Coles Car Insurance

Thanks to an effective ad campaign, Coles is one of the most popular car insurance companies in Australia. But how good are their policies? Read on to see how Coles car insurance compares to other insurance policies out there.

What policy options do I have?

Coles Car Insurance offers four cover options for Australian drivers:

• Comprehensive Plus. This is the highest level of car insurance cover available from Coles. It offers all the same benefits as the Comprehensive policy below, but also includes one excess-free windscreen claim and a taxi benefit of up to $250 per claim.
• Comprehensive. Coles Comprehensive Car Insurance provides cover when your vehicle is accidentally damaged or stolen, as well as if it is damaged by fire, flood, storm or vandalism. This policy also provides legal liability cover when you damage someone else’s car or property, and offers new-car replacement on vehicles up to two years old.
• Third Party Fire and Theft. If someone makes a claim against you for damaging their vehicle or property, Coles Third Party Fire and Theft Car Insurance provides $20 million of liability cover. Cover is also provided when your car is stolen or damaged by fire, and when it is damaged in an accident that is not your fault.
• Third Party Property Damage. Coles Third Party Property Damage Car Insurance is an entry-level policy designed to offer $20 million of legal liability cover for damage to other people’s cars and property. In addition, you’ll be covered when your vehicle is damaged by uninsured drivers.

What does each policy cover?

• Comprehensive Plus
• Comprehensive
• Third Party Fire and Theft
• Third Party Property Damage

What exclusions should I be aware of?

Your claim will not be paid if:

What excess will I be charged?

The excess is the amount the insurer deducts from your claim settlement in order to reduce the number of small claims and keep car insurance premiums down. The excesses that apply to your policy will be shown on your certificate of insurance and may include the following:

• Standard excess. This excess is payable on all claims, except if you have an optional excess-free windscreen claim included in your cover.
• Voluntary excess. You can choose a higher or lower excess to adjust your premium amount.
• Age excess. This excess applies when the driver of your car is under 25 years of age.
• Inexperienced driver excess. If the driver of your car is 25 years or older and has not held a licence for at least two years at the time of the collision, you will need to pay this excess.
• Unlisted driver excess. This excess applies when the driver of your vehicle is under 25 years of age and not listed in your insurance schedule.
• Special excess. A special excess may also be applied based on the driving record and insurance history of the drivers of your car.

How can you save on your policy?

There are several things you can do to reduce the cost of your Coles Car Insurance premium, including:

• No-claim discount. Safe drivers who do not make any claims can receive cheaper premiums thanks to Coles Car Insurance’s no-claim discount.
• Buy online. Comprehensive Plus, Comprehensive and Third Party Fire and Theft policies offer a discount when you purchase cover online.
• Protect your car. Keeping your car garaged overnight and installing anti-theft devices can lower your premiums.
• Choose a higher excess. You will receive a reduced premium in return.
• Drive less. The less you drive your car, the cheaper it is to cover.
• Choose a lower level of cover. The lower the level of cover you choose, the more affordable it will be. Reducing the number of optional extras you add to your policy will also lead to a cheaper premium.

How do I make a claim?

If you need to make a claim on your Coles Car Insurance policy, contact the dedicated claims team as soon as possible. Provide full details of the incident and you will be advised of what steps you need to take, such as:

• Taking all reasonable precautions to prevent any further loss or damage
• Gathering the details of anyone else involved in a collision
• Reporting theft or malicious damage to the police
• Keeping any damaged property in case the insurer needs to inspect it

Some final questions you might have

• When can I make a claim?

  You can lodge a claim with a Coles Car Insurance claims specialist 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

• Is there a cooling-off period?

  Yes. You can cancel your cover within 30 days of purchasing a policy and receive a full premium refund.

• Can I choose my own repairer?

  No, Coles will choose a repairer who is part of their national partner repair network.

• Are repairs guaranteed?

  Yes, all authorised repairs are guaranteed for life.

• Are there any optional benefits available?

  Yes, you can add the following optional benefits to your Coles Comprehensive Car Insurance policy by paying an additional premium:

  • Hire car cover
  • Protect your excess and no-claim discount for windscreen damage
  • Maximum no-claim discount protection
  • Roadside assistance

Tim Falk

Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.