Car insurance in Singapore pays for damage to your car, for injury to others and for damage to their property. How much it covers depends on whether you pick comprehensive, third party, fire and theft, or third party only. Your price depends mainly on your car, the main driver, your No Claim Discount and where repairs are done. The answers below follow the order most drivers ask: cover, plan type, price, then buying and claiming. You can compare plans for your own car on the car insurance page.
Cover and exclusions
What does car insurance cover?
A comprehensive plan covers damage to your car from accidents, fire and theft. It also covers injury to other people and damage to their property. Plans also list windscreen repair or replacement, personal accident cover for the driver, and 24-hour roadside assistance and towing. Check each plan for how it words these items.
What does car insurance not cover?
The usual exclusions are:
- driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- drivers who are not named on the policy, outside its terms
- private hire, racing or rallies
- wear and tear, and mechanical breakdown
Insurance pays for sudden loss. It does not pay to service a worn part or fix an engine that fails on its own.
Am I covered if someone else drives my car?
Only a driver named on the policy is covered, outside the policy's terms. A relative or friend who is not named may fall outside the cover. Plans differ in how they handle this, so look at the wording on who may drive before you pick one.
Choosing the type of cover
Should I choose comprehensive or third party?
There are three levels. Comprehensive pays for damage to your own car as well as what you do to others. Third party, fire and theft covers what you do to others, plus your car if it is stolen or catches fire. Third party only is the legal minimum. It covers injury to others and damage to their property, never your own car.
Comprehensive is better for newer or higher-value cars, where a repair bill would be hard to absorb. Third party only is better for an older car that is worth little. You can switch between the three on the results page without answering the questions again.
What is the excess?
The excess is what you pay towards each claim for damage to your own car. Young or new drivers often pay a higher one. A higher excess can change the premium, so compare the two together. The amount differs between plans, so read it on each one.
Do I have to use the insurer's workshop?
That depends on the plan. Some plans send you to the insurer's authorised workshops. Others let you choose. Plans that use authorised workshops usually cost less than plans that let you choose any workshop. A plan with a free choice of workshop is better for a driver who wants to keep a regular workshop. An authorised-workshop plan is better for a driver who wants a lower premium.
What sets your premium
What decides how much I pay?
Five things matter most:
- Your car. The model, the engine size and the car's age. A bigger engine or a pricier model usually costs more to insure.
- The main driver. Age, years of driving and job. Young and new drivers usually pay more.
- Your No Claim Discount. The single biggest discount, worth up to half the premium.
- Claims and demerit points. A recent at-fault claim or demerit points raise the price. Some insurers will not quote online.
- Where repairs are done. Authorised-workshop plans usually cost less.
How does the No Claim Discount work?
The No Claim Discount (NCD) is 10% for each year without a claim, up to 50% after five years. One at-fault claim usually cuts it by 20 to 30 points. Many plans offer an NCD protector as an add-on, which keeps your discount after one claim. Check what a protector adds to the premium before you take it.
Does my NCD move if I switch insurers?
Yes. The discount belongs to you, not the car. When you switch, the new insurer checks it with your old one. It also moves with you if you change cars.
Buying and paying
How do I pay less for car insurance?
No insurer is the lowest for everyone, so compare for your own car and details rather than by insurer name. The gap can be wide. Today, 12 November 2026, 16 insurers price a three-year-old Toyota Corolla Altis 1.6 from about S$713 to about S$1,730. For a Honda Vezel 1.5G CVT, 16 insurers range from about S$621 to about S$2,261. For a BMW 330i 2.0, 17 insurers range from about S$1,000 to about S$3,040.
These are examples, not what you will pay. They assume private use, comprehensive cover, a 40-year-old married office worker with ten years of driving, a 50% NCD, no claims, repairs at an authorised workshop and no options. See the full lists on the Corolla Altis, Vezel and BMW 3 Series pages. You can also browse all car price pages or compare two insurers side by side.
How do I buy a plan?
Answer the questions about your car, your driving record and the main driver on one page. You will then see prices from the insurers on the panel. When you pick a plan, use its Buy Now link. The prices shown are only available through these links, and a price is confirmed when you press Buy Now. The insurer then takes payment and issues the policy.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make a claim?
The insurer that issued your policy handles the claim. The claims page explains the steps. Your plan's wording sets what is paid and what excess applies.
Should I compare again at every renewal?
Prices for the same car can differ by hundreds of dollars between insurers, because each one weighs the same factors differently. That is why comparing at each renewal is worth doing. Your NCD goes with you if you move.
Does an at-fault claim always lose my whole discount?
No. One at-fault claim usually cuts the discount by 20 to 30 points, not all of it. A plan with an NCD protector keeps your discount after one claim. Check which plans include one.