KINGSTON, Jamaica — Marathon Insurance Brokers has launched a mobile insurance service aimed at making motor vehicle insurance more accessible to Jamaicans, particularly those in communities far from traditional business offices and individuals who have limited time to conduct transactions in person.

The new initiative, called the MIBInsure Happy Bus, was officially launched on November 9 at TotalEnergies in Half-Way Tree, across from the Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) Bus Park.

The launch featured a live outside broadcast by Mello FM and signalled another step in the brokerage’s efforts to use technology and mobile services to simplify the insurance experience.

The Happy Bus will travel from location to location, allowing members of the public to access insurance services without having to visit a traditional brokerage office. Staff members and insurance advisers will be available on board to assist customers with their insurance needs.

The initiative is designed to bring insurance services directly to busy commercial centres and communities, making it easier for motorists, including public transport operators, to obtain coverage and explore available options.

President of the Transport Operators Development Sustainable Services (TODSS), Egeton Newman, endorsed the initiative, describing Marathon Insurance Brokers as one of the companies making a positive contribution to the motor vehicle insurance industry.

“It is my view, and I speak for the TODSS transport organisation, that MIB is one of those brokerage companies for motor vehicle insurance that is doing a great job, and we will continue to support MIB,” Newman said.

The Happy Bus builds on the company’s MIBInsure online platform, which brings insurance products from multiple local insurance companies together in one place, allowing customers to compare quotations and select coverage suited to their needs and affordability.

The platform currently provides access to the top 11 insurance companies, giving motorists a wider range of options when seeking insurance for private and commercial vehicles.

Through MIBInsure, customers can obtain quotations for a range of vehicles, including private cars, taxis, minibuses, coasters, trucks, trailers, cranes and motorcycles.

The online service also allows customers to complete several stages of the insurance process digitally, including obtaining quotations, purchasing or renewing policies, reinstating coverage, accessing cover notes and reporting claims.

MIBInsure’s technology-driven approach is intended to make insurance more competitive while reducing the financial burden on motorists. Customers using the platform could save up to 60 per cent or more on motor insurance premiums, with payment arrangements extending up to nine months.

The MIBInsure platform allows insurance companies to compete for both private and commercial motor business, while placing the interests of consumers at the centre of the process.

The introduction of the Happy Bus adds a physical, mobile dimension to that digital service, bringing insurance advisers closer to customers who may not be comfortable conducting transactions online or who simply prefer face-to-face assistance.

Its wider portfolio includes life, health, personal accident and disability insurance, critical illness coverage, pension plans and employee benefits.

With the launch of the MIBInsure Happy Bus, the company is seeking to extend that approach beyond its online platform and traditional offices, taking insurance services directly to the people who need them.