AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance Review

Australian Associated Motor Insurers Limited, known as AAMI, is a general insurance provider for Australians that was established in 1969. AAMI offers home, CTP, health, business and income insurance, and is one of the largest car insurance companies in the nation.

When insured by AAMI’s Comprehensive Car Insurance plan, customers can choose to be insured by market value or by an agreed value (as opposed to other competitors in the market, who only give their customers one choice). AAMI provides a minimum and maximum agreed value for customers to choose.

Giving customers choice is something AAMI prides itself on, stating on its website that its customers “tell us what great insurance is—and we work really hard to do it”. And there is a lot of customers to listen to, with AAMI’s LinkedIn page stating it has 2.5 million policyholders across its offerings as of 2023.

Despite the large number of customers, AAMI’s Comprehensive Car Insurance offering only has 1567 reviews filed on Australia’s leading consumer opinion site, Product Review. Of those reviews, customers had rated the car insurance provider only 1.9 stars out of 5.

If you’re involved in an accident, AAMI’s Comprehensive Car Insurance offering provides you with many different services and assistance to get you back on the road again. This includes a hire car if your car is unsuitable for the road, after accident care, cover for accidental damage and more.

The inclusions, exclusions, and add-ons of AAMI’s Comprehensive Car Insurance policy are outlined below.

Break-ins, Accidents, and After Accident Care

In the event of a break in, certain contents within your car are covered if they are stolen or damaged. This includes personal property, such as clothing and electronics, but does not include cash nor items such as vouchers or phone cards that could be used or traded as cash.

Additionally, baby capsules are covered up to a limit of $500.

AAMI’s Comprehensive Car Insurance policy also includes cover for accidental damage to your vehicle, as well as after accident care. This includes “reasonable costs” for towing your car to the nearest repairer or another agreed location, or stowing your car. It also includes your transport to and from the repairer or rental car centre, or from the site of the accident to your next destination.

Will AAMI Replace my Car if it’s Written Off?

Yes, assuming you meet certain criteria. If your car is written off, AAMI will replace your car provided it is less than two years old.

Can I Choose my Own Repairer?

No, you cannot choose your own repairer. AAMI will choose the repairer of your vehicle, meaning it may not be your local mechanic or repair shop.

Is Free Roadside Assistance Included?

Unfortunately, free roadside assistance is not included in AAMI’s Comprehensive Car Insurance policy. It can however be purchased as an additional add-on to your policy.

AAMI Customer Service (aka How Easy is it to Make a Claim?)

AAMI offers extensive customer service capabilities, with an online chat 24/7 available with a chat bot, as well as a phone line for enquiries and claims. There’s also an online account you can use to manage your policy–in addition to a mobile app–and you can chat with customer service representatives through Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp from 8am-9pm daily, AEDT.

Making a claim is also a simple process, which can be completed online 24/7 or through the AAMI app. The process is completely guided, allows you to book directly into a repairer for eligible claims, manage your photos and documents easily, and track the status of your claim at any time.

While roadside assistance and windscreen cover are not automatically included with AAMI Comprehensive Car Insurance, they can be added on as additional extras.

In terms of exclusions, AAMI’s PDS states that all claims are void if:

• the driver is under the influence, or refuses a test;
• there are problems related to the condition of the car;
• the driver was acting intentionally and recklessly;
• the driver is unlicensed;
• the car is unregistered;
• the car is using the incorrect fuel;
• the vehicle is being used for rideshare purchases;
• and more exclusionary conditions as listed in the policyholders specific policy document.

AAMI offers its customers safe driver rewards, which is similar to the industry-known discount policy of a ‘no claims bonus’ where insurance companies may offer discounts for policyholders who never make claims. The benefits for AAMI’s safe driver rewards increase up to a period of 10 years, with a maximum of 15% credit.

Another common discount policy is lower premiums for those who drive their car infrequently. At AAMI, this ‘drive less, pay less’ policy does not have a specific discount due to average kilometres travelled per year, and rather is factored into the premium of each individual’s policy.

Additionally, further discounts for AAMI’s Comprehensive Car Insurance policy include $50 off when purchasing online, up to 10% off when you pass the skilled drivers discount, and up to 20% off if you purchase a home and car policy.