Virgin Car Insurance

Why consider Virgin Car Insurance?

Virgin Money — part of the worldwide Virgin Group of brands — offers Aussies a range of Car Insurance options. They also offer the following features as part of their cover:

• Online Discounts: Virgin Money offers 15% off your first year’s premium if you buy your Car Insurance with them online.^{2Virgin Money – Car Insurance}
• Easy Management: You can manage your policy online with the Virgin Money Insurance Hub. Available 24/7, you can use this to change your policy details, add additional drivers, select different excess options, monitor your payments and update your payment details.^{3Virgin Money – Manage your policy}
• Optional Extras: Virgin Money offers optional cover on certain policies, such as roadside assistance, choice of repairer and restricted driver discounts.^{4Virgin Money – Car Insurance}

As well as being proudly part of the global Virgin brand and network, Virgin Money is 100% owned by the Bank of Queensland (BOQ) Group.^{5Virgin Money – About Us} Virgin Car Insurance is backed by a long-standing partnership with Auto & General,^{6As above} who insure millions of Aussies.

What Third Party Cover does Virgin Money offer?

Like most insurers, Virgin Money offers two types of Third Party Car Insurance: Third Party Property and Third Party Fire and Theft Cover.

Third Party Property

This insurance can help foot the bill if you crash into someone else’s car and need to pay for their repairs. It’ll also cover you for damage to their property—whether it’s a house, a boat or their trailer.^{7Virgin Money – Third Party Car Insurance} But keep in mind, it won’t cover repairs to your own car.

Third Party Fire and Theft

This insurance gives you all the same cover as the Third Party Property policy, but also covers your car if it’s stolen, damaged by thieves or wrecked by fire. You’ll also get up to $1,000 for a hire car if your own vehicle gets stolen, though Virgin Money limits how long they’ll pay for this at 14 days.^{8As above}

What Comprehensive Car Insurance does Virgin Money offer?

Virgin Car Insurance Comprehensive Cover is called Price Saver Comprehensive and includes all the same benefits as a Third Party Fire and Theft policy, but also looks after the repair costs of your own car if it’s damaged in a car accident, or by floods, storms or hail.^{9Virgin Money – Compare Car Insurance}

Virgin Car Insurance Price Saver Comprehensive gives you everything you can expect from Comprehensive Car Insurance, plus a replacement car if your old vehicle is ‘written-off’ in an accident, emergency accommodation and transport, and cover for your personal effects (limits apply).^{10As above}

How can you tailor your Virgin Car Insurance?

There are several ways you can customise your Virgin Car Insurance to better suit your situation.

Restricted Driver Discount and Roadside Assist are available on any of the Virgin Car Insurance products:

• Restricted Driver Discount: You can set an age restriction on your policy to lower your premiums, the higher the restriction, the lower the premiums tend to be. However, anyone younger than this age restriction won’t be covered to drive your car.^{11ImageBB – Virgin Money Car Insurance Quote (Screen Capture)} For example, if you’re 35, you can set a 30+ driver age restriction to bring down the cost of your cover, you’d just want to be careful loaning your car to anyone under 30, as your vehicle wouldn’t be covered.
• Roadside Assistance: For an extra cost, you’ll also be able to take advantage of Virgin Money’s roadside assistance program. This provides unlimited call outs and a helping hand no matter the time of day.^{12Virgin Money – Third Party Car Insurance}

In addition, there are a few forms of optional cover that you can add on to any Comprehensive Insurance policy to maximise your cover. However, keep in mind that including them may increase your premium:

• Reduced Window Glass Excess: Instead of having to pay your usual excess amount, this extra will ensure you only pay a $40 excess when you make a claim for broken window glass.^{13Virgin Money – Premium, Excess and Discount Guide (Page 6)}
• Choice of Repairer: You’ll be able to choose the mechanic who repairs your car. Without this extra, Virgin Money will usually authorise someone from their repair network to carry out the work.^{14Virgin Money – Price Saver PDS (Page 24)}
• Accident Hire Car: If Virgin Money accepts a claim where the accident was your fault, they will help cover the costs of a hire car to help you get around. They will do this for a maximum of 14 days, or until your claim is paid (or your car is repaired).^{15As above (Page 34)}
• No Claim Discount Protection: Virgin Money—like many insurers—offers a no claim discount for each year you hold your policy and don’t make a claim. However, this add-on allows you to make one claim during your current period of insurance (or two claims in three years) without bringing down your No Claim Discount rating.^{16Virgin Money – Premium, Excess and Discount Guide (Page 4)}

How do excesses work with Virgin Car Insurance?

As with most insurers, you will need to pay an excess on your policy when you make certain claims. This isn’t the case if you’re involved in a ‘no fault’ accident—one where the blame lies entirely with another driver or person, and where Virgin Money is able to obtain their personal details.^{17Virgin Money – Price Saver PDS (Page 3, 22)}

In most other situations, you’ll be required to pay an excess. Depending on the circumstances of the incident, you might just be required to pay a basic excess, or you might be required to pay one (or several!) additional excesses:

Basic Excess

This is the standard excess you’ll be asked to pay. You might also have the option to choose a higher basic excess, which can lower your premium.^{18Virgin Money – Premium, Excess and Discount Guide (Page 6)}

Unlisted Driver Excess

If you make a claim for loss or damage, and the person who was driving your car at the time wasn’t listed on your policy, you will need to pay this additional excess.^{19As above (Page 7)}

Young Driver Excess

This excess applies if the driver of your car (including you!) is under 25 years old when you make a claim for loss or damage.^{20As above (Page 7)}

Inexperienced Driver Excess

This excess applies if the driver of your car hasn’t held a full Australian licence for at least 2 years.^{21As above (Page 7)}

How do I make a claim with Virgin Car Insurance?

Claiming with any Virgin Car Insurance product is simple. There are two ways to make a claim: 

1. Online via the Virgin Insurance Hub, available to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.^{22Virgin Money – Virgin Car Insurance | Making a Claim}
   
2. Over the phone via the Virgin Money Insurance claims team, available to customers 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.^{23As above}

Being in a collision can be a stressful experience. Most people get a bit dazed in the moments following an incident and have trouble recalling what happened. As such, Virgin Car Insurance has made making claims even easier by providing you with a ‘Crash Log’.^{24As above} Simply pop it in your glove box to have if the occasion ever arises.

How do I pay my Virgin Car Insurance premiums?

Paying with Virgin Car Insurance is a breeze. You can choose to spread your payments throughout the year by paying month to month or in bulk once a year. To make it easier for customers to pay on time, Virgin Car Insurance also offers a range of payment options. You can pay via:

• Credit Cards
  • American Express
  • Visa
  • Mastercard
  • Direct Debit
  • Bank Account
  • Credit Union
  • Building Society Account^{25Virgin Money – FAQs | Virgin Car Insurance}

Where can I compare Virgin Car Insurance policies?

If you want to check out how much the different Virgin Car Insurance policies might cost you or want to weigh up their premiums against other insurers, then iSelect can help. You can compare policies from a range of providers* using our online comparison tool. Or give us a call on 13 19 20 if you fancy a chat with our friendly team.