Optional add-ons are extras that change what a car insurance plan does beyond its core cover. In Singapore, three matter most: the No Claim Discount (NCD) protector, your choice of workshop and the drivers named on the policy. Windscreen cover, 24-hour roadside assistance and personal accident cover for the driver are part of what car insurance commonly covers, but each plan sets them out in its own way. Every extra can move the premium. So the fairest comparison puts plans side by side with the same options switched on.
What counts as an add-on in car insurance
A car insurance plan has a core. Comprehensive cover pays for damage to your car from accidents, fire and theft. It also pays for injury to other people and damage to their property. Add-ons sit on top of that core. They change how a claim affects you, where your car is repaired or who may drive it.
The level of cover is a separate choice from add-ons. Comprehensive, third party fire and theft, and third party only are three different plan shapes. You can switch between them on the results page without answering the questions again. This guide covers the extras you might attach once you have picked a level.
The example prices on this site assume no options. That matters when you read them. A plan with extras switched on will usually show a different figure from the examples.
The NCD protector
Your No Claim Discount grows by 10% for each year without a claim. It reaches 50% after five years. One at-fault claim usually cuts it by 20 to 30 points. The discount belongs to you, not the car, and it moves with you to a new insurer.
An NCD protector is an add-on on many plans. It keeps your discount after one claim. It does not pay for the damage itself, which is the job of the main cover. It is also separate from the excess, which is what you pay towards each claim for damage to your own car.
If you claim more than once, read how the plan treats a second claim. That detail differs between plans.
- An NCD protector is better for drivers who have built up a high discount, such as the full 50%, and want to keep it after one claim.
- Going without one is better for drivers still building their discount, where the amount at stake is smaller.
Choice of workshop
Plans handle repairs in two main ways. Some send you to the insurer's authorised workshops. Others let you choose any workshop. Plans that use authorised workshops usually cost less.
The choice affects where your car goes after an accident, not whether you are covered. A driver who already uses a trusted workshop near home may care about this. A driver who is happy to use the insurer's list may not.
- Authorised workshops are better for drivers who want a lower premium and do not mind where the repair is done.
- Any-workshop plans are better for drivers who want to keep using a workshop they know, and accept a higher premium for it.
The example prices on this site assume authorised workshops. If you want a free choice, compare plans with that option selected.
Named drivers on the policy
Car insurance does not cover drivers who are not named on the policy, outside its terms. In many Singapore households, more than one person uses the car. A spouse may do the school run. An adult child may borrow it on weekends.
Adding a driver can change the price and the excess. Age, years of driving and job all feed into the premium. Young or new drivers usually pay more and often face a higher excess. How each plan lets you add drivers, and what it charges, differs between insurers.
List everyone who will drive the car before you compare. That way the quotes reflect how the car is really used.
Windscreen, roadside assistance and driver accident cover
Three benefits often appear near the add-ons in a plan summary:
- Windscreen repair or replacement. This covers damage to the glass, such as a crack from a stone thrown up on the expressway.
- 24-hour roadside assistance and towing. This helps if your car stops on the road, day or night.
- Personal accident cover for the driver. This pays out if the driver is injured in an accident.
These are part of what car insurance commonly covers. Still, plans differ in how they list them and what limits apply. Check each one in the plan's own list of benefits.
Know the edges of each benefit. The policy excludes wear and tear and mechanical breakdown. Towing can get your car off the Pan-Island Expressway. The cost of fixing a worn or failed part is a separate matter. Personal accident cover for the driver is also narrower than a standalone personal accident plan.
How add-ons change the price you see
Prices for the same car can differ by hundreds of dollars between insurers. Today's example for a five-year-old Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 shows this. With a 50% NCD and no options, 16 insurers price it, from about S$604 to about S$1,517. You can see the full spread on the Corolla Altis price page.
Those figures are examples, not what you will pay. Your own car, driving record and chosen extras will set your price. An NCD protector, a free choice of workshop or extra named drivers can each move it.
To compare fairly, match the options across plans. A cheap headline price with fewer extras is not the same plan as a higher price with more included. You can browse more examples on the price pages or set two insurers side by side on the compare page.
How to tell whether a plan already includes an add-on
Some extras come built into a plan. Others must be switched on. A few checks help you tell the difference:
- Read the plan's benefit list. Look for the NCD protector, workshop type, windscreen cover and roadside assistance by name.
- Check the policy schedule. This shows the named drivers, the excess and any extras you have bought.
- Look at the workshop terms. Find out whether repairs go to authorised workshops or any workshop.
- Check the limits. Where a benefit has a limit, the figure differs between plans.
- Ask before you pay. If something is unclear, ask the insurer while you are still on its site.
When you are ready, enter your details on the car insurance quote page. You finish buying on the insurer's own site, with your answers already filled in.
Frequently asked questions
Does an NCD protector stop my premium from rising after a claim?
It keeps your discount after one claim. Other things can still affect the price at renewal, such as the claim record itself. Check how the plan describes what the protector does and does not do.
Is roadside assistance the same as breakdown repair cover?
No. Roadside assistance and towing help you when the car stops on the road. The policy excludes wear and tear and mechanical breakdown, so the repair cost is a separate matter.
What happens if someone not named on the policy drives my car?
Car insurance does not cover drivers who are not named on the policy, outside its terms. Check who the plan allows to drive before lending the car. If you need to make a claim, the Claims page explains the steps.
Why do the example prices look lower than my quote?
The example prices assume a set driver profile, authorised workshops and no options. Your own details and any extras you choose will change the figure. Compare plans with the same options to see a fair spread.