names will be chargeable at $20 + GST.

A Reliable Insurance Company

Etiqa Insurance is a proud affiliate of the prestigious Maybank Group and it is a entirely owned subsidiary of Mayban Ageas, which was formerly known as Mayban Fortis. The Maybank Group, which is a top provider of financial services, made sure that Etiqa Insurance is one of the leading non-life insurance providers in the market today.

Etiqa Insurance Singapore has a solid reputation in the financial sector. Their one and only goal is to provide its customers with excellent quality services.

For this reason, if you sign up for an Etiqa car insurance policy, you can be confident they will be there to assist you if you ever need to make a motor insurance claim.

Note: Etiqa car insurance was formerly known as Mayban Car Insurance (or commonly known as Maybank Car Insurance).

Friends Who Read the Above Article Also Read:

1. NTUC Car Insurance – Should You Sign Up For The Drivo Classic Plan or The Drivo Premium Plan?
2. Advantages of Getting SHC Car Insurance
3. Benefits of Using the AXA Premium Workshop Car Insurance Plan
4. Benefits Of Signing Up With EQ Car Insurance Classic Plan