Why You Should Know What Your Insurance Covers

We have established the importance of having comprehensive car insurance, but have you thought about why you should know what your insurance covers?

One day, I was driving on Eko bridge when traffic suddenly started to gather ahead of me. I slowed down in time to avoid hitting the car in front of me. Then, I looked through my rear-view mirror and I saw a minivan coming at me faster than necessary. It immediately became clear to me that the car would hit me. I braced myself for the hit and it was a major hit. It jerked me and I immediately knew that the damage was going to be significant.

I came out of the car and the guy driving the minivan was a young guy in his mid 30s. Immediately, he started begging that he was sorry, his brake didn’t “catch” in time and I should please forgive him.

I was in a hurry as I had an appointment on the Island, and I couldn’t afford to be late. So, I asked him if he had car insurance.

” I am sorry, abeg no vex, I am very sorry, I no get insurance” he rebutted.

Bro, if you have a car registered in Nigeria, you have liability insurance, just give me the details and I will be on my way.

“Bros, please I don’t have insurance, please have mercy on me. You don’t know where I may be able to help you tomorrow”

Listen to me man, I am in a hurry, I can’t afford to be late and I don’t have time for drama, just give me your liability insurance paper and my insurance company will fix my car for me and get reimbursed from your insurance company. You paid for the insurance already so it will cost you nothing.

Apparently, the guy didn’t understand as he went down on his knees and told me he was a DJ at a popular radio station (name withheld) and that he was sorry and that he can help me in the future. Then, he offered me his business card.

I didn’t have the time to argue, I couldn’t afford to miss my appointment, moreover, I have comprehensive insurance. so, I took his business card, got into my car and left.

I called my insurance agent and told him what happened. He asked me to send him Whatsapp pics and he emailed me some forms to fill explaining what happened. Within 3 days they gave me approval to fix my car.

My mechanic picked up the car and said it would take 2 days to fix, but it ended up taking 5 days which meant I paid for Uber for the 5 days.

After my car came back from the mechanic, I started thinking to myself, in the US if your car is in the mechanic shop due to an accident, the insurance company would provide you a rental car to use until your car is fixed. Why doesn’t my insurance company do the same here in Nigeria?

So, I took out my policy and started reading it, to my amazement I came across the following:

“You may be provided with a courtesy car for a maximum of 10 working days while your car is being repaired. In the event of a total loss, you may also be provided with a courtesy car for a maximum of 10 working days”

I called my agent back to know why he didn’t inform me about it, he stated that he didn’t know I needed it, he felt I will use my wife’s car. SMH! So, do you need any further reason why you should know what your insurance covers? Please take the time to read your insurance policy.

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