Thinking about Coles car insurance? Make sure you know what you're covered for before you fork over your cash.
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.
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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?
- All the same benefits as Coles Comprehensive Car Insurance
- One excess-free windscreen claim
- Hire car after accident or theft
- New-car replacement on vehicles up to three years old
- Taxi benefit of up to $250 per claim
- Personal property cover, including mobile phone and GPS devices
- Up to $400 grocery replacement
- Covers accidental damage
- Loss or damage caused by theft, fire, flood, storm and malicious damage
- New-car replacement on vehicles up to two years old
- $20 million legal liability cover
- Towing and storage costs
- Hire car after theft
- Personal property cover
- Up to $200 grocery replacement
- Earn extra FLYBUYS points
- Online discounts
- $20 million legal liability cover
- Fire and theft cover
- Towing and storage costs
- Cover for no-fault accidental damage
- Uninsured motorist damage
- Online discounts
- $20 million legal liability cover
- Cover for no-fault accidental damage
- Uninsured motorist damage
What exclusions should I be aware of?
Your claim will not be paid if:
- It is for additional loss or damage caused by your car being driven after an accident or theft
- It is for consequential loss of any kind
- It is covered by any compulsory third-party insurance scheme
- It arises due to a deliberate, malicious or criminal act by you or someone acting with your consent
- It is for an incident that occurred while your car was being demonstrated for sale
- Your car was being driven by someone who in the last three years:
- You have been refused insurance or had your cover withdrawn
- You have had your insurance cancelled or renewal declined or refused
- You have had your licence cancelled, suspended or disqualified
- Your car was being used to train someone to drive
- The driver of your vehicle was under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Your car was being used for hire, fare or reward
- It arises due to bushfires, grass fires, flood, storm, rainwater or named cyclone occurring in the first 48 hours of cover
- Your car was being used in a way other than the purpose for which it was registered
- It is for pre-existing damage, faulty workmanship or incomplete repairs carried out prior to the insured event
- You have chosen to limit cover to drivers 25 years and older and the driver at the time of an incident was under 25
- Your car was being used for motor sport or racing
- Your car was being used in connection with the motor trade for experiments, tests or trials
- It arises due to undisclosed or illegal modifications
- Your car was being used for an unlawful purpose or driven by an unlicensed driver (unless stolen)
- Your car was being driven while unregistered
- Your car was being used to tow a load that was not secured according to law
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
Under Coles Comprehensive car insurance, is there a limit to how often an unlisted non household member may drive my car?
I have been told no more than twice in one week, but there is nothing about this in the PDS. What does twice a week mean? What if my daughter in law borrowed it for a weekend?
Hi Barry,
Thank you for your question.
You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually coles car insurance.
The PDS does not state anything about multiple driver limitations. You should contact Coles directly about this matter.
Cheers,
Zubair
Coles Comprehensive Car Insurance Claims
Have heard that it is difficult to lodge a claim when an accident occurs. Takes a long time for all work and claims to be resolved.
Is this true ?
Regards
Meiling
Hi May,
Thank you for your question.
You have contacted finder.com.au, a comparison and information service and not actually Coles Car Insurance.
finder.com.au is a comparison and information service and we are not permitted to provide our users with personalised financial advice or product recommendations.
For clarification on how much time it will take to process the claim, please refer to your product disclosure statement or contact your insurer.
All the best,
Zubair