Say we ask you to think of the downsides of using a car as your primary means of transport. If you’re like most car owners (or potential car owners!), you’ll probably think about how petrol prices are expensive, and how your car starts to depreciate pretty much the second you get your keys. There’s a high chance you’ll overlook this other factor… which is the chance that you might get into a car accident!

Isn’t Singapore a safe place to drive?

For most drivers, your knee-jerk reaction might be something along the lines of: “Isn’t Singapore a safe place to drive? The traffic here is nowhere as crazy as that of Vietnam or China!”

Yes, that’s true. Singapore has many things going for it, including its high quality roads and low congestion levels. In fact, in a survey on the quality of driving by German car parts retailer kfzteile24, Singapore placed an impressive sixth out of 100 cities. (We came in just behind Dusseldorf, Dubai, Zurich, Tokyo and Basel!)

On top of that, we also know that Singapore has among the lowest road mortality rates per capita in the entire world. According to statistics from Singapore Traffic Police and World Health Organization, Singapore had the 6th least number of road accident-caused fatalities per capita out of the 178 countries assessed for the year of 2013. All in all, we only experienced 2.96 fatalities per 100,000 people in 2013.

In case you’re wondering if anything’s changed between now and then, the answer is -- no! Singapore's road mortality rate per capita has been on a steady downward trend since 2013; and the numbers decreased to 2.51 road fatalities per 100,000 persons in 2016.

But that’s only part of the picture…

It’s great the road fatalities per capita in Singapore is low, but don’t let that fool you -- it’s still more dangerous to drive in Singapore as opposed to other well-developed countries.

If you look at road fatalities per VEHICLE (not per capita), for example, you’ll realize that there were 14.8 fatalities per 100,000 motor vehicles in 2016. Obviously, this is a lot higher than the previous figure of 2.51 road fatalities per 100,1000 persons. Now, when it comes to road fatalities per vehicle, Singapore loses out to a number of first-world countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, Taiwan, and Australia.

Now you know: driving in Singapore isn’t that safe after all.

As drivers, we tend to think positively, but the truth is that an accident could befall you at any time. Bearing this in mind, don’t lull yourself into a false sense of security, and always make sure you drive safely. Also, because you want to protect yourself from other careless or reckless drivers on the road, be sure to purchase car insurance!

Have you ever gotten into a car accident in Singapore? How do you find driving in Singapore (as compared to driving in other countries)?

In Singapore, having a car insurance is important and driving without one is illegal and dangerous for you. Purchasing a good auto insurance plan is good, and it'll keep you protected in time of disaster. But having an affordable insurance plan with a top-notch auto insurance company is not all you need to drive safely in Singapore. 50% of people do not know how to make a claim! don't be one of them. Let's first take a look at the consequences you can face for not knowing how to make a claim.

There are many risks involved in not knowing how to make a claim, one of them is you might exceed the given time to make a claim by your insurance company while contemplating on doing so. If you are involved in an accident and you are the victim, the other driver might not want to pay for the damages caused therefore you might end up fixing your car yourself and accumulating more expenses that could have easily been covered by your insurance company. In another scenario, where you are the one at fault, if you don't know how to make a claim you can end up being overcharged for damages caused to the victim especially if you cause any injuries to passers-by. Let's say you manage to make a claim, it might be too late and it could take longer to get your car back on the road. This leads us to the question; how do I make a claim?

Making a claim isn’t difficult in any way as far as you know your way around the whole process. here are a few steps to take when filing a claim.

Don’t hesitate, don’t wait for the other driver to agree on who is at fault or not, submit the claim report in not more than 24 hours after the accident occurred.

Take pictures of the accident scene and everyone involved in it for the sake of evidence. sometimes determining who is at fault can be tricky so taking photos will help serve as strong proof of what really went wrong.

Put down all the details of the other driver and those involved in the accident, things like the driver's name and any other person involved, the address of the driver and every other person involved, NRIC numbers, contact numbers and the car insurance company of all the cars involved in the collision.

Report the accident to your insurer and get all the information you need based on the type of package you have, you are entitled to different coverage plans. They will help you submit all the necessary information and evidence (which you gathered earlier). You will also be provided with forms to fill in order to get the processing of the claim started.

After this, start making plans to get your car fixed. It is advisable you take the damaged car to the insurer's authorized repair shop so as to avoid complications and also speed up the process.

In the meantime, you should rent a car and get back on the road while your car is being fixed. make sure you check your insurance details to know if it covers car rental.

Knowing all the steps above is important but no one is above mistakes when it comes to making claims. Don’t rush things, at the same time, don’t delay the process. here are a few common mistakes people make when filing a claim.

One big mistake most drivers make before filing a claim is moving the vehicle off the accident scene too soon or when it's not really necessary. This is not safe because you could tamper with some vital evidence and allow the other driver to deny any faults caused by him. If it is highly necessary to move your car due to traffic, then ensure you take all the necessary photos of the accident scene and those involved.

Delay in filing a claim is also another big mistake you can make. the risks have been discussed earlier and you are prone to suffer all those consequences if you don’t act fast.

Little knowledge of your insurance plan can also have you making some terrible mistakes. Each type of insurance package differs, so does the benefits attached to it. Go through your insurance policy to get accustomed to all the benefits.

Arguing with the other driver on whose fault the accident is, isn’t necessary but happens most times. Instead of wasting your time and provoking each other, get the important details you need and contact your insurer.

It’s not uncommon for drivers to try fixing their cars at unauthorized repair shops but that's another bad idea. Why? This is because using unauthorized repair shops can be prohibited by your insurer, would usually cost more and might as well take more time to finish fixing the car.

The last common mistake is; not following up the process. Sometimes after a claim has been filed the insurance company might need a few details to continue the procedure and this could lead to some delay, usually because you didn’t call to ask how it’s going and all. Always ensure to keep in touch with your insurer throughout the whole process.

With this knowledge, you seize to be among the ignorant 50% of people who don’t know how to file a claim. this is basically all you need to know on making a claim. You can be a very careful driver but always remember that you aren't the only one using the road and you could be the victim. So, in order to avoid sad situations, get insured today.

So you’ve crunched the numbers, and you can finally afford to buy your first car. Obviously, cars don’t come cheap in Singapore, so you’ll want to do all you can to get maximum bang for your buck. In this article, we’ve rounded up 4 common mistakes that Singaporeans make when they purchase their first car. Make sure you do your due diligence, and steer clear of these mistakes!

1. Rushing into your purchase

Look, we get the appeal of instant gratification. It’s pretty cool to order a kettle from Amazon Prime, and have it on your doorstep within two hours.
But here’s the thing… buying a car is NOT like buying a kettle from Amazon. If you realise that you’ve made the wrong choice for some reason, this means you’re basically flushing tens of thousands of dollars down the drain.
Bearing this in mind, take your time to look around, and don’t rush into your purchase right off the bat. In fact, if you make up your mind to buy a car towards the end of the year, we’d recommend just window-shopping and holding the actual purchase off till the middle of the year.
Why should you do this? Well, car dealers tend to make more deals during December and January -- that’s when people receive their year-end bonuses, and start buying or upgrading cars. Assuming you don’t need your car urgently, it makes more sense to buy around May or June, when sales reps are closing less deals. This way, you increase your chances of getting a good price.

2. Falling for the tactics of aggressive salespeople

Salespeople have plenty of tricks up their sleeves, and if you’re not careful, you could end up buying a car under pressure.
We know, we know -- as Singaporeans, we can’t help but be drawn to special promotions, freebies, and bundle offers… but at the end of the day, if you let yourself get suckered into buying a car at the very first dealer you visit, we can bet that you’ll live to regret it.
So, the next time you hear a salesperson saying…
“$5,000 off the listed price! Cheapest deal in town, promotion ends today!”
Take it with a pinch of salt. If you’ve compared prices (for the same car!) across multiple dealers, and you CAN confirm that this is indeed the cheapest deal you’ll get, then go ahead. But if not, shop around, and don’t get pressured into buying on the spot.

3. Going for a solo test-drive

Unless you’re a trust fund baby, and everyone in your household owns their own Lamborghini, your siblings, parents, or spouse will probably be using your car as well.
Bearing this in mind, don’t just go on a solo test-drive; get your family to take turns driving the car as well. This will eliminate complaints (about the ride height, the positioning of the break, the set-up of the wheel…) surfacing only after you’ve purchased the car.
On top of that, make sure your family members can get in and out of the car easily as well. You might think that you can get by with a smaller model, but if your exceptionally tall grandpa is scraping his head every time he gets into the car, then you’ll have to re-think your pick.

4. Ruling out second-hand cars

As consumers, our first instinct will always be to look for something new and shiny.
That said, you shouldn’t rule out second-hand cars right off the bat. There are plenty of second-hand options that are so well-maintained, you wouldn’t even be able to tell that they aren’t new.
At the end of the day, it really boils down to your needs and circumstances. If your goal is to get a car that doesn’t depreciate so quickly, for example, a second-hand car is a good choice. And if you travel often for work and there’s a chance that you’ll get posted to an overseas office for a few years, then don’t waste money on buying a new car -- you might not even be around to drive it.
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Which mistake did you find yourself making (or almost making) when shopping for your first car? Let us know in the comments!

Car insurance—everyone’s got it. Mostly because it’s illegal in Singapore not to. Even though everyone’s got it, car insurance premiums can look wildly different from one person to the next. You and your friend might have a lot in common but, your car insurance premiums aren’t likely one of those things. You would be surprised at the factors that go into deciding the fate of how much your premiums will cost you—but knowing could help.

Don’t understand why your insurance premiums are different from your friend’s? Let’s take a look.

Age

You can’t fast forward the clock. But, if you could, it might make a difference on your premiums. Your age could be what’s affecting the cost of your car insurance premiums. The younger you are, the more you will most likely have to pay.

Car insurance companies analyze their claims data to determine which age group has the most accidents and files the most claims—costing them the most money. People in their 20s will likely cost insurers more money than people in their 40s. So, people in their 40s would pay less for their premiums than those darn 20 somethings.

Occupation

Even your job might affect the cost of your car insurance premium.

A salesperson, for example, may drive around a lot for work putting themselves at a higher risk of having an accident and needing to file a claim. An office manager or a lawyer may not be driving as much, so they would be at a lower risk. Therefore, the high-risk salesman is going to have to pay more for premiums than the low-risk lawyer.

Driving experience

Another factor affecting your premiums could be how much experience you have behind the wheel. Generally, drivers in Singapore who have more driving experience will pay less for premiums than someone who hasn’t been driving as long.

It is perceived that the longer you have been driving, the less likely you are to get into a collision. More years equals lower premiums. If you are someone with less driving experience, stay safe, and with a little time at least you know your premiums may lower.

Car make and model

Whether you drive a luxury vehicle or an old car that just doesn’t quit—either one could give you higher premiums. Luxury vehicles have more expensive parts that will cost more to insure (think sunroof, hybrid and your fancy rims).

New cars also tend to cost more to insure. But, ironically once your car gets over about ten years old, your premiums will start to go up as it gets older and the cost of replacing those parts goes up as well.

Your engine capacity may also affect your premium. The higher the capacity, the higher the premium. Some insurance companies won’t even accept cars with a turbo engine.

Claim history

If you have had the unfortunate duty of filing a claim in the past three years, generally speaking, you will be given a higher premium. This may seem unfair. Maybe the accident wasn’t even your fault.

Insurers use statistics to analyze and infer how safe of a driver you are by your recent claims history. According to those statistics, people who have recently filed a claim are generally more likely to have to file a claim again while under their policy. Unfortunately, even if you are a safe driver, you are now stuck in a group of people who generally are not. The group of people you’re stuck with are high risk which now makes you high risk. And, you’ll have to pay for it.

There is a lot that can affect your car insurance premiums. Having a good understanding of those things can help you know what to do to save money.

Vouch is dedicated to offering reliable coverage from our insurance partners that gives you up to 15% of your premium back if you don't make a claim. Now, that's fair!

Who doesn’t want to save on car insurance?

How much you’ll have to pay for the premiums on your car insurance usually depends on many factors. These include your age, years of driving experience, marital status, occupation, gender, as well as the model of your car, among other criteria that insurers use to assess your risk levels.

The amount of coverage you opt for also matters. Obviously, if you opt for higher coverage with more benefits (such as the ability to go to any servicing workshop instead of only approved ones), your premiums will probably be priced higher as well.

Another hidden trap to watch out for is that cheap premiums sometimes come together with high excess i.e. the amount you have to pay upfront before your insurer pays for the rest of the damages (think of it in a similar manner as the deductibles in your hospitalisation plan). At other times, cheaper premiums may also translate into one-too-many exclusions, which would defeat the point of you purchasing car insurance if you can barely claim for any damages.

Remember to read the policy wording carefully to make sure you actually get the coverage you need and want!

In Singapore, there are many ways to reduce the cost of your car insurance premiums. Here are a few of them:

1. No-Claim Discount (NCD)

If you’re generally a safe driver who has not gotten into any car accident before or you’ve not claimed from your insurance policy previously, you are entitled to a 10% No-Claim Discount (NCD) for every year that you’ve driven. Your NCD can be accumulated to a maximum of 50% off (after 5 consecutive years), which translates into substantial savings on your car insurance! Yes, this is why some of your (usually older) friends are paying much less on their car insurance than you!

2. Certificate of Merit Discount (COM)

If you’ve not gotten any demerit points in the last 3 years, some insurers offer a further 5% off your car insurance after NCD.

3. No-Claim Rebate

If you have spent years driving without getting into an accident, aside of making full use of your NCD for up to 50% discount, you should also look at No-Claim Rebate (NCR) which gives you additional cashback if you do not make any claims on your policy in that year!

At this moment, Vouch is the first and only platform in Singapore to offer NCR on your car insurance.

If you’re a safe driver looking to save on your car insurance with cashback if you do not claim for any accidents, Vouch wants you! We are the first to offer No-Claim Rebate on your car insurance, together with other comprehensive benefits specially for safe drivers only, so head on over to get a quote here now!

Buying car insurance isn’t rocket science - essentially, you would want to:

• Search for multiple quotes at the same time
• Take advantage of discounts online
• Retain and get your No-Claim Discount (NCD)
• Get cashback for being a safe driver

The tricky thing about car insurance in Singapore is that insurance premiums are often quoted on a case-by-case basis. It is not so transparent to compare prices, as there are many factors that are taken into consideration before a quote can be issued, including the model of your car, your age and driving experience, etc.

Some car dealers may also not give you the option to choose your car insurance or provider, and insist that you can only go with their partner insurer or you will not be able to buy the car of your dreams that you saw at their workshop.

We recommend first shopping around on comparison platforms like Vouch and get quotes from multiple insurers. Vouch offers transparent insurance pricing from NTUC Income, Sompo and Tokio Marine, giving you the ability to choose and review the benefits offered by three different insurers within seconds.

When you buy your car insurance online, you can also take advantage of the many discounts available, especially since there is no agent or broker for the insurer to pay commissions to! Vouch is the first insurance platform in Singapore to offer cashback on your car insurance on top of your existing No-Claims Discount, making us one of the most competitive in the market!

To date, Vouch is the ONLY platform to offer you all these benefits, and more.

So if you’re a safe driver, head over to get a quote here now!

No two car insurance plans are the same.

When you purchase or renew your car insurance, make sure you pay close attention to not just the price, but particularly that of the benefits and features offered! Otherwise, you might just end up with a cheap insurance plan that barely offers you any protection coverage at all.

These are 7 things to consider:

1) In the event of an accident, what does your car insurance cover?

The first point is very important. Does it cover damages to third party vehicles only, or does it also include your own car? If your windscreen gets shattered, does your car insurance allow you to repair it without affecting your No-Claim Discount (NCD)?

2) Can your precious NCD be protected?

For many policies, once you make a claim on your car insurance, your existing NCD is reduced by 30% each time and that can lead to higher insurance premiums for subsequent years.

If you have a high NCD (30% and higher), does your car insurance offer you a NCD protector so that claims do not affect your future premiums?

3) Is your car vital for your job? Consider daily transport allowance.
For those who are dependent on your car for your job (such as sales), will your car insurance provide a daily transport allowance to help you tide through the period while your car is being repaired at the workshop?

4) What about medical coverage for bad accidents?

Should you be caught in a bad road accident and sustain injuries, how much medical coverage does your car insurance offer you? What about if you are the driver at fault and the other party is claiming their medical expenses from you? How much can your car insurance offset?

5) What about coverage beyond Singapore?

Drivers who often go into Johor Bahru, watch out for whether your car insurance covers any damages sustained beyond Singapore. (Here at Vouch, we offer insurance that protects you in Singapore, West Malaysia and parts of Thailand.)

6) Accessories? Or an outlier event such as flood coverage?

Some car insurance policies do not cover accessories in or on your car. Does yours offer this protection? If not, check out ours!

With the increased regularity of flash floods in Singapore, does your car insurance offer protection against damages caused to your car by flooding? After all, surely you shouldn’t be penalized for the weather!

7) Rewards and benefits?

Are there any benefits or special perks for safe drivers? Can you retain your NCD if you switch to a different insurer? What about rebates, or even cashback on your policy, if you’re such a safe driver that you do not make any claims?

If you’re a safe driver looking to save on your car insurance with cash back if you do not claim for any accidents, Vouch wants you! We offer car insurance with comprehensive benefits specially for safe drivers only (No-Claim Rebate which is up to 15% cash back), so head on over to get a quote here now!