Every year there are new people buying a car for the very first time and needing car insurance (coincidentally also for the first time). There are also a bunch of people waking up to how financially risky it is to be on the road without car insurance and needing a good deal.
For those people, this is the article for you.
We’re going to shoot you through what car insurance is, what it isn’t, the types you can choose from, and how to get it. Let’s get cracking.
What car insurance is
In a nutshell, car insurance is a type of financial safety net, in that it gives you financial protection against incidents involving your car. Like a car accident or theft. If something like this happens, something that’s covered by your car insurance policy, you can claim and let your insurer handle things for you.
In our kingdom, this means that we’ll take over and deal with what happens next, including arranging to have your car towed to its next port of call for things like damage assessments and repairs. When you’re with the king, we’ll get everything shipshape and keep you updated along the way.
What car insurance isn’t
We’ve done a basic explanation of what car insurance is, but here’s something that it isn’t. In South Africa, car insurance isn’t a replacement for driving safely and taking precautions to prevent your car from being stolen, and it isn’t compulsory.
It’s not something that you have to get, unless required by the bank as part of your car loan agreement. But it’s definitely something that you need to get if you don’t want to pay for repairs (or a whole new car) out of your own pocket.
Types of car insurance in South Africa
Let’s talk about the types of car insurance you can get from the king.
- Comprehensive car insurance: We’ll cover damage to your car (even damage you accidentally cause yourself), damage to other cars and property that you’re liable for, plus theft and other non-collision incidents. It’s the policy that covers the most and is the most expensive, but it’s worth it.
- Third-party, fire, and theft: You get cover for the theft of your car and damage to other cars and property involving caused by an incident involving your car. But damage to your own car isn’t covered.
- Third-party only: This is definitely the cheapest option, because it only covers damage to other cars and property. It doesn’t cover the theft of or damage to your car. It’s the basic option for cars that are much older and paid off.
- Agreed value: Similar to our comprehensive option, you get cover for accident damage, theft, and hi-jacking, and damage to other people’s property, but with our agreed value option, you can choose the insured value that’ll be noted on your policy schedule for 3 years. Check out why this matters right here.
How car insurance works in South Africa
When you take out a car insurance policy in South Africa, no matter what type you choose, you agree to the monthly cost and the excess to insure your car. The excess is a once-off amount that you pay whenever you claim, even if the reason you’re claiming isn’t your fault. You don’t always get it back, but it can happen. Like if the accident isn’t your fault, we try to recover your excess amount for you. It’s not always possible, but we do our best because we know what your money means to you.
In case you’re wondering, the monthly fee that you pay is called a premium. During the quote phase, we calculate this premium based on several factors, including the make and model of your car, your driving and claims history, where the car is parked during the day and night, and the level of cover you choose.
The deal is, you look after your car and pay your premiums on time, and if you’re involved in an incident, you can log a claim with the king. We’ll process the claim and if it’s approved, we’ll take it from there and deal with the repairs or replacements on your behalf.
Why you should even bother with car insurance
There are a bunch of reasons why you need car insurance. For starters, if your car is financed it may be a requirement. There’s also the financial protection you get against unexpected expenses resulting from accidents or theft. And with that protection comes peace of mind, knowing that the king has your back.
How to get cover
We’ve made it ridiculously easy to get cover with the king. Visit us online (on any device) and click the bright, shiny buttons that point you in the direction of getting a quote. You can even WhatsApp us.
Here’s what to do next:
- Fill in your details online.
- We’ll call you to dot a few Ts and give you a simple, cheap quote.
- We agree on a few details, like when you want to be debited.
- Wipe away relieved tears as you accept your quote.
- Ta da! You’ve got car insurance.
From that point on, you just need to make sure that your monthly payments are paid and that you stick to a few rules laid out in your policy documents. These rules aren’t hectic… It’s just about not doing anything illegal and making sure that you let us know if any details change, like your home address. That sort of thing.
By keeping up your end of the bargain, we’ll keep on giving you cover for those nasty things that could go wrong. Because really, accidents do just happen and criminals are out there and they really *really* like stealing cars.
Want to see how easy it is?
Go on, click here or WhatsApp us on 0860 50 50 50 to get a commitment-free quote.
