GETTING STARTED
Three points to consider
- Third-party liability and own-damage cover serve different purposes.
- Excesses and vehicle value affect the comparison.
- Declare vehicle use and the regular driver correctly.
Third-party liability and own-damage cover
Compulsory motor third-party liability insurance provides protection, under the applicable terms, against damage caused to others. It should not be confused with cover for damage to your own vehicle.
Impact, collision, overturning, theft or robbery, fire and natural events are examples of risks to assess within own-damage options. The quotation should identify which are actually included. The expression “all risks” does not mean protection without limits or exclusions.
Excesses and the vehicle’s insured value
The excess determines the share of damage you may have to pay under the contract. Check whether it is a fixed amount, a percentage or subject to a minimum, and which covers it applies to. Compare quotations on the same basis to understand what changes.
Also check the value assigned to the vehicle, how it changes and how additional equipment is treated. Benefits following damage or loss depend on the agreed terms, so the purchase price should not be assumed to be a guaranteed claim payment.
Assistance, glass and replacement vehicles
For roadside and travel assistance, clarify where the service starts, which situations allow you to use it and what towing or transport limits apply. Glass cover and replacement vehicles may have their own limits, providers, duration and terms.
If you rely on the car daily for work, compare the events giving access to a replacement vehicle. A breakdown and an accident may receive different responses under the same policy.
The driver and use must reflect the facts
Identify the regular driver and actual vehicle use. Private use, business use, passenger transport and other circumstances should be clarified with the intermediary, as different arrangements may be needed.
The form distinguishes individual and company policyholders and requests the regular driver’s details when they are different. This helps prepare a quotation with consistent information.
How to compare two quotations
Imagine two quotations with different premiums: one includes own-damage cover with an excess and the other only third-party liability with assistance. The price is not directly comparable because the protection has changed too.
Place covers, sums insured, excesses and services side by side. Then check exclusions, territorial scope and conditions for using the cover. This helps discuss cost in relation to what you want to protect.
Details to prepare and changing insurance
Have the registration number, make, model and requested registration history available. For an individual policyholder, prepare the date of birth and driving licence date. Add the regular driver’s details where applicable.
State the desired start date and check the renewal of the existing policy. Only change protection after clarifying the steps for taking out insurance and continuity between policies. A quotation request does not allow you to drive without valid insurance.
A question to clarify before deciding
Is a replacement vehicle provided for a breakdown, an accident or both, and subject to what limits?
The product examples mentioned in the frequently asked questions illustrate possible differences. They are not an offer from RMACHADO and do not show that a particular cover is included in your policy. Availability, acceptance and terms must be confirmed in the specific quotation.
What to compare in a quotation
Use these questions to clarify differences that could affect your decision.
| Comparison point | Question to clarify |
|---|---|
| Protection | Does it cover only third parties or own damage too? |
| Excess | What do I pay and under which covers? |
| Assistance | What towing limits and conditions apply? |
| Mobility | When is a replacement vehicle available and for how long? |
Frequently asked questions
Does own-damage cover mean everything is covered?
No. It covers situations specified in the contract, subject to limits, excesses and exclusions. Ask for the list of covers and check the risks relevant to your use.
Can the policy be in a company’s name?
The request allows a company policyholder. The quotation should correctly identify the entity, vehicle, use and any required driver details.
Does the online quotation request give an immediate price?
The form prepares a request for assessment by the intermediary. Price and terms depend on the risk information and the insurer’s quotation; submission alone does not confirm them.
Is a replacement vehicle for breakdown the same as one for an accident?
These may be separate covers. Check the events included and the limits on use.
Is driver protection the same as passenger protection?
Cover tables may distinguish between them. Check who is covered and the benefits under each cover.
Is broken glass accompanied by other damage an isolated glass breakage?
The policy definition is decisive. In the Lusitania example consulted, isolated glass breakage is distinguished from breakage occurring alongside other damage.
THE NEXT STEP
A review starts with your details.
Prepare the request, check the summary and submit it when correct. A record is created only after final submission; the request does not activate insurance.
Prepare a quotation request ↗From the magazine: a practical read
Motor insurance: third-party liability, own damage and excesses ↗
Further information
Consult institutional sources and reference documents. Insurer pages illustrate specific products; their terms are not necessarily included in any quotation presented by RMACHADO GROUP. Some linked sources are in Portuguese.
General information from RMACHADO GROUP. Examples are illustrative and do not guarantee cover, price or outcome. Terms, acceptance and cover depend on the quotation and policy. The intermediary does not underwrite the risks.