How to update your car insurance details
When should you update your car insurance details, and why does it matter?
Tell your insurer as soon as your circumstances change - you buy a new car, move house, change where the car is parked overnight, or the regular driver changes. Insurers price your policy on these exact facts, so out-of-date details can mean you're paying the wrong premium or, worse, have a claim rejected for non-disclosure. Most updates take a quick call, email or change in the app.
Key takeaways
- Update your insurer whenever your car, address, parking or regular driver changes.
- A new car usually needs to be added to the policy before you drive it away.
- Your parking address and area directly affect your premium and cover.
- Inaccurate details can lead to a rejected claim for material non-disclosure.
- Most changes are quick to make and keep your cover valid.
When you buy a new car
Buying a car is the most important time to update your policy. Your existing cover doesn't automatically transfer full comprehensive protection to a different vehicle, so tell your insurer before or as you take delivery. You'll need the new car's make, model, year, registration and VIN, plus its value or purchase price. If the car is financed, the bank will usually insist on comprehensive cover being in place. See how to value your car for insurance so the sum insured is right from day one.
When you move house
Where you live and park the car is one of the biggest factors in your premium, because theft and accident rates differ by area. If you move - or even just change where the car is parked overnight, such as from a locked garage to a street or a new complex - tell your insurer. Moving to a lower-risk area could reduce your premium; moving to a higher-risk one means the insurer needs to re-rate the policy so your cover stays valid. Don't leave your address out of date after a move.
When the regular driver changes
The regular driver is the person who drives the car most, and the policy is priced around them. If that changes - a teenager takes over a second car, a partner starts doing the daily commute, or you hand the car to a family member - the policy must be updated. Driving with the wrong regular driver declared is a common reason claims are rejected. Our guide on adding a driver walks through the process.
Other changes worth reporting
Several less obvious changes are also worth a call to your insurer:
- Modifications - performance, cosmetic or accessibility changes can affect cover and value
- How you use the car - switching from private use to business, deliveries or e-hailing
- Big changes in mileage - much more or much less driving than before
- Adding security - a tracker or immobiliser may lower the premium
When in doubt, disclose it. It's better to check than to discover at claim stage that something material wasn't reported.
Why keeping details accurate matters
South African insurance works on the principle of full disclosure. If a fact that would have changed the insurer's decision or pricing - the car, the address, the driver, the use - is wrong or missing, the insurer can treat it as material non-disclosure and reject a claim, or void the policy. That's a far bigger cost than any premium saving. Keeping your details current is the simplest way to make sure that when you need to claim, the policy pays.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to tell my insurer if I move house?
What happens if I don't update my car insurance details?
Do I need new insurance for a new car?
What is material non-disclosure?
How do I update my car insurance details?
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