Car Insurance in South Africa, optimised.
Shopping for car insurance is exhausting. As an independent broker since 1980, we know each insurer’s policy wording, their underwriting appetite, and where your risk sits best. You get cover that actually fits your situation, and a broker who picks up the phone when something goes wrong.
Get a QuoteWhy getting this right matters
More than 8 million vehicles on South African roads have no insurance at all. Which means the odds that someone without cover will hit yours are uncomfortably high.
Car insurance isn’t just about protecting your vehicle from accidents. In South Africa it’s about hijackings, hailstorms, a neighbour’s uninsured bakkie reversing into your gate, and the very real risk that a single incident wipes out years of savings.
The challenge is that no two insurers in South Africa underwrite the same risk the same way. One insurer is strong on high-value vehicles. Another has significantly better hail cover wording. A third handles hijacking claims faster than anyone else in that area. Knowing which policy will actually respond when you need it, and where the exclusions are buried, is what an independent broker brings to the table.
That’s what we’ve been doing since 1980. No call-centre scripts, no auto-renewal and hope for the best. Just a broker who knows your file, knows the policies, and picks up when something happens.
The three tiers of car insurance in South Africa
Every vehicle insurance policy in South Africa fits into one of three tiers. Here’s what each one actually covers, and who it’s right for.
Comprehensive cover
From ~R390/month (hatchback) · R690+ (sedan)
The most complete protection available. Your vehicle is covered whether you cause the accident or someone else does, and whether the car is damaged, stolen, or hijacked.
- Accident damage (your fault or not)
- Theft and hijacking
- Hail, fire, flood, storm damage
- Third-party damage you cause
- Malicious or accidental damage
Best for: any vehicle with finance outstanding, newer cars, or anyone who can’t absorb the cost of replacing their car out of pocket.
Third-party, fire & theft
Mid-range premium, significantly less than comprehensive
A middle-ground option. Your own vehicle is covered for fire, theft, and hijacking, but not for accident damage. You’re also covered for damage you cause to other people’s vehicles and property.
- Theft and hijacking
- Fire damage to your vehicle
- Third-party damage you cause
- Accident damage to your own car
- Hail or weather damage to your car
Best for: paid-off vehicles of moderate value where you’d rather absorb a fender-bender than pay a comprehensive premium.
Third-party only
From ~R70/month, the lowest premium available
The legal minimum. Covers damage or injury you cause to other people: their car, their property, their passengers. Your own vehicle is not covered for anything.
- Third-party vehicle or property damage
- Your vehicle: any damage at all
- Theft, hijacking, fire, hail
Best for: older vehicles with a low retail value, where full cover costs more than the car is worth. Not suitable for financed vehicles.
Not sure which tier suits your situation? Speak to us and we’ll match the cover to the car, the budget, and how you actually use it.
What car insurance won’t cover
Most insurance pages bury exclusions in fine print. We’d rather you know upfront, so there are no surprises at claim stage.
- Driving under the influence
- Expired or invalid driver’s licence
- Undisclosed drivers
- Modifications not declared
- Wear and tear / mechanical breakdown
- Personal items left in the vehicle
What affects your car insurance premium
Every factor below is something we look at when comparing quotes. Some you can’t change. Others you can influence. Sometimes a small adjustment saves thousands a year.
Driver age and experience
Drivers under 25 attract an age excess on top of the standard excess. The younger the regular driver, the higher the premium, and the higher the excess at claim stage. Disclosing this honestly protects you.
Claims history
A clean claims record can earn a no-claims bonus of 20–30% over two to three years with most insurers. Some offer cash-back bonuses. One at-fault claim typically resets the counter.
Where you live and park
High-theft suburbs, on-street overnight parking, and precincts with high hijacking rates all push premiums up. Garaging the vehicle or parking in a guarded complex brings them down.
Vehicle make, model, and value
Repair costs, parts availability, and theft frequency all affect the premium. Toyota Hilux and VW Polo Vivo are two of SA’s most hijacked vehicles. That’s priced in.
Security: tracker and alarm
An approved tracking device can cut your premium by 5–30% depending on the insurer, and some require one for high-risk models. We’ll flag which insurers offer the best tracker discounts for your vehicle.
Voluntary excess
Choosing to pay a higher excess if you claim reduces your monthly premium. This can make sense if you rarely claim and have a cash buffer. We’ll help you find the right balance.
Annual mileage
The more you drive, the more exposure you have. Low-mileage drivers (typically under 10,000 km per year) may qualify for reduced premiums with select insurers.
Finance status
If the vehicle is under a finance agreement, comprehensive cover is not optional: it’s a contract condition. Some also require credit shortfall cover in case the payout doesn’t cover the outstanding balance.
All of these are levers we look at when quoting. Sometimes shifting the voluntary excess by R500, or moving the vehicle’s overnight parking address, saves R2,000 or more a year. Finding those adjustments is part of what we do.
Why use Graham Silva as your broker
There’s a real difference between an independent broker and going directly to an insurer, or using a comparison engine that sends your details to the highest bidder.
We know the underwriters
We work with eight of South Africa’s leading insurers: Santam, Hollard, Discovery Insure, MUA, King Price, Bryte, Auto & General, and OUTsurance. We know each one’s policy wording, their underwriting strengths, how they handle claims in your area, and where their exclusions bite.
Same person at quote and at claim
When you call us after an accident, the person who answers knows your policy, your vehicle, and your circumstances. There’s no call-centre roulette, no starting from scratch. Family-run since 1980: you deal with people who care what happens to you.
We represent you, not the insurer
When a claim is disputed, a broker who knows your policy wording is worth more than you might expect. Tied insurers and direct insurers represent themselves. We represent you. That distinction matters most when it’s most inconvenient.
Genuine renewal reviews
Every renewal is a real review, not an auto-roll. We check whether your current insurer’s cover still suits your risk, whether your vehicle value is accurate, and whether anything in your circumstances has changed.
24-hour emergency line
Accidents and hijackings don’t happen between 9 and 5. Our 24-hour emergency assist line (0861 1GRAHAM (472426)) connects you to help at any hour, any day.
Independent financial advice
As an authorised financial services provider (FSP 5671), we can advise: which tier is right for your situation, which excess makes financial sense, and what you can safely leave off. Call-centre staff at direct insurers are not permitted to give that advice.
Optional add-ons worth considering
Most policies have a core structure, but these extensions are worth adding for the right driver. We’ll tell you honestly which ones make sense for your situation.
Roadside assist
Battery jump-start, tow to nearest dealership, flat tyre change, lockout service. Not the same as emergency assist: this is the everyday stuff.
Car hire while in repairs
Covers a rental vehicle while your car is at the panel beater. Turnaround for repairs can be weeks. For a one-car household, this is close to essential.
Windscreen extension
Windscreen claims can be excluded or limited under standard policies. This extension covers replacement or repair without affecting your no-claims bonus on most policies.
Sound system / accessories
Aftermarket upgrades aren’t automatically included in your vehicle’s insured value. If you’ve added a system worth more than a few thousand rand, specify it separately.
Excess waiver
Pay an additional premium to remove the basic excess in the event of a claim. Worth it if your standard excess is high and the thought of paying it upfront would be stressful.
Credit shortfall cover
If your vehicle is written off and the insurance payout is less than the outstanding finance balance, credit shortfall cover bridges the gap. Often required by finance houses. Always worth having if the car is financed.
Frequently asked questions
The questions we get asked most often.
Get your car insurance comparison
Tell us about your vehicle and we’ll assess your risk properly: the right insurer for your car, your area, and how you actually use it.
Related cover and reading
Other pages and articles that may be useful.