Insurance guides for South Africa
Clear, in-depth guides to help you understand cover, compare options and save — written for South African drivers and homeowners.
Car insurance guides
How much does car insurance cost in South Africa?
There is no fixed price for car insurance in South Africa. Your premium is based on your risk — the car you...
Read guide →How to claim car insurance in South Africa
To claim car insurance in South Africa: make sure everyone is safe, report the incident to the police within...
Read guide →How to lower your car insurance premium
To lower your car insurance premium in South Africa: increase your excess, fit an approved tracking device,...
Read guide →Comprehensive vs third-party car insurance
Comprehensive car insurance covers damage to your own car as well as damage you cause to others, including...
Read guide →Is car insurance compulsory in South Africa?
No. Car insurance is not legally compulsory in South Africa — unlike many countries, you can legally drive...
Read guide →Car insurance for women in South Africa
Some South African insurers offer products aimed at women drivers, and pricing reflects risk factors such as...
Read guide →Car insurance excess: how it works in South Africa
Car insurance excess is the amount you pay towards a claim before your insurer pays the rest. If your excess...
Read guide →Car insurance for older cars in South Africa
For an older, lower-value car, comprehensive cover can still be worth it, but third-party, fire and theft — or...
Read guide →Car insurance no-claim bonus explained
A no-claim bonus (or no-claim discount) rewards you for not claiming. The longer you go without a claim, the...
Read guide →What does car insurance cover in South Africa?
What your car insurance covers depends on the type. Comprehensive cover pays for accident damage to your own...
Read guide →Car insurance for first-time drivers in South Africa
First-time drivers usually pay more for car insurance because they have no claims history and are...
Read guide →Car insurance for pensioners & over-50s in South Africa
Mature, experienced drivers with a long claim-free record often enjoy competitive car insurance premiums,...
Read guide →Monthly & short-term car insurance in South Africa
Most car insurance in South Africa is paid monthly by debit order on a month-to-month policy, so there's...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover hail damage in South Africa?
Yes — comprehensive car insurance usually covers hail and storm damage, because it includes weather and...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover windscreen & glass damage?
Comprehensive car insurance usually covers windscreen and glass damage, often with its own, lower excess than...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover theft & hijacking?
Comprehensive car insurance and third-party, fire and theft both cover the theft or hijacking of your car —...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover flood & water damage?
Comprehensive car insurance usually covers flood and storm water damage, as it includes natural-disaster...
Read guide →How to switch car insurance in South Africa
To switch car insurance, compare quotes for the same cover, take out the new policy first, and only then...
Read guide →Car insurance renewal in South Africa: what to check
Most South African car insurance renews automatically each year, often with an adjusted premium and an updated...
Read guide →How to cancel car insurance in South Africa
To cancel car insurance, give your insurer the required notice (often one calendar month) in writing, and...
Read guide →How your province affects car insurance in South Africa
Yes. Insurers price car insurance on local risk, so your province — and your specific suburb — has a big...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover engine failure?
No — standard car insurance does not cover mechanical breakdown or engine failure caused by wear, age or a...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover pothole damage?
Yes — comprehensive car insurance generally covers damage from hitting a pothole, treating it as accidental...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover riots and civil unrest?
Standard car insurance excludes damage from riots, strikes, public disorder and civil unrest — but that risk...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover fire damage?
Yes — both comprehensive and third-party fire & theft cover pay for fire damage to your car, whether from an...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover hijacking?
Yes — comprehensive and third-party fire & theft cover both pay out if your car is hijacked or stolen, up to...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover accessories and extras?
Factory-fitted accessories are usually included in your car's insured value, but non-standard extras —...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover other drivers?
It depends on your policy. Many comprehensive policies cover any licensed driver you give permission to, but...
Read guide →Does car insurance cover a hire car while yours is repaired?
Only if you have car-hire cover. Many comprehensive policies include or offer a courtesy/hire car benefit that...
Read guide →Car insurance quotes in South Africa: compare and save
The best way to get a good car insurance quote in South Africa is to compare several insurers at once for your...
Read guide →Cheap car insurance in South Africa: how to pay less
Cheap car insurance in South Africa comes from matching the right cover to your car and reducing your risk,...
Read guide →Car hire excess insurance in South Africa
Car hire excess insurance covers the large excess you'd otherwise have to pay if a rental car is damaged or...
Read guide →Combined car and home insurance: bundle and save
Bundling your car and home insurance with one insurer often earns a multi-policy discount and makes cover...
Read guide →Classic and vintage car insurance in South Africa
Classic and vintage car insurance is specialist cover for collectible vehicles, usually written on an...
Read guide →How to buy car insurance online in South Africa
Yes — you can compare and buy car insurance entirely online in South Africa. Direct and digital insurers let...
Read guide →Usage-based (pay-how-you-drive) car insurance
Usage-based car insurance — also called telematics or pay-how-you-drive cover — prices your premium partly on...
Read guide →Using a car insurance broker in South Africa
A car insurance broker is a licensed intermediary who compares cover across insurers and advises you on the...
Read guide →Car insurance for new drivers in South Africa
New drivers usually pay higher car insurance premiums because limited experience means a higher statistical...
Read guide →Is it illegal to drive without car insurance in South Africa?
No — car insurance is not legally required to drive in South Africa, unlike in many countries. There is no...
Read guide →How to choose the best car insurance as a young driver
There is no single best insurer for young drivers — the smart choice is the one that rewards you for being a...
Read guide →How students can find affordable car insurance
The cheapest cover for a student is rarely a single insurer — it is the right combination of a modest car, a...
Read guide →How to choose telematics (black-box) car insurance
The best telematics cover is the one whose scoring and rewards match how you actually drive. Telematics —...
Read guide →How to choose pay-as-you-drive car insurance
The best pay-as-you-drive cover depends on how far you actually drive. Usage-based insurance charges partly on...
Read guide →How to choose the best insurance for your bakkie
The best bakkie cover is comprehensive insurance that reflects how you use the vehicle and covers its...
Read guide →How to insure a financed car and cover the shortfall
If your car is financed, the bank almost always requires comprehensive cover for the full loan term, because...
Read guide →How to weigh low- and no-excess car insurance
No-excess and low-excess cover means you pay little or nothing out of pocket when you claim — but it almost...
Read guide →How to choose car insurance with roadside assistance
Most comprehensive car insurers in South Africa include some form of roadside assistance, but what it covers...
Read guide →How high-risk drivers can find car insurance
Yes. Drivers seen as high risk — after several claims, an accident history, or a previously declined...
Read guide →How to choose app-based car insurance
The best app-based insurer is the one whose digital features and pricing suit how you manage cover and drive....
Read guide →Why e-hailing drivers need the right car insurance
Yes. A standard personal car insurance policy usually excludes e-hailing, because carrying paying passengers...
Read guide →Why delivery drivers need business-use car insurance
Yes. Delivering food or parcels for platforms like Mr D or Uber Eats is business use, and most personal car...
Read guide →How load shedding affects your car and cover
It depends on the damage and your policy. Load shedding rarely harms the car itself, but power surges when...
Read guide →How to insure an electric car in South Africa
Insuring an electric car works much like insuring a petrol car, but a few EV-specific factors matter. The...
Read guide →How to insure a modified car and keep cover valid
To insure a modified car properly, you must declare every modification and, ideally, agree a value that...
Read guide →How to insure an imported car in South Africa
You can, but imported cars — especially grey imports — need more care than a locally-sold model. Insurers...
Read guide →Car insurance for foreigners and expats in South Africa
Yes. Foreign nationals and expats can insure a car in South Africa, but insurers assess you on your licence,...
Read guide →Car insurance for learner drivers
A learner driver must be supervised by a licensed driver, and the car being driven must be insured. You can...
Read guide →Car insurance for a stored car you are not driving
If your car is off the road and not being driven, it still faces theft, fire, flooding and storm damage, so...
Read guide →Car insurance for over-60s and retirees
Older, experienced drivers are often seen as lower risk, and many over-60s benefit from a long no-claim...
Read guide →What to do after a car accident: a step-by-step checklist
Stop, check for injuries and make the scene safe. Do not admit fault. Exchange details with the other driver...
Read guide →How long does a car insurance claim take in South Africa?
There is no fixed timeframe, but a straightforward claim such as a windscreen or minor panel repair can be...
Read guide →Why car insurance claims get rejected — and how to appeal
Claims are most often rejected for non-disclosure, an unroadworthy vehicle, an unlicensed or unauthorised...
Read guide →How to dispute a car write-off valuation in South Africa
Yes. If your insurer's total-loss payout seems too low, you can challenge it. Payouts are usually based on...
Read guide →Do you pay excess when you are not at fault?
Usually yes — most insurers require you to pay your excess upfront when you claim, even if the other driver...
Read guide →Driving without car insurance in South Africa: is it legal?
Car insurance is not legally compulsory in South Africa, so driving uninsured is not itself a crime. But it is...
Read guide →Car insurance vs the Road Accident Fund: what covers what?
They cover completely different things. The Road Accident Fund (RAF) is a state body, funded by the fuel levy,...
Read guide →How to switch car insurance without losing your no-claim bonus
Not if you switch correctly. Your no-claim bonus reflects your claim-free history, and most South African...
Read guide →AARTO demerit points and car insurance: what to know
AARTO's demerit-point system penalises traffic offences by adding points that can eventually suspend your...
Read guide →New driving laws in South Africa: what drivers should know
South Africa's traffic landscape is changing, most notably the phased national rollout of the AARTO Act and...
Read guide →How to value your car for insurance: market, retail and trade
Insurers usually work from your car's book value, drawn from vehicle-pricing guides such as the TransUnion...
Read guide →How much is car insurance per month in South Africa?
There is no single monthly price — car insurance is personalised to your risk, so two drivers with the same...
Read guide →Car insurance 50/50 settlements and split-fault claims
A 50/50 settlement is when the two insurers involved in an accident agree that fault can't be clearly pinned...
Read guide →Car insurance payment options in South Africa
Almost all South African car insurers charge a monthly premium collected by debit order. Unlike some overseas...
Read guide →How to add a driver to your car insurance
You add a driver by contacting your insurer or broker and giving that person's details — full name, ID number,...
Read guide →How to update your car insurance details
Tell your insurer as soon as your circumstances change — you buy a new car, move house, change where the car...
Read guide →Personal accident cover on car insurance
Personal accident cover is an optional add-on that pays a set amount if you, and sometimes your passengers,...
Read guide →Windscreen and glass cover explained
Windscreen cover pays to repair or replace your car's glass — the windscreen, and often the side and rear...
Read guide →Value-added benefits in car insurance
Value-added benefits are extra services bundled with or added to a car policy — roadside and emergency...
Read guide →Cross-border car insurance in South Africa
Most South African comprehensive policies can extend cover to neighbouring SADC countries — such as Namibia,...
Read guide →Temporary and short-term car insurance in South Africa
True daily or short-term car insurance is uncommon in South Africa — most insurers sell month-to-month...
Read guide →Documents needed for car insurance in South Africa
To take out car insurance in South Africa you'll usually need your SA ID or passport, a valid driver's...
Read guide →Business and commercial vehicle insurance
Business and commercial vehicle insurance covers cars, bakkies and fleets used for work — deliveries, carrying...
Read guide →Car insurance with cash-back and rewards
Some South African insurers reward claim-free customers with cash-back or loyalty rewards. OUTsurance's...
Read guide →Insuring belongings kept in your car
Standard car insurance covers the vehicle, not the loose personal belongings inside it — so a laptop, handbag...
Read guide →Home insurance guides
How much does home insurance cost in South Africa?
There is no fixed price for home insurance in South Africa. Your premium depends on what you insure...
Read guide →How to claim home insurance, step by step
To claim home insurance, make sure everyone is safe and prevent further damage, then report the incident to...
Read guide →How to work out your buildings insurance replacement value
The replacement value for buildings insurance is what it would cost to rebuild your home from scratch today —...
Read guide →How your province affects your home insurance
Yes. Insurers price home insurance on local risk, so your province — and even your specific suburb — has a big...
Read guide →Home insurance excess: how it works in South Africa
Home insurance excess is the amount you pay towards a buildings or contents claim before your insurer pays the...
Read guide →What does home insurance cover in South Africa?
Home insurance in South Africa usually comes in two parts: buildings cover for the physical structure of your...
Read guide →Does home insurance cover a burst geyser?
Yes — a burst geyser is one of the most common home insurance claims in South Africa, and most buildings...
Read guide →Does home insurance cover burst pipes and water damage?
Yes — buildings insurance usually covers sudden burst pipes and the water damage that follows, including...
Read guide →Does home insurance cover storm and hail damage?
Yes — buildings and contents insurance in South Africa typically cover storm, wind, hail and flood damage as...
Read guide →Does home insurance cover lightning and power surges?
Lightning damage to your home and appliances is usually covered under buildings and contents insurance. Power...
Read guide →Does home insurance cover theft and burglary?
Yes — contents insurance covers theft of your belongings during a burglary, and buildings insurance covers...
Read guide →Does home insurance cover subsidence and landslip?
Subsidence and landslip cover — for damage when the ground under your home sinks or shifts — is included on...
Read guide →Does home insurance cover accidental damage?
Accidental damage — like a foot through the ceiling, a dropped TV or red wine on the carpet — is not always...
Read guide →Buildings vs contents insurance: what's the difference?
Buildings insurance covers the physical structure of your home — walls, roof, foundations and fixtures — while...
Read guide →Home insurance for tenants and renters in South Africa
As a tenant you don't insure the building — that's the landlord's responsibility — but you should insure your...
Read guide →How much does buildings insurance cost in South Africa?
There is no fixed price for buildings insurance in South Africa. Your premium is calculated on risk — mainly...
Read guide →How to work out your buildings insurance sum insured
Base your sum insured on the cost to rebuild your home from scratch — the reinstatement or replacement value —...
Read guide →What does buildings insurance cover?
Buildings insurance covers the permanent structure of your home against sudden, insured events — fire and...
Read guide →Buildings insurance versus home contents insurance
Buildings insurance covers the permanent structure of your home — walls, roof, fixed fittings, geysers,...
Read guide →Is buildings insurance mandatory for a home loan?
Effectively, yes. Buildings insurance is not required by general law, but every South African bank makes...
Read guide →Buildings insurance for sectional title properties
Usually not. In a sectional title scheme — a flat, townhouse or complex — the body corporate is legally...
Read guide →Buildings insurance exclusions and common mistakes
Buildings insurance covers sudden, unforeseen events, so it excludes gradual and preventable damage — wear and...
Read guide →Subsidence, natural disasters and SASRIA
Storms, floods, wind, hail, lightning and fire are standard cover on most South African buildings policies....
Read guide →Buildings insurance for solar and backup power
A permanently fixed solar and backup power system — roof-mounted panels, a wall-mounted inverter and batteries...
Read guide →Buildings insurance for unoccupied and holiday homes
Yes, but standard buildings policies restrict cover once a property is left unoccupied beyond a set period —...
Read guide →Buildings insurance for landlords
A landlord needs buildings insurance on the physical structure of each rental property, held in their own name...
Read guide →Claiming, updating and switching buildings insurance
To claim after storm or fire damage, make the property safe, photograph everything, report to your insurer...
Read guide →How much does home insurance cost in South Africa?
There is no single price, but combined buildings and contents cover for a typical suburban three-bedroom home...
Read guide →Comprehensive vs basic home insurance
Basic home insurance covers only a listed set of named events, such as fire, storm, burst pipes and theft, and...
Read guide →Home insurance, power surges and load shedding
Many home contents policies cover appliances and electronics damaged by power surges, but it is often an...
Read guide →Home insurance for thatched roofs
Yes. Thatch and lapa structures carry a higher fire and lightning risk than brick-and-tile homes, so they...
Read guide →Home insurance and wildlife damage
It depends on your policy, and wildlife damage is frequently a grey area. Many home policies exclude damage...
Read guide →Running a business from home and your insurance
Yes. Home insurance is priced for domestic use, so running a business from home can leave gaps: business...
Read guide →Insuring valuables, art and jewellery at home
High-value items such as art and jewellery should usually be specified individually on your policy, each with...
Read guide →Home insurance security discounts
Yes. Approved security such as a linked alarm with armed response, electric fencing, security gates and...
Read guide →Home insurance claim denied: what to do
If your home insurance claim is denied, first ask the insurer for the reason in writing, then lodge a formal...
Read guide →No-deposit home insurance and your credit score
Most home insurance in South Africa already works on a no-deposit basis: you pay a monthly premium by debit...
Read guide →Home insurance for outbuildings, walls and gates
Yes, garages, cottages, boundary walls, gates and gate motors are usually covered under buildings insurance,...
Read guide →Home insurance vs buildings vs contents
Home insurance is the umbrella term covering two distinct parts: buildings insurance protects the physical...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance guides
iPhone insurance in South Africa
An iPhone is one of the most expensive and most-targeted phones in South Africa, so dedicated cover usually...
Read guide →Samsung Galaxy phone insurance in South Africa
You can insure a Samsung Galaxy the same way you would any premium phone: as a standalone cellphone policy, as...
Read guide →Huawei phone insurance in South Africa
Yes. A Huawei phone can be insured like any other handset — as a standalone cellphone policy, as an all-risk...
Read guide →Mobile insurance in South Africa
Mobile insurance is simply another term for cellphone or device insurance — cover that pays to repair or...
Read guide →Device insurance in South Africa
Device insurance covers your portable electronics — smartphones, tablets, laptops and wearables like...
Read guide →Gadget insurance in South Africa
Gadget insurance covers portable tech — phones, tablets, cameras, earbuds, smartwatches, gaming handhelds and...
Read guide →Cracked screen cover in South Africa
A cracked screen is covered only if your policy includes accidental damage. Theft-only cover will not pay for...
Read guide →Phone screen insurance in South Africa
Standalone phone screen insurance covers only screen damage — nothing else — usually at a lower premium than...
Read guide →Phone theft insurance in South Africa
Phone theft insurance replaces your handset if it is stolen — including snatch-and-grab and hijacking on most...
Read guide →Phone loss insurance in South Africa
Not always. Many policies cover theft but exclude simple loss — misplacing your phone with no theft involved....
Read guide →Water & liquid damage phone insurance
Only if your policy includes liquid or accidental damage. Water damage is not covered by theft-only cover, and...
Read guide →Cheap cellphone insurance in South Africa
The cheapest cellphone insurance is not always the lowest premium — it is the lowest cost for the cover you...
Read guide →Best cellphone insurance in South Africa
There is no single best cellphone insurance — the best policy is the one that fits your phone, your risks and...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance without a contract
Yes. You do not need a network contract to insure a phone. A prepaid or outright-bought handset can be covered...
Read guide →Standalone cellphone insurance vs all-risk
It depends. A standalone cellphone policy covers only the phone, with its own excess and terms, and works even...
Read guide →Vodacom cellphone insurance
Vodacom, as a major South African network, offers device insurance that customers can add when taking a phone...
Read guide →MTN device insurance
MTN, as a major South African network, offers device insurance that customers can add when taking a phone or...
Read guide →Cell C & Telkom device insurance
Cell C and Telkom are established South African networks that, like their larger rivals, offer device...
Read guide →How much does cellphone insurance cost in South Africa?
Cellphone insurance in South Africa typically costs an indicative R50 to R300 or more a month, and the single...
Read guide →Prepaid vs contract phone insurance
You can insure both prepaid and contract phones, and the cover for the actual risks — theft, accidental...
Read guide →Network vs third-party cellphone insurance
Both work, and the right choice comes down to price, excess, claims handling and convenience. Cover from your...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance vs manufacturer warranty
A manufacturer's warranty covers manufacturing defects — faults that are not your fault, such as a component...
Read guide →Is cellphone insurance worth it?
Cellphone insurance is worth it when replacing your phone out of pocket would genuinely hurt and your theft or...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance for refurbished and second-hand phones
Yes, most insurers will cover a refurbished or second-hand phone, provided you can show proof of ownership and...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance excess explained
The excess — also called the first amount payable — is the portion of a claim you pay yourself before the...
Read guide →How to claim on cellphone insurance
The process depends on what happened. For theft or loss, report it to the police to get a SAPS case number,...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance for multiple devices and families
Yes. Many insurers let you cover several phones and devices under one policy or as a household bundle, and...
Read guide →Business cellphone insurance
Business cellphone insurance covers phones and mobile devices used for work, whether a single owner's handset...
Read guide →Student cellphone insurance
Students can insure a phone with the same options as anyone — a standalone cellphone policy, an all-risk item...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance for accessories and wearables
Yes. Smartwatches, wireless earbuds, headphones and other accessories can usually be insured — either bundled...
Read guide →Cellphone insurance from banks, retailers and networks
In South Africa you can insure a phone through far more than your network. Banks (such as Capitec, FNB, ABSA...
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