2018 - Insurance

Sabtu, 07 April 2018

How Does Companies Calculate Car Insurance Rate In Kenya?

Planning to buy a Motor vehicle Insurance policy for your Car? If yes, then before making such a big decision, here are some of the key factors which insurers focus while calculating premiums. Taking a closer look at these factors can help you lower your car insurance premiums by making wise choices.


Companies often calculate car insurance rate in kenya based on specific factors like –

  • Which Car Do You Drive?
  1. It’s manufacturing year
  2. Car model
  3. Safety features
  4. Crash information
  • Age, Gender, and Marital Status
  • Marital Status
  • Your Driving Record
  • Your Credit History:
  • Miles Driven Each Year
  • Where Do You Live?
  • Which Car Do You Drive?

One of the most important factors on which car insurance depends is the vehicle you own and the safety measures it upholds. If you own a car like Subaru Tribeca, Mitsubishi Outlander or Subaru Forester which has high-quality safety equipment, in such a case, premiums will be lowered by the insurers. And, if you have a car that is likely to meet accidents, then you would require an insurance policy that could provide you safety against any kind of financial risks.

Vehicles scoring well in these factors require less for insurance. And, those more susceptible to damage, occupant injury, or theft, are inclined to pay huge premiums by insurers.  Thus, after calculating all these features, the premium amount is determined by the insurance company for insuring the vehicles.

So before you head down to the dealership, do some research and then move ahead.

Age, Gender, and Marital Status

When vehicle owners tend to purchase motor insurance policies, the insurance companies review their personal information and especially focus on the age group. The reason behind is the people under age 25 and above 50 are more likely either rash drivers or unsafe drivers who meet accidents more often. Therefore, both the age groups require comprehensive car insurance and they have to pay higher motor insurance rates.

When it comes to Gender factor, women are considered less likely to get into accidents, have lesser driver-under-the-influence accidents (DUIs) and most importantly less serious accidents than men. So, being a positive factor, women generally need to pay less for motor insurance comparative to men.

Marital Status

As per historic calculation, people under age 25, especially singles, have higher crash rates.  If you also fall into this category, and you are a student, you can ask your insurer for student discounts. Many insurance companies offer special discounts for premiums to the students who maintain a good driving record. Thus, you can avail these discounts.

In case, you are married,  you can get a marital discount. Being married, most of the insurers have norms to provide special offers for the couple on the basis that they may require a separate discount for their partner, may be at the same time or in future if they tend to buy a new car.

Also See: 8 Ways To Save On Car Insurance Premiums During Policy Renewal​

Your Driving Record

The better your driving record, the lower your premium. A person’s driving record plays the most significant role in calculating the motor insurance premium. If you haven’t claimed for any claim for a long time or have a good driving ratings, you will have to pay lower premiums.

If you are a high-risk driver and your history reflects records of accidents, traffic violations, or DUI arrests or convictions, your history will be closely observed to determine premiums. Drivers with bad track record generally must pay more than those who have gone crash-free for a long period of time  In case, you are a new driver and have not been insured for a number of years, it will surely lead to higher premiums.

TIP: Of course, your driving history will have a greater impact on what you have to pay for auto insurance. So, drive slowly and responsibly, keep maintaining your good driving habits and thus, save.

Your Credit History:

The higher your credit score, the less risk you will be and therefore, the lower your premium.  Maintaining good credit can have a positive impact on the cost of your car insurance. As per norms by most of the insurance companies, your credit scoring is a tool to predict future claims by any car owner and estimated cost of that claim.

Credit Ratings are based on information like payment history, bankruptcies, collections, outstanding debt and length of credit history. For example, regular, on-time credit card and mortgage payments affect a score positively, while late payments affect a score negatively.

Also See: 6 Key Benefits of Buying Car Insurance Online In Kenya

Miles Driven Each Year

Generally, insurance companies charge such drivers with higher premiums who drive their cars more than the predetermined annual mileage. Regular use of vehicle provides a good idea of your exposure to the road. The more a person drives, the more are chances to get into an accident. This is why the insurers ask you about the car mileage per day.

TIPS: The lesser you will drive, the less likely you can get into an accident or file a claim.

Where Do You Live?

The cost of Motor Insurance Premiums is different for different areas. At the time of pricing your motor insurance policy, the car insurance rates can vary based on the factors: motor insurance rates in that particular area, car repair costs, the frequency of accidents; medical care and climatic factor.

That’s why your residence plays a huge role in determining your motor insurance payments. In general, urban drivers pay a higher motor insurance premiums due to the higher rates of demolition, theft, and accidents, than those living in small cities.

So, if you are living in an area vulnerable to theft or accidents, it is expected that you might pay more for motor insurance to counteract these costs.

These are a few common factors considered by car insurance companies in kenya while setting car insurance rates. As these factors hugely contribute to your car insurance rates, read them carefully and then step into buying motor insurance premiums for your vehicle.

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6 Key Benefits of Buying Car Insurance Online In Kenya

In this modern age of Internet, an advent of online marketing has brought a big revolution to the insurance world. Today, there are multiple options to buy motor insurance online. Most of the insurance companies have taken their business online.

The companies are giving a wide variety of insurance plans at reasonable rates so that it becomes advantageous for the consumers to opt for online.purchase.


People opt for comprehensive car insurance to protect their asset from any kind of loss or damage. However, when it comes to purchasing car insurance online in kenya, many people develop doubts.

Maybe it is a kind of hesitation or insecurity to accept the online media as a proper channel for this activity, or maybe we are irrevocably tuned to the conventional means that we are least interested in trying a revolutionary new idea.

So the question is what will prompt a common man to test the simplicity and convenience of buying a comprehensive car insurance online?

Here are the 6 important reasons why one should choose online channels for buying motor insurance:

Buying Online is Cheaper

Purchasing motor insurance online is an instant process that not only saves time, efforts and money but also provides you with the best services available.  Applying online for quotes is a quick process. You can choose the best insurance policy and make payment directly.

Hence, this ease of getting quotes, instant payment of bills and having more flexibility makes purchasing car insurance online a wise decision. Furthermore, you don’t need to pay any commission to agents for selling you a policy,  which is one of the best benefits of purchasing the motor insurance online.

Free From Agents

Earlier, in order to know about which policy should one buy and what is the process, a consumer spends hours calling different agents. Furthermore, agents have their own agendas so they force the customers to buy expensive policies to earn good commissions. Sometimes, dealing with insurance agents becomes so frustrating that consumers drop the idea to buy insurance from such company.

In the case of an Online Purchase, you can easily compare quotes from different companies on a single website. This easy comparison helps you to find the best insurance with the lowest rate and thus, making an online purchase for motor insurance a more convenient option.  Also, it reduces the fear of being cheated by fake agents or involvement in a theft case.

Lots of Options

Whilst the offline search for car insurance policies may seem convincing enough, but you might not be able to see the whole picture. On the other hand, online shopping for car insurance can help you check reviews for different companies along with their customers’ experience on a number of sites.

This way, you will be assured of the reputation of a particular insurance company and know how well they treat their customers. You can check out all the available options (inclusive of the pros and cons, terms and conditions, qualification factors and peer reviews)  and find quality coverage for your vehicle using the Internet.

Save money

Generally, while we plan to buy any policy online, we need to search for the best insurance companies. It requires spending hours interacting with the agents for a specific policy, its benefits, charges, commission fee and much more. Thus, running a rat race to find the best car insurance plan is cumbersome than checking out the ‘one’ online.

Hence, buying the car insurance policy online in Kenya is totally worth it when compared to buying from the traditional sources.

Discounts & Offers

As nowadays, most of the car insurance companies are selling policies online, so the Internet has become a hyper-competitive marketplace for them. In order to encourage more and more consumers, the insurance companies are constantly competing to deliver policies at lower prices.  Moreover, since credit card companies have reward points system and also they offer discounts on online transactions, this can bring the price down further when you buy motor vehicle insurance online.

User-Friendly Interface

Another key advantage for choosing online insurance purchase is the user-friendly interface offered by the companies to their customers. Plus, the procedure is so simple to follow while applying for quotes. Additionally, the insurers ensure the customers for safe and secure financial transactions while making payments for their respective insurance plan.

If you want to change your policy covers, you can do it all online. Once you have your quote, it becomes easy to see what are the coverage options and see what you can afford and what is legally required. Online support is also available 24 hours a day and seven days a week. You can easily access all your policy documents on the websites anytime. You can print new proof of insurance cards and any other paperwork that you require. You no longer have to wait for days to get them in the mail.

Accepting online channels to purchase motor insurance might be quite hesitating as well as doubtful. But the simplicity, security, and efficiency of the online channels are considerably better than running behind the agents to find the best policy for your vehicle.

Now, when it is clear that picking up an online car insurance in kenya has many advantages and in every aspect, it makes sense to purchase a right policy for your vehicle online; it is noteworthy that buying any car insurance cover needs good research. As a thumb rule, keep it in mind that you know what you are buying and what you are getting covered for. Be an aware customer before you pay your insurance premium.

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8 Ways To Save On Car Insurance Premiums During Policy Renewal​

An insurance premium is a fixed amount which an individual necessity pays to the insurance company for a specific type of insurance purchased by him. No doubt car insurance premiums are too expensive but a smart purchase and few methods can help you reduce that premium to your affordable rate.


There are various factors that determine car insurance premiums, like, driving record, credit history, age, sex, marital status etc. In order to decrease premiums on your car renewal policy, here are top 8 useful ways that you can practice to keep your costs down considerably without making any major compromises on your policy.

Let’s have a look!

Price Comparison

Before purchasing any renewal policy, search out for the quotes provided by different insurance companies. Car Insurance rates for different renewal plans vary company to company. It is best to opt for online as it is a simple way to compare car insurance quotes Kenya. Check out the quotes from at least top five car insurance companies in kenya and calculate the premiums using the car insurance premium calculator.

Make sure you also compare premiums, services offered, different add-on covers etc. Find the suitable one for your own vehicle. It is noteworthy that do not make price shopping. After choosing the one with reasonable rates, go for the reputation of the company in the market. You can easily review the ratings and customer experience on a number of websites. And, if you believe that the chosen company is a wise choice, you can make deal with it.

Special Discounts & Offers

Almost all insurance companies offer certain discounts to their customers at the time of policy renewal. These discounts vary company to company. Here are some special discounts that are usually given to the consumers:

Low Mileage Discounts

Some car insurance companies in Kenya offer consumers special discounts based on low mileage

For example: If you are a customer who drives the car less than the predetermined yearly mileage of your vehicle then you are eligible to avail low mileage discounts.

Discounts based on Car Specifications

There are special offers for the customers which have special safety features embedded in their car. Many insurers give discounts for air bags, antilock brakes, car alarms and more security features if present in their car. As such cars are less likely to met an accident or stolen. So if you own such a car, you can easily grab big discounts.

Apart from these discounts, there are numerous offers based on the car model, your age, students and much more factors. You can check all the discounts available for your car either on the website or can even ask your insurance agent.  Grab the offers and earn profits while renewing your policy.

Opting for High Deductibles

In motor insurance companies, by increasing the number of deductibles you can easily lower your premiums. This is one of the most common ways to reduce your premium rates. Paying high deductibles while buying car insurance kenya may lower your premium rates but it could be risky for you.

It is suggested to opt for the amount that is affordable for you and may help you reduce your premium rates.

No Claim Bonus

No Claim Bonus (NCB) is a discount on premiums provided by the insurance companies. This discount is applicable to the car owners if they haven’t made any claims during their car insurance policy period If you are also eligible for no claim bonus, then you should claim it during the policy maturation period.

This reward can lessen the premium amount considerably through the years.

Know the Worth of Your Car

If a car owner knows the value of his car, it may help to save a lot of money on the premium. The car owner should calculate the correct IDV (Insured Declared Value) of the car. It can be calculated by comparing the actual price of the car to its market value at the time of renewing its insurance policy, It will be helpful to figure out the depreciated value of his car which enables him to negotiate with the insurance company on the premium of his chosen car insurance policy.

Another considerable factor is to make a detailed research on the car insurance policy along with the terms and conditions before you decided to purchase it. It will be helpful to discover the hidden clauses and become familiar with it to avoid any kind of financial loss.

Reduce Coverage on Older Cars

In case, you have planned to renew your policy but later you realize that the cost of your car is 10 times lesser than the renewal policy you are opting for, purchasing the car insurance coverage will surely not be cost-effective. In such situations, try to drop plan for comprehensive coverage.

It would be better if firstly you know the worth of your car and then pick up the plan accordingly. This is a wise decision towards decreasing your auto premium rates and ultimately heading to huge savings.

Keep a Sound Credit History

A good credit history owes to supreme benefits for the customers, especially lower insurance costs. Most insurers keep track of credit records of the consumers, for example -what kind of driver the car owner is, how much experience he holds as a driver,  what is the possibility of accidents, and much more important factors to price auto insurance policies.

The customers who effectively manage their credit records and have made fewer or no claims during their car insurance period are considered likely to avail more discounts. Be sure that you’re getting the good credit, as it’s a smart way to lower down your premium rates. Keep checking your credit record regularly to verify that every information submitted is accurate.

Ask About Group Insurance

Some companies offer discounts to drivers who buy insurance through a group plan. You can either ask your employer or through business and alumni groups or from other associations. If you are a member of any club, you can even inquire with other members there, who are also keen to buy insurance or want to renew the policy.

Presented above are just a few simple steps to lower your auto insurance premiums. Reducing your car insurance premium can be an easy way to save money.

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Time To Switch Car Insurance – 6 Signs To Look Out For

Buying an auto insurance in Kenya is a hectic task and being obscure about the importance of motor insurance, people feel hesitated to ask about this topic and thus misled by the insurers.  Every customer doesn’t know about the benefits and rights that come under a specific insurance category.


Being a customer, many times people pay an inordinate amount to the insurance companies for their services and in return, they are not happy. If you are also suffering from such unsatisfactory services and feel you didn’t get what you expected then it is a sign that you should switch your insurance company.

Here, in this blog, we have accorded the super six signs which will help you understand that you are not getting the services you deserve and you should Switch your car insurance company.

Your Rates Continue to Rise

A continual rise in auto insurance prices proves to be the biggest factor towards unhappy customers. There are some insurance companies which do not reward their customers with the additional benefits of being loyal to their company from a long time. Thus, customers pay an increased amount to renew their car insurance policy every year.  According to a survey, this trouble is faced by most of the Kenyan customers due to opacity about rights as a customer dealing with an insurance company.

So, if you too have a long term relationship with your insurance provider, still your auto insurance rates are escalating every year and you are not getting any loyalty rewards, discounts or special offers. Then this is the most significant sign to look for a different insurance company.

Nightmares in Customer Service:

Customer Support is considered to be the most reliable factor upon which the success of any company depends and most of the companies in insurance sector kenya have pretty good rankings in this service.

But still, there are many out there which make it an annoyance for the customers to get them on the phone, even if a customer needs to file a claim.  When it comes to auto insurance, this becomes really crucial to provide phone support.

The reason is in case if you ever get into a car accident, the insurance company should be aware of this incident because it is your insurance provider who will provide service, coverage, and support.  And if you have gone through such a situation where you were deprived of instant insurance assistance, then you must search a new insurance company.

Your Insurance Providers Don’t Have a Website

Advancement in technology has revolutionized the kenyan insurance sector largely. Today, top insurance companies are providing online tools to reach out their customers and assisting them with 24*7 services.


Buying car insurance online, updating car renewal policies, online bill payments and many such features not only make this process simpler and easier but also prove to be huge money and time savers.  So, in this modern era, it is really important that the insurance companies you are a buyer with must be present on the web.

And if your auto insurance provider is not available online yet, chances are they are behind the times. Thus,  If they are not running a website, it’s best to leave them in the dust.

You didn’t get What You Expect for:

Generally, people switch their insurance company because they are not happy with the services offered by their providers. This is the most common but probably the most valid reason for switching car insurance in kenya.

Not only in the insurance sector but in every field customer satisfaction is the most important factor for any business. The growth of a business depends on how satisfied its customers are. Nothing speaks louder than the testimony from a satisfied customer. And, if a customer is not satisfied then even a small business can’t work great.

Therefore, if you aren’t happy with your coverage, or the amount you’re paying for the services, it is better to walk away at the right time and check out best options available to purchase car insurance in Kenya.

Personal Reasons:

Every time a person switches an insurance company doesn’t mean that there is a lack of the services provided by the insurers or anything negative. The decision to switch one’s insurance provider also depends upon one’s personal situations. If the customer plans to shift from the city or gets a transfer in the job then they might need to switch the insurance company.

Apart from this fact, if you buy a new car, you may opt to purchase insurance from a different company in order to avail more benefits or discounts. Additionally, if you want to add a driver to your policy, you will need to buy a new car insurance or any policy renewal and in that case, you will need to buy a new car insurance. This is completely up to you whether to continue with your present insurance providers or to change your car insurance company.

If you are facing any of the insurance troubles mentioned above, then the best decision would be to change your insurance firm while buying a new insurance for any of above-mentioned personal circumstances.

Claim-Filing Is a Nightmare:

One of the biggest trouble with an insurance provider is filing a claim appears to be a nightmare. If filing any claim in your present company doesn’t result in expected outcome and services are adverse then it is a clear sign that you should think about pursuing with the company. We, humans, work really hard to earn money and this hard-earned money if goes in vain then we all get frustrated.

The only thing we expect is a good response. Another big thing to take into consideration is that people purchase insurance to get claims when a situation is encountered. So if you are facing problem in the very least expectation from your insurer then step out elsewhere.

Almost every day, you see or hear advertisements that urge you to purchase auto insurance. Although you may be wary of what is promised in ads is actually served or not, but it is true that you can save money by switching car insurance .

These are a few specific situations that can prompt you to seriously consider the job of finding a new auto insurance company. And if all these signs apply to your current insurance customer experience then its time to switch your car insurance for better and save money, start seeking for a new car insurance service provider. You may want to have a look at this list of car insurance companies in kenya to make an informed decision.

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Does Your Car Insurance Cover Damage Due To Flood Water?

Almost every Kenyan prefer to buy third-party only insurance as this car insurance is considered to be the mandatory policy for every motorist.

Did you ever think that every accident that happens is not always due to rash driving, there may be some unpredictable situations like you might not think of natural calamities as a major risk to your car. But they may lead to big damages to your vehicle. This is where you need to focus does your car insurance policy provides you cover for floods?


You may get surprised after knowing that your car insurance kenya cover does not cover for damages due to floods. But keep in mind, water can cause all kinds of damage to your vehicle either internal or external. In other words, a flood can completely total out your car.

Fortunately, if you are a buyer of comprehensive car insurance coverage, it may help cover water damage to your vehicle, depending on the cause.

Usually, a comprehensive car coverage is optional for Kenyans, but it upholds a number of covers other than accidental damage.

Why Every Insurance Policy Doesn’t Cover Water Damage

A standard car insurance policy only covers accidental damages, such as collision and liability. In simple words, a third party liability only covers the other driver when you are at fault, while collision covers both drivers irrespective of fact who is at fault.

For the most part, these types of coverage plans do not provide any cover for the damages to your vehicle due to floods, so if your car suffers any water damage, these basic insurance plans can’t cover your loss.

How Does Car Insurance Covers water damage due to flood?

In order to buy coverage for flood damage, you must choose comprehensive auto insurance for your car. Comprehensive car insurance is meant to cover damage from heavy flooding in your area.

Although the coverage can be expensive, it will shield your asset from many of life’s unpredictable events like floods.

Your comprehensive policy would pay for all the repairing costs or reimburse you for the actual cash value of the car if your insurance adjusters say it’s a total loss.

Why is it important to include damage due to Flood in your Policy?

Purchasing a car insurance plan that includes flood loss cover or flood insurance in your policy is important because the natural calamities are completely unpredictable. We can’t wait for a flood to be announced or flood damage to your vehicle.

Also, Flood insurance becomes crucial if you live in a high-risk flood zone. Floods are out of the driver’s control, if your car is damaged due to rising water caused by heavy rain, comprehensive coverage will help to protect you and your vehicle.

What to Do If You Don’t Have Comprehensive Coverage?

Unfortunately, if you do not have a comprehensive cover for your car, you have nothing much to do. The liability coverage of your car insurance policy is only meant to cover damages you cause to other drivers–not your own car.

These type of policies never cover damage to your vehicle from flooding–even damage from any natural calamity. If you don not want your car being damaged in a flood, we highly recommend you just to purchase a comprehensive insurance to your policy.

How to File a Car Insurance Claim After a Flood?

Filing a claim for a flood damage to your vehicle is similar to the filing claim for motor damage due to accident. The major part is if there is flood in your area, it is likely that there would be many people encountered in the same situation. Thus, many drivers will be filing similar claims for their auto damage along with you.

Almost all car insurance companies only have a finite amount of claims adjusters to evaluate each case. The sooner you will file the claim however, the more likely you will be one of the first cases processed.

Secondly, do whatever you want to protect your car but as soon as possible as the longer you wait, the more damage the water can be inflicting on your vehicle. Here’s a look at some potential steps one should take while a victim of water damage:

  1. Do not start your car, as potential water damage in your engine will make it worse
  2. Get a towing service to move your car to higher ground, or wait until the water recedes.
  3. Call your insurer or the insurance company immediately. Especially in a catastrophic claim situation, you should be first in line to get your claim processed.
  4. Get the vehicle dried out as soon as possible. For drying out your vehicle, do not try it own but contact the appropriate professionals.
  5. The sooner your vehicle gets dried out, the better your chances of avoiding a total loss situation.
  6. Use the vehicle repairing body shop preferred by your insurance carrier. One of the major concern to using your insurance carrier’s preferred body shop is that it mostly guarantees the shops work.
  7. Your insurance adjuster will determine whether your vehicle should be declared as a total loss due to flood damage or not. A total loss is a situation where the repairing cost of the vehicle is higher than the actual cash value the insurer would reimburse you for.
  8. In case of a total loss, you will get the actual value of your car by giving your car to your insurers.

Flood damage can be frustrating for any car owner, but the right coverage may help you protect your vehicle. Your insurance agent can help you find the best car insurance in kenya for you. Learn about your risk level for a potential flood and speak with your insurance agent to determine what the best coverage is for your vehicle.

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