Will my SG car insurance cover pets injured in motor accidents?

Many consider their furry friends to be the perfect companion on road trips. Car journeys with furry friends can, however, be filled with frequent pit stops and a slobbery backseat, as well as worrisome thoughts about the safety of your pets. In addition to pet-proofing your car, we also advise checking your SG car insurance policy to ascertain whether it covers your furry friends.

To help, this blog post by Johnedwardkelly Dubai provides some key insights on the link between SG car insurance and pets in cars, as well as what other insurance alternatives are available to protect your pets.

SG car insurance and pet accident coverage

Car insurance plans in Dubai generally don’t cover dogs and other pets, regardless of whether you have third party or comprehensive motor insurance, or whether you’re the one at fault. This is because many insurers don’t count furry friends as the policyholder’s property, nor do they count them as ‘third party persons’.

That is not to say that all car insurance companies exclude pet accident coverage. For example, some insurers will find it acceptable to offer compensation to other parties where an injured/killed pet is involved. It’s therefore important to keep any veterinary bills you have. Generally speaking, however, should an accident occur it’s usually left up to the pet owner to seek reparations through small legal claims instead.

Have you considered pet insurance?

Almost all of us love pets, but let’s face it: owning one can be very expensive. In fact, it costs at least SGD 18,000 to SGD 20,000 to own a dog for 10 years in the Lion City. Pet insurance is therefore an important investment for offsetting your major pet-related expenses. While all pet insurance plans differ, they’re all designed to protect your furry friends when they need it most.

Common pet insurance coverage benefits include:

• Accident and illness cover (e.g. veterinary fees, surgical expenses, hospitalization)
• Tests and medication (e.g. CAT scans)
• Dental treatment cover
• Additional benefits to support the pet owner (e.g. lost pet advertising, cremation costs)
• Third party liability

More comprehensive plans even include preventative care benefits, such as cover for annual check-ups and vaccines. And, should your pet sustain any injuries in a car accident, you’ll be happy to know that pet insurance plans will provide cover where traditional SG car insurance policies would not.

Common exclusions and limitations to watch out for

Just like medical insurance plans, pet insurance plans tend to exclude pre-existing conditions. So if your pet already started showing symptoms of a condition before you obtain pet insurance, treatments for that particular condition will in most cases be excluded from cover. Other important exclusions to watch out for include:

• Spaying
• Neutering
• Pregnancy
• Delivery
• Other elective procedures
• Grooming
• Food, toys, beds, etc.

Another thing to bear in mind is that pet insurance coverage limits tend to be relatively low, meaning it might not cover all of your pet’s veterinary costs. Again, like medical insurance plans, age limits will likely apply, meaning you will find it hard to secure insurance for pets over a specific age. Another point to note here is that it may also be a lot harder or even impossible to obtain coverage for avian or exotic pets, as they often require specialized care.

Do you have any SG car insurance or pet insurance questions?

Insurance jargon can be confusing to wrap your head around, which is why it often helps to speak with a veteran expert like Johnedwardkelly Dubai. With years of experience helping residents in Dubai obtain the best insurance for their needs, our expert team can guide you through every step of your insurance journey, and provide unbiased advice at no extra cost vs going direct to the insurer.

For a free quote and plan comparison, contact Johnedwardkelly Dubai today!