Blue Badge Insurance

Blue Badge Insurance is an independence and mobility insurance specialist. It offers a range of tailored insurance products for people with disabilities or limited mobility, including car insurance for converted vehicles and people with disability parking permits as well as comprehensive insurance for mobility scooters and wheelchairs.

The Pacific International Insurance Pty Ltd. insures these policies. Read on to find out more about the type of cover and benefits they offer.

What policies are available?

There are two types of cover available from Blue Badge Insurance:

• Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance. This policy is for people who regularly use a disability parking permit, and for vehicles that have been converted for a driver or passengers with a disability. It covers you for the accidental theft and damage of your vehicle and includes a new-for-old replacement option for disability conversions. It also includes up to $20 million legal liability cover for causing damage to other people’s property, provides a rental car following theft and covers your personal belongings and assistive technology (eg, wheelchairs and walkers) while they are in the vehicle.
• Comprehensive Mobility Equipment Insurance. This insurance provides protection for wheelchairs and mobility scooters. It covers accidental damage and theft as well as your legal liability. Benefits include new-for-old replacement on scooters and wheelchairs up to two years old, automatic cover if you take your mobility equipment overseas and the cost of returning you home following accidental damage or theft.

From this point on, this review will focus on the benefits provided by Blue Badge Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance.

What’s covered by Blue Badge Insurance?

Check the list below for details of the benefits provided by Blue Badge Insurance Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance:

• Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance.

Are there any additional options available?

The following additional options are available with Blue Badge Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance for an extra premium:

• Excess-free windscreen and glass. If you make a claim for accidental damage or theft that is limited to the windscreen, side windows, rear windows or sunroof, you won’t need to pay an excess for the first insured incident.
• Rental car following theft. If your vehicle is stolen, Blue Badge Insurance will provide $150 cover per day for a rental car, up to a maximum of 28 days.
• Blue Badge Roadside Assistance. This benefit allows you to access 24-hour roadside assistance provided by Digicall Assist, designed to rectify a wide range of common breakdown-related problems.

General exclusions to be aware of

Your Blue Badge Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance claim will not be paid in the following situations:

Check the product disclosure statement for a full list of general exclusions that apply.

Blue Badge Insurance excess

The excess is the amount you must contribute towards the cost of a claim. Any excesses and their amounts will be shown on your certificate of insurance.

Blue Badge Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance features the following excesses:

• Basic excess. This is the first amount you must pay towards each claim.
• Young driver excess. This excess must be paid if, at the time of an incident, your vehicle was being driven by someone under 25 years of age. It is payable in addition to the basic excess.
• Undeclared young driver excess. This excess must be paid if, at the time of an incident, your vehicle was being driven by someone under 25 years of age who was not shown on your policy as a listed driver. It is payable in addition to the basic excess and the young driver excess.
• Inexperienced driver excess. This excess must be paid if, at the time of an incident, your vehicle was being driven by someone 25 years of age or older who has not held an Australian driver’s licence for at least two years. It is payable in addition to the basic excess.

How to save on your Blue Badge Insurance policy

There are several simple things you can do to reduce your Blue Badge Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance premium:

• Don’t add any options. Make sure you only add extra-cost options to your policy that you actually need.
• Choose a higher excess. By adjusting your excess higher, you’ll receive cheaper premiums.
• Take advantage of discounts. If you hold a disability parking permit, you can access a premium discount of up to 25%.
• Be a safe driver. If you’ve never made a car insurance claim in the past, you’ll benefit from cheaper premiums in the future.

Making a claim

If you need to make a claim under your Blue Badge Insurance policy, it’s important to contact the insurer as soon as possible by phoning 1300 304 802. You’ll need to provide the full details of what happened, and the Blue Badge Insurance staff will then manage your claim right through to settlement.

You may be required to complete a claim form, and you’ll need to supply any documentation the insurer needs to process your claim. This may include receipts, proof of ownership, letters, documents and valuations.

Some final questions you might have

• Who can take out Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance from Blue Badge?

  Blue Badge insures anyone who holds a current disability parking permit, regardless of the car you drive.

• Is there a cooling-off period?

  Yes. Blue Badge Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance has a 21-day cooling-off period which starts the day cover begins. If you cancel your policy within this period, you can receive a full refund.

• How can I pay my premium?

  You can pay your premium in one annual lump sum by using your credit card or direct debit. The option of paying your premium in instalments may also be available. You can contact Blue Badge Insurance for more information.

• Will my car’s disability conversions be covered?

  Yes. Blue Badge Insurance covers hand controls, ramps, pedal extensions, swivel chairs, lifts and a range of other modifications in the event of accidental damage, loss and theft.

• Does Blue Badge Comprehensive Motor Vehicle Insurance cover my wheelchair?

  Yes. Up to $5,000 cover is provided for your wheelchair while it is in your car.

• Are repairs guaranteed?

  Yes. Blue Badge Insurance includes a lifetime guarantee on all authorised repairs.