There are a lot of myths swirling around when it comes to car insurance. While some can be harmless, others can make finding out the truth about your cover that little bit trickier.

To make sure you’ve got the facts, let’s debunk these car insurance myths.

Myth: Having car insurance means you aren’t out of pocket for anything in an accident

One of the main purposes of car insurance is to help cover your car if it’s involved in a car accident. This is so you don’t have to pay the total cost of repairs or replacement as a result of the accident. However, this doesn’t quite mean you walk away from an accident without paying anything.

For example, an excess. This is the amount you pay towards the cost of your claim.

When you have an AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance policy, your excess may be waived if you or the driver of your car is not at-fault, and you can show this. You’ll need to provide the at-fault driver’s name, address and vehicle rego number or you will pay an excess.

The total excess you are required to pay is determined by the circumstances of your claim and you might have to pay more than one type of excess when you claim. The amount and types of excesses are shown on your certificate of insurance.

Myth: Windscreen and window glass claims are always excess-free

This one can lead to a bit of a shock for people who thought the cover for their windscreen and window glass was automatically excess-free. Even with AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance, you’ll have to pay your excess if you make a claim unless you have added the optional AAMI Windscreen and Window Glass cover for an additional premium.

AAMI offers optional Windscreen and Window Glass cover. With this, we cover the reasonable cost to repair or replace windscreen or window glass (including sunroof) without you having to pay an excess. This is limited to one excess free claim in the period of insurance.

Myth: Modifications and accessories aren’t covered by car insurance

Car insurance isn’t just for your regular, unmodified cars.

With AAMI you can add legal modifications and accessories to your car, and it will be covered by your policy. You’ll just need to make sure that your car’s ‘amount covered’ – the maximum amount that we’ll pay for loss or damage to your car caused by an accident – can cover the cost to replace these accessories and modifications.

Keep in mind that your car needs to be kept in a roadworthy condition and its modifications must adhere to road laws, or else your claim may be impacted and may result in a reduced or refused payout, us refusing to pay your claim or us recovering any costs paid from you and cancelling your policy.

Myth: Car insurance covers mechanical repairs and breakdowns

Many people think that breakdowns and mechanical repairs are covered by their car insurance, but this isn’t the case. For example, general wear and tear on your vehicle isn’t covered by car insurance and should be addressed by getting your car regularly serviced.

The same goes if you breakdown on the side of the road – though AAMI Roadside Assist is an optional cover you can choose to add to your car insurance policy for an additional premium and can provide 24 hour roadside assistance Australia-wide*.

Myth: All personal belongings in your car are covered by car insurance

While some personal items might be covered by car insurance, there can also be some limits and exclusions at play. If personal belongings are in your car when it’s stolen, or are damaged when your car is in an accident, they may be covered by your car insurance.

When your car is stolen or damaged in an incident, AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance offers up to a total of $1,000 of after claims expenses for any one incident. This can include cover for accidental loss or damage to your personal items, like your electronic devices, at the time of the incident.

For AAMI Third Party Property Damage with optional Fire and Theft cover, the cover is limited to personal property in your car and is up to a total of $500 for any one incident. You’ll need to provide us with all invoices and receipts for both insurance policies, and a standard excess will apply.

For details and exclusions, which details items that aren’t covered, please refer to the relevant Policy Disclosure Statement (PDS).

If your car insurance doesn’t cover personal belongings in your car, then in certain circumstances your home insurance can.

With AAMI Home Contents Insurance, you can insure certain items worth more than $1,000, like phones, laptops and tablets with Specified Portable Valuables cover. For items worth less than $1,000 combined, Unspecified Portable Valuables cover may suit your needs. Similarly, if you keep tools in your car for business purposes, you can make sure they’re covered with Business Insurance. For more details about these options, check out the relevant PDS.

Myth: Making a car insurance claim is a nightmare

Many people think that lodging a car insurance claim is a mammoth-sized task that will only cause more headaches. However, with AAMI, this process can be pretty seamless.

You can make a claim 24/7 through the AAMI App or online. It’s quick and easy!