Rates and fees verified as correct at 05 August, 2021. Other information correct at the time of writing. Advertiser disclosure.
| Product | Monthly premiums available | Maximum no claim discount | Online discount | Choice of repairer |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive Car Insurance (currently unavailable) | Yes | Not Published | n/a | Yes |
This Australian car insurance provider offers usage-based insurance. A conventional insurance company might look into your driving history when you first take out a policy, but UbiCar monitors how you drive and the time you spend on the road to set a variable month-to-month premium.
They are able to do this using an app-based telematics system which records your driving style and habits. UbiCar also offers pay-as-you-drive cover, which lowers your monthly premium based on the number of kilometres you drive.
UbiCar’s goal is to make insurance premiums fairer and based on current data, instead of broad statistics which can negatively impact high-risk groups like young or inexperienced drivers.
The main driver and anyone else whose name is on the policy must download the UbiCar app on their phone to collect information about your driving.
Remember to activate your location services and bluetooth before you drive, otherwise the app won’t function properly. If you’ve forgotten your phone or if it’s out of battery, location data won’t be included in the score which informs how your premium is calculated, but other data may still be collected.
Your UbiCar score is a number between 40 and 100, and reflects how safe you are as a driver (the higher the score, the better). There are a lot of things that go into calculating this score, but the main ones are:
How fast you drive
How harshly you brake and accelerate
How you take corners
If you use your mobile phone while driving
The score displayed on the app is a rolling two week score, meaning it’s based on your time on the road over the past two weeks. To accurately assess how safe a driver you are, UbiCar will base your policy on your score over an extended period of time. For that reason, the number on your app might not match the one on your policy. Ubicar will make sure to tell you which scores were used to determine how much you pay in your Certificate of Insurance.
Unlike many other insurance providers, UbiCar calculates your premium based on how you use your car. It does this via the UbiCar app which tracks your behaviour on the road.
If your driving improves over time, your premium will be reduced. If, however, it worsens, you can expect your premium to go up. You can keep it low by making sure to always follow the rules of the road, or even by using your car less.
Along with how you drive, there are a few other factors that go into calculating your premium, just as with traditional car insurance, such as your car’s value, its make and model, and where you keep it overnight.
Since your premium is being continuously assessed and adjusted, there isn’t an annual policy. Your monthly policy is automatically renewed, and you can cancel any time.
While your driving habits are automatically monitored when you sign up with UbiCar, you’ll need to actively choose the pay per kilometre option.
This comprehensive cover offers additional premium reductions based on how far you drive. If you’re an occasional driver and estimate you travel less than 15,000km in a year, this policy option could be ideal.
How does it work? Each month you pay a per-km rate for the kilometres you travel, plus a lower base premium for when the car is parked. Distance is recorded by the pay per kilometre UbiCar Device which plugs into your car and connects to the mobile app. So once again, your monthly premium may vary.
Don’t stress if you’re doing a one-off roadtrip, because the daily limit is capped at 100km.
UbiCar offers comprehensive car insurance which covers a number of insurable events and items. These include:
Personal belongings cover (up to $500)
New-for-old replacement if your car is written off (if less than two years have passed since it was first registered and you are the first registered owner)
Hire car cover after fire, theft or attempted theft ($75 per day, up to 14 days)
Essential temporary repairs (up to $750)
Emergency accommodation expenses if you’re more than 100km from home (up to $250 per night, up to four nights).
Car towing
Repair or replacement of trailer (up to $2,000)
Replacement of lost or stolen keys (up to $2,000)
Replacement of child seat (any cost)
Accidental death benefit of $10,000
Temporary cover for new car.
To make a claim, you’ll need to call UbiCar or head to the claims portal and provide them with the necessary details of the incident. These include:
The details of the incident (what happened, when and where)
Your personal details and UbiCar insurance policy number
Contact details and registration of those involved
Contact details of any witnesses
Photos of the accident or damage
Other important documents like a police report (if applicable).
Your premium must be paid in monthly instalments, and when you first open a policy you’ll be required to pay for the first two instalments up front. Because your premium depends on your UbiCar score, it may differ from month to month. To avoid any surprises, you’ll be informed of how much you’ll pay each month in advance.
As for payment methods, UbiCar accepts Visa, Mastercard and American Express. Unfortunately, it does not offer the option to pay via BPAY or direct debit from a bank account.
Yes, like many insurance policies not every item or event is covered in a standard comprehensive policy. You’ll have to opt-in for some things like roadside assistance, hire car cover after an accident, and excess-free window and windscreen repair.
Remember, including optional extras in your policy will increase your premium.
Beyond the base UbiCar excess, additional age and unconnected app excesses can apply. The age excess for drivers under 26 can reach $700 for drivers listed on your policy and up to $1,000 or undisclosed drivers.
The unconnected app excess can be as high as $1,500 and is charged if you haven’t installed the app properly to monitor your driving behavior and then make a claim. You might be able to avoid this charge if you inform UbiCar you’re having trouble installing the system, or if you can prove you weren’t responsible for inconsistent data.
If you opt for the pay-as-you-drive option with UbiCar, you’ll receive an UbiCar Device that monitors your odometer when you take out the policy.
To install it, you’ll need to find your car’s diagnostic port (normally near the steering wheel) and plug it in. Then you’ll have to connect the Device to your UbiCar app. Follow the instructions here.
Mozo users have rated UbiCar car insurance on price, features, convenience, trust and customer service so you can see what real Aussies have to say about their experiences.
1 Reviews
Love the product and the offering but my experience when it came to make a claim was pretty ordinary. There was a complete lack of communication from their end. It took at least three phone calls from me, and two email complaints before someone contacted me to tell me the process and likely timings. I just got an email today to tell me my policy has been cancelled but received no other communication. Presumably that means my claim has been accepted and paid, but it would be nice to be told. If you have low expectations for customer service you won't be disappointed.
Read full reviewLove the product and the offering but my experience when it came to make a claim was pretty ordinary. There was a complete lack of communication from their end. It took at least three phone calls from me, and two email complaints before someone contacted me to tell me the process and likely timings. I just got an email today to tell me my policy has been cancelled but received no other communication. Presumably that means my claim has been accepted and paid, but it would be nice to be told. If you have low expectations for customer service you won't be disappointed.
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