What Does Car Insurance Cover in South Africa?

Comprehensive car insurance in South Africa typically covers accidental damage to your car, theft and hijacking, fire, weather and natural disasters, glass damage and third-party liability. But the exact cover, limits and exclusions depend on your policy schedule and wording, so there are very few blanket yes-or-no answers. Here is what most comprehensive policies include, and what they usually do not.

What does comprehensive car insurance normally cover?

Most comprehensive policies cover:

• Accidental damage to your own car, whether or not the accident was your fault.
• Theft and hijacking of your car.
• Fire damage.
• Weather and natural events such as hail, storms and floods.
• Glass damage, such as a cracked windscreen.
• Third-party liability, meaning damage you cause to other people's cars or property.

Third-party and third-party, fire and theft policies cover less, so always check your level of cover.

What does car insurance not cover?

Common exclusions across South African policies include wear and tear, mechanical or electrical breakdown, gradual damage, deliberate damage, driving under the influence, driving without a valid licence, and using the car for a purpose not covered by the policy, such as business use on a private policy. Because exclusions vary, read your own wording.

Accidental damage

Accidental damage to your own car is the core of comprehensive cover, subject to your excess. It includes collisions, single-vehicle accidents and many one-off mishaps.

Theft and hijacking

Covered under comprehensive and third-party, fire and theft. See our full guide to theft and hijacking cover. Note that belongings inside the car are usually covered under home contents or all-risks, not the car policy.

Weather and natural disasters

Hail, storms and floods are typically covered under comprehensive, though driving into known floodwater may be assessed differently. Check the terms in your policy.

Windscreen and glass damage

Glass damage such as a chipped or cracked windscreen is usually covered, often with its own excess. Some insurers waive the excess on smaller glass claims.

Third-party liability

This covers the damage you cause to others and is the most important protection of all, because it can otherwise be an unpayable bill. It is included in comprehensive and third-party policies.

Optional and additional cover

Extras such as car hire, roadside assistance, towing and credit shortfall (gap) cover can usually be added. Decide which you would actually use.

The key point: comprehensive covers a lot, but your policy schedule and wording are the final word. Compare comprehensive cover, and always read what is and is not included.

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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