Cars, Accidents and Insurance

Today I have been thinking about cars and the Philippines. About six weeks ago the wife had an accident in our Ford Explorer and we only got the car back yesterday. The repair bill was $14,000 plus despite the fact there was minimal damage to the car itself. The large bull bar took most of the impact. The bonnet had a small crease in the corner and the grill was damaged. There was no damage to the engine and the airbags did not go off. The car could still be driven. I can not see where the $14,000 went.

It got me thinking about the same situation in the Philippines. I bet the repair bill would only be a fraction of that. I doubt the repair job would have been as good and things like the bonnet would have been repaired rather than replaced. They would probably not use genuine parts either.

I also wonder about insurance. The car was fully insured and after paying the excess of just under $400 the insurance company paid for the repair. What is insurance like in the Philippines?

These are the sorts of things that you do not find in any guide books. I imagine these are for most people learn as you go exercises.

It was really nice to get back into the Explorer after driving an older four cylinder Station Wagon for the past month. The more I think about it the Explorer would be a great vehicle for the Philippines. I had envisaged first getting something similar to old car I have been driving this past month but now I am not so sure.

Posted: Wednesday 4th May 2005, 9:03 AM