Insurance Guide

Looking after your car is like looking after your body; the better condition you can keep it in, the better it will treat you over time. Car maintenance is a fact of life for vehicle owners, and it can be the difference between protecting yourself, your passengers and one of your most expensive assets. Some countries mandate that drivers have their vehicles tested at regular intervals, obtaining either a certificate or warrant of fitness, but what are the rules in Hong Kong? This week, Kwiksure examines the rules of certifying a vehicle roadworthy for Hong Kong drivers and how this might affect your insurance.

Roads can be dangerous places but, as a driver, nothing makes it more unsafe than distracted driving. There are lots of reasons for losing focus on things other than your driving; other passengers, alcohol and drugs, music. However, smartphones are by far the number one reason many drivers will take their eyes off of the road and pose a safety risk to other drivers and pedestrians. This week, Kwiksure examines the laws around using mobile phones whilst driving on Hong Kong roads, as well as the impact being distracted might have on your insurance.

As we’re right in the thick of the rainy season now, it’s important for Hong Kong motorists to adjust to the conditions. Wet weather, typhoons and strong winds can all cause havoc on the roads and drivers need to take extra care to ensure they don’t cause accidents or injuries. This week, Kwiksure has some helpful rain safety tips to help you stay on the roads this wet season.

As you are most likely aware, in Hong Kong it is mandatory for all drivers and owners of vehicles to have car insurance that meets the minimum level of coverage required by law. While there are a myriad of car insurance companies and plans in the SAR that offer varied levels of coverage to suit different needs, choosing the right plan at the best value possible can be challenging. To make matters even more complicated, you will also find that there will be a wide variance in premiums, with many factors that will go into the calculation of what you will be charged for your car insurance. One such factor is your car’s engine capacity. But, what exactly is the connection between your car’s engine capacity and your insurance premiums? The answer to this question is not as straightforward as you might think, as the calculation of your premium in relation to the size of your engine involves a number of considerations. To help, this article delves into the connection between engine capacity and how car insurance premiums are calculated.

Motor insurance in Hong Kong is viewed by many as a near commodity. All drivers and owners of vehicles are required by law to be covered by at least third-party insurance with many also securing comprehensive plans. The problem is, while there are laws around minimum levels of coverage, not all plans are equal. In fact, there is such a wide variety of plans, all with different terms and conditions, which explains why it is common to see Hong Kong car insurance myths arise. Last year, we took a look at 8 motor myths , here we clear the air on 5 more.

If you own a car, or plan on buying one in Hong Kong you likely already know that you must purchase car insurance for your vehicle before you are legally allowed to drive it in the city. The thing is, when you start looking at plans you will likely come to find that there is a fairly wide variance in premiums. To help, we have created this article which focuses on how car insurance premiums are calculated in Hong Kong. Before we look into the different factors insurers will consider it is important to note that there is no set calculation that must be used by all insurers when offering motor insurance plans. Rather, insurers will price their plans utilizing a wide variety of factors. Because every business is different, there will be external factors that have an impact on what they charge for insurance. For example, the number of claims submitted vs paid out, goals of the company, and competition all have a varying impact on the price. That said, there are a number of factors used by all insurers. Here we will look at eight common factors that insurers will use when quoting a price for car insurance in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is one of those cities where owning a car is seen as more of a luxury than a necessity. This means that there are an abnormally high number of sports cars on the road when compared to cities of comparable sizes. If you are thinking of buying your first, or even your next sports car you are going to need to get it insured before you can drive it legally on the roads here. The thing is, due to the sheer power and price of these vehicles insurers will tend to have some restrictions and conditions on plans for these cars. Here, we take a look at three important things you need to know about insurance for sports cars in Hong Kong.

This day a year ago , we were writing about five Uber drivers being in hot water over local driving laws. The car-hailing company has had an interesting few years, with numerous challenges to its business being launched around the world. In 2015, Hong Kong police charged the five drivers for carrying passengers illegally for reward and for not having appropriate third party liability insurance coverage. Last week the court convicted those same five Uber drivers on the charges the Hong Kong Police arrested them for a year ago. The ruling itself potentially spells disaster for Uber, who has launched appeals for its drivers in response to the convictions. This week, Kwiksure will discuss the outcome of the court case, what it means for Uber, and what passengers and drivers should be aware of in future.

Every time you get in your car, start it up, and pull out onto the road there is a chance that you will be in an accident. When it comes to driving it's not a matter of if you will be in an accident, but when. That is why it is so important to ensure that you have adequate car insurance coverage which can and will cover most if not all of the cost of repairs and damages. The concern here is that some insurers or garages in Hong Kong might not act in the best interests of the drivers they cover and try to inflate claims. Should this happen, you could see your premiums increase at a higher rate or if the damage is serious enough you could end up paying a considerable sum out of pocket. In order to ensure that you are treated fairly when it comes to submitting a claim after an accident, here are 5 things you can do.

Remember when the phrase “car technology” meant images of K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider? Hundreds of flashing coloured lights, digital dials and a talking car A.I. - the future of our driving experience seemed light years away. Yet here we are; we’re getting extremely close to a time in which our science fiction will become our driving reality. But just how far have we come in terms of car tech? Developments in the sorts of technology being tested and utilised in the automotive industry have been growing for years. Yet even avid tech readers have been dubious about whether cars could be included as part of the tech industry. The fact is, however, that car makers are at the forefront of tech development and the new innovations making their way into our vehicles are just around the corner.

Auto insurance is an inevitable expense for every driver, many of whom opt for third-party insurance to save costs. But does the lower premium make it a more suitable choice for you? And do you truly understand the differences between third-party and comprehensive insurance in the protections they afford to you? To save money, it is more useful to understand how insurers set the premiums for each driver, including how the vehicle owner's driving experience and the vehicle brand weigh in. In the following, we’ll analyze the 9 major factors affecting the premiums set by insurers one by one. A good understanding of these principles may well help you save a bunch in car insurance year after year.

Let’s talk about dash cams again. Don’t remember? Last time we explained what a car dashboard camera is, how they work, what features they can have and, most importantly, which ones were worth buying if you were in the market for one. Those of you who are still on the fence about whether it’s worth having one just need to read on. In this article, we’re going to show you a few horror stories in Hong Kong that might help change your mind. Warning: following some of the links in this blog post will take you to sites hosting footage of some graphic car-related incidents. Discretion is advised.