- Author: Raymond
- Category: Car Insurance
Should I buy comprehensive or third party car insurance in Kenya?
Car insurance is a legal requirement if you want to drive on Kenyan roads. It’s required even if you want to park your car on a public road or in your garage and never drive it (unless it’s been declared as write-off). When researching car insurance policies to take out you'll see mentions of third party only, third party fire&theft and comprehensive cover, but what's the difference between them, and which is best for you?
Imana Insurance www.imana.co.keoutlines the two different types of car insurance and what they cover to help you make an informed decision.
What does third party insurance cover?
Third party insurance is the least amount of cover that you should legally have on your car.
Third party only (sometimes referred to as TPO), covers any damage to other cars in the event of an accident caused by you but does not cover your own vehicle. TPO also covers injuries or death to third party persons. This means that repairs to your own vehicle following a crash will need to be paid for by youself.
If you’re travelling with a passenger in the vehicle and you get into an accident, third party insurance will also compensate these passengers for their injuries.
Is Third Party Only (TPO) insurance cheaper?
Yes, lots of people will take out third-party insurance as they believe it to be cheaper than comprehensive cover, however, sometimes it can cost you more depending on who you buy it from. This is why we advise that you get yourself a licensed broker or agent to take you through the buying process. Therefore it’s always worth comparing the cost of this type of insurance against comprehensive cover.
Third party fire and theft insurance is a natural extension to TPO that you may want to consider. This insurance typically includes the same policies as TPO, however, you will also receive compensation if your vehicle is stolen or involved in a fire.
What does comprehensive car insurance cover?
Comprehensive insurance covers you and your vehicle as well as any other vehicles that are involved in an accident, regardless of whether it was your fault or not. Not only could comprehensive insurance be cheaper than paying for third party cover, but if you get into an accident, your insurance company will pay for the damages to your vehicle.
You may receive compensation when the fault can’t be proven too. For example, if someone has hit your car while it’s been parked in a car park and then driven off. Without comprehensive cover, you would have to pay for any repair work. If your vehicle was written-off, you would have to pay to replace in whole.
Your comprehensive insurance could also be extended to cover damaged windows or windscreens, recovery in case of an accident, courtesy car service, road rescue and audio equipment. You could receive monetary compensation for any personal belongings that are stolen or damaged too if you buy an additional cover. Third party insurance would not cover these features. For example, optional extras that you can pay for include motor legal protection and key protection.
For a more detailed guidance on motor insurance in kenya, visit us online at www.imana.co.ke or www.mykava.co.ke. You can also visit us on 4th Floor Krishna Centre, Woodvale Grove Westlands, Nairobi Kenya. Call or WhatsApp us on 0796209402
