Know Your Car Policy

by Morgan Flanagan Creagh | 2 min read    August 12th, 2020

Car Insurance can be a financial safety blanket when taking to the road. But you might not know all the details about your car insurance policy, other than it’s needed to legally drive and it can help in the event of an accident. So, to shed some light on a few interesting aspects of your policy we have delved through the swamp of terms & conditions to put together this Know Your Allianz Car Insurance Policy guide.

Where can I drive?

Surprise, surprise; your insurance cover allows you to drive in Ireland. But that’s not all; you’re also covered in Northern Ireland, Great Britain, The Isle of Man and The Channel Islands. Furthermore, you’re covered to drive around Europe (including European nations that have made arrangements to meet the minimum insurance requirements set by the European Union), for up to 60 days. You are also covered to take your car on the ferry, on a train, and through the Channel Tunnel.

However, if you’re going anywhere outside the EU and the European nations that have made the aforementioned arrangements, or if you’re going to be driving on Continent of Europe for over 60 days, then you have to call Allianz and let us know. Also, if you have Breakdown Assistance, it’s only available while driving in the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Great Britain.

As usual, your level of cover (Comprehensive, Third Party, Fire and Theft or Third Party) dictates the benefits you enjoy when abroad.

What is a No Claims Bonus?

The famous No Claims Bonus (NCB) is a discount you earn for a year of claim free driving. This discount increases (subject to T&Cs) for every year of claim free driving up to 9 years for Allianz customers. This means that the safer you drive, the less you pay. But, if you make a claim you will lose your NCB. To prevent this, you can opt for NCB protection on your policy*. Also, if you allow your proof of NCB to lapse for more than two years it will expire and you will also lose any discount accrued.

*This is an optional extra.

Who can drive my car?

Aside from you, anyone else named on your insurance policy between the ages of 30 and 70 can drive your car too, provided they are claim free, have a clean license and don’t suffer from any condition that could affect their driving.

You can also add a temporary driver to your policy for up to 30-days for free, provided they’re over 25 and have a clean, full, license with no convictions or pending claims.

What responsibilities do I have?

Firstly, you need to be honest with Allianz about previous claims, penalty points, or any other relevant detail about your driving history. You also need to maintain your car in a roadworthy condition. This means checking that your brakes, lights, and mirrors are in good working order; that your tyres have a legally compliant thread depth, and that your car has a valid NCT. You’re also responsible for making sure that you don’t leave your keys in the car or leave it unlocked. Plus, you should safeguard your car from loss or damage and prevent injuries.

How do I make a claim?

You can make a claim at any time via MyAllianz.

If you can, be sure to get the other driver involved in the accident’s name, contact details, insurance details, licence details, and car registration number. Also, get the details of any witnesses or Gardaí/police officers who attended the scene.

If any person is injured, you must report the incident to the Gardaí/police whether or not an officer attends the scene.

Remember to not admit responsibility, sign any statement, or negotiate the settlement of any claim without written agreement from Allianz. For more details about anything covered in this document please check out our FAQ section.