FWD Car Insurance Singapore Review 2021

Known for its Lifetime 50% No Claims Discount (NCD) guarantee, FWD has grown to become one of the most digital-forward car insurers around.

If you’re the less-traditional type who prefers greater convenience when getting any car insurance plan online, this insurer will probably appeal to you.

Here’s a quick overview of what they have to offer.

FWD car insurance plans at a glance

Car insurance plan	Key features	Recommended for
Third Party Only (TPO)	Covers third party damage only	Very old cars at the end of their COE lives
Third Party, Fire & Theft (TPFT)	Covers third party damage, fire and theft only	Older cars (8 years old and up)
Comprehensive Classic	Comprehensive coverage (see below)	Budget-conscious drivers who nonetheless want good coverage
Comprehensive Executive	Similar to Classic but higher benefits & PA coverage	Families
Comprehensive Prestige	Similar to Classic but the highest benefits & PA coverage	Families with young children

Which FWD car insurance plan is best?

While FWD does offer the more wallet-friendly TPO and TPFT car insurance for older cars, comprehensive car insurance plans are where it really shines.

You generally can’t go wrong with FWD’s Comprehensive Classic plan. This includes all the coverage you would want as a typical kiasu Singaporean.

That includes car repairs, transport allowance while your car is being repaired, replacement car for completely wrecked cars <1 year old, medical expenses, third party damage, roadside assistance, etc….

Basically, that means you won’t end up stranded on the PIE cursing yourself, “damn it, why I so cheapo!? I should’ve paid more for emergency assistance!”

The more expensive Comprehensive tiers (Executive, Prestige) are marketed at families and come bundled with higher personal accident coverage for your family.

Actually, almost all car insurance providers offer PA coverage. If PA is crucial to you, you can compare the coverage of different insurers through our MoneySmart Car Insurance Wizard or talk to one of our car insurance experts before you commit.

FWD car insurance add-ons

You can customise your FWD car insurance policy with the following add-ons:

Car insurance add-on	Description
Your Preferred Workshop	Add-on for flexibility to choose a non-authorised workshop
NCD Protector	Protect your No Claim Discount of 30% or 40% (only  for one claim)
Overseas Booster	Enhanced emergency assistance & coverage while driving in West Malaysia and Southern Thailand
Young Driver Excess Waiver	Pay more to waive the high excess for young drivers (27 years old and below)
Family Protection	– $100 per day (up to 90 days) if hospitalised  – $50,000 payout for death and total & permanent disability.
Any Driver You Trust to Drive Your Car	Coverage for trusted friends or family who drive your car (add-on option for Classic plan)

Your Preferred Workshop: With this add-on, you’ll get the freedom to pick a workshop to service your car at instead of being limited to FWD’s list of premium workshops. Recommended for new cars that are still under warranty.

NCD Protector: As long as you’ve got yourself and your car covered with any of FWD’s Comprehensive Plans, you’ll be entitled to FWD’s Lifetime 50% NCD Guarantee. That means you get unlimited NCD Protector and your NCD remains at 50% no matter how many claims you make. Note that even if you renew with FWD, your new premium could increase (depending on FWD’s terms and conditions).

Overseas Booster: When you’re on a road trip for business or leisure in West Malaysia or Southern Thailand, you’ll definitely appreciate this add-on if you run into emergencies such as having your car stolen or accidentally damaged. It is also a relief to know that claiming under this benefit will not affect Your NCD and no Excess is payable.

Young Driver Excess Waiver: Younger drivers who are 27 years old and below will rejoice with the flexibility to waive the Young Driver excess which also applies to “Loss or Damage to your Car” or “New Car Replacement” benefits.

Family Protection: This is one of the reasons that makes FWD’s plans family-friendly. If you or your family member(s) are hospitalised due to an accident, you’ll receive $100 daily (for up to 90 days). A $50,000 payout is also applicable for death and total & permanent disability, and this includes non-car related accidents too.

Any Driver You Trust to Drive Your Car: Guess what? You can insure any of your trusted friends or family members who drive your car, without having to name them on your policy. This benefit is included in the Executive or Prestige plan, but if you opt for a Classic plan, you can get this as an add-on.

How to get cheaper premiums with FWD?

FWD’s premiums are already quite affordable, but of course you can lower your premium through the usual means – by tweaking your excess and applying NCD.

Type of discount	Description	Amount
NCD (No Claim Discount)	Given in increments of 10% for each year you don’t file a claim	10% to 50%
Flexible Excess	Increase your own damage excess up to max. $2,500 for a cheaper premium	Varies

Besides getting NCD and increasing your excess to pay a lower premium, FWD offers 12 months interest-free instalment premium payments (for annual premium payments of more than $500) when you pay with DBS/POSB or OCBC Mastercard or Visa credit card.

FWD also has one-off promotions such as the ongoing 20% off for all Comprehensive Plans that can help you save more. Stay up-to-date and find out more at FWD’s promotions page.

Why (or why not) choose FWD car insurance?

FWD may not be the absolute cheapest insurer around, but it definitely is bang for your buck. You’ll be hard-pressed to find this level of coverage at the same price point.

Even if you go to another insurer that offers “a la carte” plans, once you’re done picking and choosing the cover you want, your plan might end up being more expensive than FWD’s Classic plan.

Since FWD has already bundled the plan for you, purchasing car insurance and making simple claims through FWD’s well-designed online portal is a breeze.

Or you can choose to download the FWD SG App on Google Play or Apple App Store and submit your claim via the app. No need to squint at teeny tiny fine print or get lost clicking through innumerable pages.

However, if you’re looking for a really, really cheap car insurance policy for your ageing piece of scrap metal, you’ll probably want to compare quotes from other insurers too.

Get a FWD car insurance quote from MoneySmart or compare different car insurance policies with MoneySmart’s wizard.