A specialist's answers to seven cases motorists often wonder about. What does the insurance cover?

1. I notice that my car has been dented by another car in a parking area. 

If the party that caused the damage remains unknown, and you can't claim compensation from their motor liability insurance, your car's comprehensive motor vehicle insurance will help.

Compensation for dents is covered by any insurance that contains Collision Cover (Super Motor Insurance, Maxi Motor Insurance and Standard Motor Insurance)‍ or parking insurance linked to such comprehensive motor vehicle insurance with increased coverage (Parking Cover)‍.

The deductible selected for the insurance is subtracted from the compensation. If the compensation is paid from Parking Cover, the payment will not reduce your bonus.

2. I maintain a good safety distance on a motorway. A loose stone flies into my windscreen.

Patch repairs for your windscreen should be the preferred option whenever possible.

If your car has comprehensive motor vehicle insurance that includes Windscreen Cover‍ or separate windscreen insurance, the insurance will cover patch repairs for the rock chip without a deductible.

Take the car to a repair shop that is part of Pohjola's partner network to conveniently take care of the matter. If patch repairs can't be applied to the windscreen and it must be replaced, you will pay an insurance deductible, the amount of which depends on the contract. It is a minimum of 200 euros.

Windscreen insurance does not include a bonus, so neither case will result in an increased premium due to claimed compensation.

If you have no Windscreen Cover, Collision Cover will also cover losses in excess of the deductible. The paid compensation will reduce the no-claims bonus of your Collision Cover.

You can find our partner network on the Pohjola Claim Help website‍ and ask for the contact information for suitable repair shops from the Pohjola Insurance Customer Service.

3. There is a hole in the asphalt. My tyre and rim are broken. The shock absorber is damaged.

Medium Motor Insurance that includes the Pohjola Insurance emergency road service insurance will cover the towing of the vehicle to the nearest repair shop, but the repair costs for the car must be paid by the owner or holder of the car.

The tow must be ordered through the Pohjola Insurance vehicle emergency service at +358 10 253 0012. The vehicle emergency service is available 24/7.

The coverage of the emergency road service insurance also includes travel costs allowing people who were in the car to return home, up to a maximum of 200 or 500 euros, depending on the scope of the comprehensive motor vehicle insurance.

If there are serious deficiencies in the condition of the road, you can also try to claim compensation from the road keeper. For these purposes, it is best to document the road section by photographing it, and warn other road users of the danger by calling the emergency response centre.

Comprehensive motor vehicle insurance types with increased coverage compared to the Medium Motor Insurance, such as Maxi Motor Insurance, Standard Motor Insurance and Super Motor Insurance, also provide cover for property damage caused to the vehicle.

The vehicle will be towed to the nearest repair shop by a towing service ordered through the Pohjola Insurance vehicle emergency service +358 10 253 0012. 

The deductible specified in the policy document is subtracted from the property damage repair costs. The paid compensation will reduce the bonus of your comprehensive motor vehicle insurance.

4. The road has become uneven after the winter. The middle of the road reaches the bottom of my car.

If your exhaust pipe is broken due to a collision with a rock, any comprehensive motor vehicle insurance that contains Collision Cover (Super Motor Insurance, Maxi Motor Insurance, Standard Motor Insurance) will cover damage caused by the direct collision.

A deductible based on the contract will be subtracted from the amount of compensation. It is a minimum of 200 euros. Using the insurance results in a reduced bonus.

If the vehicle is unfit to drive, the insurance will also cover costs for towing the vehicle to the nearest repair shop, as well as costs for continuing the journey for the driver and passengers, up to a maximum of 200 or 500 euros, depending on the insurance cover.

The tow must be ordered through the Pohjola vehicle emergency service at +358 10 253 0012. The vehicle emergency service is available 24/7.

The less comprehensive Medium Motor Insurance also covers costs for towing the vehicle to the nearest repair shop, as well as costs for continuing the journey as above.

5. My neighbour's dog runs in front of my car. A headlight is damaged, and the pet is taken to a vet. 

Animal collisions are included in all comprehensive motor vehicle insurance types provided by Pohjola Insurance. As the name indicates, they cover direct collisions of the vehicle and an animal.

The deductible defined for the insurance must be paid for the headlight repairs. The repairs will not result in a reduced bonus.

The car's motor liability insurance does not cover veterinary expenses for a dog that was allowed onto a traffic road without supervision, as the accident was not caused by the negligence of the driver of the vehicle.

The neighbour must claim compensation for such expenses from their own dog insurance or pay it themself.

6. Someone broke into my car by breaking a window. They took a stereo system and other belongings. 

If a locked car is burgled, compensation for window repairs and the theft of child seats will be paid from the Theft Cover included in comprehensive motor vehicle insurance.

You can claim compensation for other stolen belongings from home insurance.

A deductible is subtracted from the compensation.

7. What are the most common problems with voluntary motor vehicle insurance?

Motor vehicle insurance‍ is often also assumed to cover repair costs for the vehicle when the vehicle develops a technical fault during a journey.

However, in the event of a technical fault, insurance usually only pays compensation for towing expenses and the costs of continuing the journey.

If the car is a passenger car with Consequential Loss Cover included in Super Motor Insurance, the cover can also pay compensation for costs related to a replacement car for 7 days from the occurrence of the technical fault.

Sometimes, people also forget that compulsory motor liability insurance does not cover damage to the vehicle itself. However, motor liability insurance does cover personal injuries suffered by your insured vehicle's driver and passengers.

You must pay for the repairs of your vehicle yourself unless you have voluntary comprehensive motor vehicle insurance with sufficient coverage.

Article specialist: Sami Reinikka, Claims Team Manager for Vehicle Insurance Claims Settlement at Pohjola Insurance.