Frequently Asked Questions

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The creators of Starfish have built a stress-free platform to remove the pain points from the purchase of insurance in Trinidad and Tobago. We have incorporated into our business model two factors that our local insurance industry lacks: 

· Technology and; 

· 24/7 Customer Service. 

Starfish was born to allow you, the customer, the ability to truly shop on-line and have the policy come to you, literally. 

Starfish asks you the right questions to save you time and within seconds obtains several quotes for the insurance product that fit your needs, at the price point that you can afford, from several of the top local insurers. 

Starfish is the first online platform to offer you the ability to complete the insurers proposal forms electronically, pay on line and complete your policy purchase, never having to leave your chair at home, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, because we know that there is never enough time in the day to get all your tasks completed. 

Starfish works with your schedule. 

Starfish promises a hassle free, no call back, no email spam, secure local insurance quotation platform for any time of day or night, backed by our 24/7 customer service team. 

We save you the time it takes you now to visit your insurance provider, renew, pay and wait for your insurance cover to be issued. Surely, you would prefer be at home all that time. 

Starfish is the local first local on line platform that offers: - · 24-hour Customer Sales Support · 24-hour Policy Preparation · 24-hour Claims Handling Service · 24-hour Roadside Assistance · 24-hour Breakdown Assistance · 24-hour Battery Replacement Service · Free electronic delivery of documentation · Free national delivery of your physical policy & motor certificate *restrictions apply · Online payment

No, Starfish is an insurance quotation platform created and owned by Nautica Insurance Brokers Limited that provides quotations from the nation’s top insurers. 

All quotations and policies are issued through Nautica Insurance Brokers Limited.

With your new policy, a “Schedule of Insurance” or “Policy Document” will be provided to you. This contains a lot of very important information as it relates to your policy, such as applicable excesses (deductibles), approved drivers and other this that are covered (and not covered!). 

It also contains definitions and explanations on a lot of terms you may be confused about. Of course, you can always contact our team, and we’ll be glad to assist you!

Each premium is calculated by Starfish platform independently. A policy is based on a lot of factors, including the vehicle’s Make, Model, Value, Age, Usage, as well as the driver’s Claims History, Experience, Age and so on.

Yes, you can amend your policy at any time. You may amend your cover during the quotation phase or after binding cover.

If you wish to make a change after the policy has been issued e.g. add a young driver, add another vehicle, you can contact us and we will happily assist you. Before the change, we will let you know the premium cost so you can make the final decision.

Yes, you can cancel your policy at any time during the policy year. You may receive a refund depending on how close to the expiry date you choose to cancel. 

Note that different insurers have different cancellation policies, so be sure to read your Schedule of Insurance.

Insurers usually reward customers who have not claimed at the end of their policy term with a discount towards the following year’s insurance coverage. This is generally referred to as a “No Claims Discount” or “Safe Driving Discount”, and is expressed in years, “1st Year” or “3rdYear”, up to a maximum of 5 years. It may also be expressed as a percentage.

Yes, you can. All we ask is that you provide some proof of the No claims Discount. This may take the form of a No Claims Discount letter issued by your previous insurer, a renewal notice or we may with your permission, contact your previous insurer directly to confirm your claims history. 

Starfish makes providing proof of NCD a simple process. 

Yes, you can. Starfish offers a Legacy benefit which allows you to “Gift” your No Claims Discount to a family member (Once it was within 18 months of the end of your last renewal).

If this applies to you, Starfish’s call centre can apply this discount with the completion of the relevant form.

After transferring the vehicle, you must secure the Certificate of Insurance from the vehicle and contact us. We will note the date of your request, but the Certificate of Insurance must be returned before the policy can be cancelled. 

If the Certificate cannot be provided for any reason, an affidavit must be sworn that the Certificate has been misplaced, and this affidavit provided to us.

The “Sum Insured” is the maximum amount of money that the insurer will pay to you (before applicable deductions) in the event of a loss. It reflects the current value of your vehicle.

You should always insure your car for the current market value at the time of effecting the coverage. This is the most common question asked of us, and, the most important, as in the event of a loss, the insurance company will pay to the Policyholder the Sum Insured at the time of the loss. 

Note that your vehicle depreciates even during a policy period (unless otherwise stated), meaning sum you receive may be lower than your sum insured.

The Sum Insured is,

· not the residual loan value;

· not the Original Purchase price of the car; and

· not your depreciated price in your records.

If you are unsure of the value of your vehicle, you must have a valuation performed (cost is approximated $250.00 and takes 10-15 minutes), from any one of the following:

CariClaims Investigators and Adjusters Limited

32 Gordon Street, POS

625-9080

Motor Critic Limited

50 Mucurapo Road, St   James

Or

148 Rushworth Street,   San Fernando

Motorcritic@gmail.com

(868) 622-7235

(868) 657-6774

General Adjusters Limited

Room 302, Cross Crossing Shopping Centre, Lady Hailes   Avenue, San Fernando

(868) 652-5310

The cost of your replacement windscreen should include the Glass, Molding and Labour to install the unit. 

This replacement cost is available from aftermarket suppliers or the local dealer for your particular model.

The bank usually requests the following documents in order for the loan file to be updated:

1) A copy of the Certificate of Insurance.

2) A copy of the Schedule of Insurance showing the bank’s interest as mortgagee.

3) A stamped letter from bank confirming the renewal of the policy.

We will send an electronic copy to the bank as well as a hard copy. We do not charge for this service and want you on the road as soon as possible.

This Policy is the widest protection available to cover your car in the event of an accident.

The policy will pay for losses arising out of your accidental damage to the car and/or the damage to your car caused by another person (third party) and damage to any third-party property or bodily injury claims (providing you are at fault in the accident) plus many other additional benefits that you can purchase.

In local Palance – If you accidentally damage your car…. You are covered… If someone else damages your car… You are covered. If you bounce a man and you at fault …its covered. It’s that simple.

Yes, it’s included as standard under each and every Comprehensive Policy purchased through our platform. We take no chances with Trini Floods.

Yes, theft of your car is covered as standard under every Comprehensive Policy purchased through our platform. 

Yes, glass coverage is included as standard into every Comprehensive Policy as standard. The limit is contained in your Schedule of Insurance. 

You can call us 24/7 to confirm your particular limit under your policy if you require assistance.

This policy is limited to only claims to Third Party Property Damage or Bodily Injury for accidents in which you are deemed wrong. 

In local palance – your policy only pays the person you hit or the person you bounce. You have to fix your own car. That’s it…. Bare bones cover. 

If you right in the accident, this policy NOT repairing your car. If you want that level of coverage you need to take out our Comprehensive coverage.

Starfish is open 24/7 and welcomes you to call us and we will be pleased to assist you.

This is the first amount that you are responsible for each and every claim. This amount is normally deducted from any payment you may receive from the insurer. Note that a claim must be in excess of the deductible before an insurer is liable to pay (unless this excessed is waived).

For example, if your deductible is $3,000 and your estimated repair/replacement cost is $20,000, the insurer is liable to reimburse you $17,000 (less vat and depreciation as applicable).

You will see this section clearly on your Schedule of Insurance. It’s expressed as a percentage and/or dollar value, whichever is the greater.

For example, the standard deductible is 3% of the value of the vehicle for each and every loss. A car valued at $100,000.00 will incur a deductible of $3,000.00 for each and every loss. 

If you are unsure, you can call us at and we will be happy to assist. 

The policy allows the relevant authorities 30 days from the date of the theft to investigate and attempt to recover your vehicle.

If your vehicle is unrecovered within the 30 day period, the policy deductible will be applied against the claim payment and the claim settled thereafter.