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Using a car every day means the vehicle is more frequently exposed to various risks, from accidents and road conditions to floods, theft, and unexpected damage. Regular maintenance is important for keeping your car in good condition, but financial protection is also worth considering. Learn the difference between TLO and All Risk car insurance, how to choose suitable protection, and the important things to consider before buying car insurance.
Have you ever felt that your car was in good condition because it was serviced regularly, only to encounter a problem in the middle of a trip? Or have you ever experienced your car being sideswiped by another vehicle, driving over a pothole, getting caught in standing water, or developing a problem after a long journey?
Regular servicing and inspections are important parts of keeping a vehicle in good condition. However, a car that is in excellent condition is not automatically free from the various risks that can arise on the road. Traffic congestion, road conditions, weather, the behavior of other road users, and events that are difficult to predict can still affect daily journeys.
These risks become even more relevant when looking at traffic conditions in Indonesia. Data from the Indonesian National Police Traffic Corps recorded 158,508 traffic accidents throughout 2025, an increase of around 5% compared with 150,906 incidents in 2024. During the same period, 24,296 people died as a result of traffic accidents.
Accidents are not always caused by a single factor. The National Transportation Safety Committee states that human factors such as fatigue, negligence, and failure to follow safety procedures remain important contributors to transportation accidents. From the vehicle side, roadworthiness issues, including problems with braking systems, have also been identified in accident investigations.
For cars used every day for work, taking family members somewhere, shopping, or other activities, spending more time on the road means the vehicle is more frequently exposed to these conditions. That is why caring for a daily use car should not focus only on regular servicing, but also on safe driving habits, vehicle inspections, and preparedness for unexpected risks.
Understanding risk does not mean assuming that every journey will end in a problem. Instead, it can help vehicle owners make better decisions and prepare more comprehensive protection for their cars, including considering financial protection when an unwanted event actually occurs.
Using a car every day means the vehicle spends more time on the road, moves between locations more often, and faces a wider range of conditions. The risks are not the same for every car owner because they are influenced by travel routes, vehicle condition, the environment, weather, and driving habits.
However, several risks are closely associated with everyday car use and should not be overlooked.
Heavy traffic means vehicles constantly interact with other road users. In these conditions, collisions can happen for many reasons, including another vehicle suddenly changing lanes, sudden braking, following too closely, or mistakes while maneuvering or parking.
The impact does not always involve a major accident. Scratches on the bumper, a clipped side mirror, or a dent caused by an incident in a parking area may seem minor, but they can still lead to repair costs.
For cars used every day, the risk of minor damage like this is also one reason comprehensive protection may be worth considering. You can learn more about why comprehensive car insurance is important for daily use cars.
Not every journey takes place on roads in ideal condition. Potholes, uneven surfaces, standing water, speed bumps, and debris on the road can place additional strain on a vehicle.
When this happens repeatedly, it can affect components such as tires, wheels, suspension, and the underside of the vehicle. Drivers should therefore pay attention to the condition of routes they use frequently and adjust their speed when encountering poor road conditions.
If the car feels different after hitting a pothole or experiencing a strong impact, such as unusual vibration, unfamiliar noises, or unstable steering, it is best not to delay an inspection.
Heavy rain and standing water are other risks to consider, especially for car owners who regularly drive in areas prone to flooding.
Driving through water of unknown depth can increase the risk of vehicle damage. Water may enter parts of the vehicle and, in certain situations, cause damage that requires costly repairs.
When you encounter standing water, avoid deciding to drive through it simply because another vehicle appears to have made it across. Consider the water depth, your vehicle condition, the current, and the possibility of hidden potholes or obstacles. If the situation is uncertain, taking an alternative route or waiting for the water to recede may be safer.
Keep in mind that flood protection under car insurance may depend on the selected package, optional coverage extensions, policy terms, and exclusions. Do not assume that every policy automatically covers this risk.
A daily use car does not spend all its time in a home garage. It may be parked at the office, shopping centers, restaurants, recreational areas, and other public parking locations.
Simple habits remain important for reducing risk, such as making sure doors and windows are locked, never leaving the key inside the vehicle, avoiding leaving valuables visible from outside, and choosing parking areas with adequate security.
However, preventive measures cannot completely eliminate the risk of vehicle loss. Theft risk can therefore also be a consideration when choosing vehicle protection.
Risks to a car do not only arise while the vehicle is moving. A parked car can also be damaged by difficult to predict events, such as falling objects, being hit by another vehicle, or certain environmental conditions.
These events may not happen every day. However, when they do occur, the resulting costs can be significant and arrive at an unplanned time.
This is why vehicle risk management should not focus only on how likely an event is to occur, but also on the potential financial impact if it actually happens.
This does not mean that a car used every day will necessarily wear out faster or be involved in an accident. However, more frequent use means the vehicle is exposed more often to conditions that can influence risk.
More time on the road. A car used every day interacts with traffic more frequently than a vehicle used only occasionally.
Higher mileage. The more kilometers a car travels, the more often its engine, tires, brakes, suspension, and other components are put to work.
More time in different locations. A daily use car may travel from home to the office, shopping centers, schools, restaurants, and many other places. Risks can arise not only during the journey, but also while the vehicle is parked.
Unexpected expenses can affect your budget. Minor damage may still be manageable at a relatively limited cost. However, an accident that causes major damage, vehicle loss, or another incident can result in much higher expenses.
That is why the more often a car is used, the more important it becomes to balance maintenance, safe driving habits, and financial preparedness for potential risks.
Not every risk on the road can be avoided. However, a few simple habits can help maintain your vehicle while reducing the chance that small problems develop into more serious ones.
Service your car regularly. Follow the recommended maintenance schedule and inspect important components such as the oil, tires, brakes, battery, lights, wipers, and vehicle fluids.
Perform a quick check before leaving. Check tire condition and pressure, lights, mirrors, and dashboard indicators. A simple inspection can help identify problems before the journey begins.
Adjust your speed to road conditions. Driving at an appropriate speed gives you more time to react to other vehicles, damaged roads, standing water, or sudden changes in traffic.
Pay attention to the weather and route conditions. During heavy rain or when there are flood warnings, consider alternative routes and avoid forcing your way through risky conditions.
Do not ignore minor signs of damage. Unusual sounds, vibration, dashboard warning lights, or changes in vehicle response should be checked promptly. Addressing a problem early can help prevent it from becoming more serious.
Maintaining a vehicle and protecting it are complementary measures, but they serve different purposes.
Regular servicing helps keep a car in good condition and identify technical problems early. Changing the oil, checking the brakes, maintaining proper tire pressure, and ensuring vehicle components work correctly are important steps that can help reduce the risk of damage caused by the vehicle condition itself. However, servicing cannot prevent another vehicle from hitting your car, an accident, theft, or certain events beyond the driver’s control.
This is where insurance serves a different purpose. Car insurance can help manage the financial impact of certain covered risks according to the benefits, terms, coverage limits, and exclusions stated in the policy.
Maintenance and insurance should therefore not be seen as alternatives to each other. A car still needs proper care, while financial protection can be considered to help deal with risks that cannot be fully prevented.
In general, vehicle owners will encounter two main types of protection when considering car insurance: Total Loss Only, or TLO, and Comprehensive, commonly known as All Risk.
TLO, or Total Loss Only, focuses on major losses. Under Oona Car Insurance, TLO provides protection against theft or damage valued at more than 75% of the vehicle’s value, subject to the policy terms.
All Risk or Comprehensive insurance offers broader coverage because it can provide protection for partial damage, total damage, and loss, subject to the benefits and policy terms.
For cars used every day, understanding this difference is important because the risks encountered are not always major. Scratches, dents, and partial damage caused by accidents can also occur during everyday activities.
However, the term “All Risk” does not mean every event is automatically covered. Every policy still has coverage limits, a deductible, terms, and exclusions that should be understood before purchasing.
There is no single type of insurance that is automatically the best choice for every vehicle owner. The choice should be based on the car’s condition, vehicle value, usage pattern, financial capacity, and the risks you want to manage.
TLO may be considered if your main focus is protection against major losses, such as vehicle theft or damage that meets the policy definition of a total loss.
All Risk may be considered if you want broader protection, including partial damage that meets the policy terms. This option can be relevant for cars used every day because they spend more time on the road and in parking areas, where they may be exposed to both minor and major damage.
If you are still considering whether broader coverage suits the way you use your vehicle, you can also learn why comprehensive car insurance is important for daily use cars before making a decision.
Do not make your decision based only on the premium price. Cheaper protection is not necessarily the most suitable if its benefits do not match the risks you want to manage.
Check the type of protection and covered risks, the vehicle sum insured, the deductible, exclusions, vehicle usage terms, claim procedures, and the available repair shop network.
Also consider the optional benefits available. Oona Car Insurance, for example, offers additional benefit options such as access to authorized dealer repair shops, Third Party Liability, or TPL, and personal accident protection for the driver. Availability of these benefits remains subject to the selected package and policy terms.
Reading the policy may feel more complicated than simply comparing premium prices, but it is an important step to make sure you clearly understand your protection before a risk occurs.
A car used every day helps make many activities more convenient, from commuting to work and taking family members somewhere to handling everyday needs. However, the more frequently a vehicle is used, the more important it becomes to maintain its condition and understand the risks that may arise during a journey.
Regular servicing, checks before driving, and safe driving habits remain essential. However, because not every event can be predicted or prevented, financial preparedness is also an important part of managing vehicle risks.
Oona Car Insurance offers TLO and All Risk protection options that can be tailored to vehicle needs. Oona also provides optional additional benefits and a network of more than 600 partner repair shops across Indonesia, subject to the applicable product and terms.
Before choosing, understand the benefits, coverage limits, deductible, coverage extensions, and policy exclusions. The goal is not to eliminate every risk on the road, but to help you be better financially prepared when a covered risk actually occurs.
With a combination of consistent vehicle maintenance, safe driving habits, and suitable protection, your daily use car can continue supporting your activities without overlooking the risks that come with it.
