Saturday, April 25, 2015

Ensure foreign vehicles have local insurance PUBLISHED ON APR 25, 2015 1:10

Ensure foreign vehicles have local insurance

PUBLISHED ON APR 25, 2015 1:10 AM

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- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/ensure-foreign-vehicles-have-local-insurance-20150425#sthash.BygAGeA4.dpuf

CURRENT regulations require only foreign vehicles registered outside West Malaysia to have an insurance certificate issued by a Singapore-based insurer.

While Singapore vehicles enjoy the same quid pro quo, this also creates uncertainties in the event of accidents in Singapore involving Malaysian vehicles.

As a matter of fact, there seems to be no check that the West Malaysian vehicles entering Singapore have valid motor insurance in Malaysia itself.

All motorists sharing the roads should share the same responsibility, and have the confidence that their fellow motorists are held to the same accountability.

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/ensure-foreign-vehicles-have-local-insurance-20150425#sthash.BygAGeA4.dpuf

Hence, all foreign vehicles entering Singapore should have a motor insurance certificate endorsed by a Singapore-based insurance company.

The Singapore-based company will be required to act as the insurer for the foreign vehicle in the event of accidents.

This will allow the workshops in Singapore to handle the claims as local cases, rather than cross-border ones, and facilitate the repair of damaged vehicles.

Having Singapore insurers cover foreign vehicles will lead to greater confidence for victims that their no-claims discount will be protected, as there will be no cross-border claims involved. Hence, this will encourage them to claim against their own policies first and get their vehicles repaired earlier.

The price for Singapore motorists will probably be higher premiums, in order for their insurers to get similar endorsements from Malaysia-based insurance companies for them to enter Malaysia. But this also benefits them, as, in the event of accidents, there will be less cause for them or their vehicles to be held back, as they will now have local insurance representation in Malaysia.

- See more at: http://www.straitstimes.com/premium/forum-letters/story/ensure-foreign-vehicles-have-local-insurance-20150425#sthash.BygAGeA4.dpuf