How Much Is Car Insurance Excess in South Africa?

How much is car insurance excess in South Africa? For most drivers the basic excess sits somewhere around R1,990 to R9,950, and extra excesses can apply for young drivers, glass, or theft without a required tracker. The exact amount is on your own policy schedule. Here are real figures from South African insurers so you know what to expect. For how excess actually works and how it affects your premium, see our car insurance excess guide.

How much is the basic excess?

Most standard (basic) excesses fall in the region of R1,990 to R9,950, based on published South African insurer guidance. As examples, Miway's standard excess is around R4,975, and Pineapple's is about R6,169 with options from R1,990 up to R16,815.50. Your own figure depends on your insurer, your car and how you set up the policy, so treat these as a guide rather than a quote.

Why do excess amounts vary so much?

Because excess and premium trade off against each other. A higher excess means you carry more of each claim, so the insurer charges a lower monthly premium, and the other way around. Insurers such as Naked and Pineapple let you choose your excess for exactly this reason. There is no single correct excess; it is a balance between a lower monthly cost and what you could afford to pay at claim time.

What extra excesses can apply?

On top of the basic excess, policies commonly add extra excesses for higher-risk situations. From one South African policy example: an under-25 driver adds about R2,686.50; a licence held under two years adds R2,487.50; the first six months of cover adds R3,980; a non-regular or spouse driver adds R7,462.50; and theft or hijacking without a required tracker adds R5,373, up to a combined maximum around R9,950. Those are one insurer's figures, not an industry average, so always check your own schedule.

Is there a separate excess for windscreen or glass?

Often yes, and it is usually lower. Glass claims frequently carry their own excess. As an example, Naked charges no glass excess under R1,990, a sliding amount between R1,990 and R2,985, and R995 above that. Many insurers waive or reduce the excess on smaller glass repairs, so it is worth asking before you claim.

When do you not pay an excess?

Some claims carry no excess, depending on your policy: certain glass repairs, or where a no-excess or excess-waiver option has been added. A few insurers offer no-excess products at a higher premium. Your schedule is the final word on which claims are excess-free.

How should I choose my excess?

Pick the highest excess you could comfortably pay at claim time, then enjoy the lower premium. If finding R6,000 out of pocket after an accident would be a crisis, choose a lower excess and accept a slightly higher monthly cost. For how excess feeds into your premium and ways to manage it, see the car insurance excess guide.

The bottom line

Excess in South Africa typically ranges from about R1,990 to R9,950, with extra excesses for young drivers, new licences, glass and theft without a tracker. The amounts vary by insurer and by how you set up the policy, so read your schedule and choose an excess you could actually afford. Compare cover and excess options.

Figures are Savvy Insurance quote data unless a third party is named. Cover depends on your policy schedule and wording, premiums are risk-profile dependent and paid monthly, and Savvy Insurance is a comparison service. Always check your own policy documents for exactly what is and is not covered.

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