Are you fed up with feeling like your car insurance rips a hole in your pocket every month? Or maybe you’ve just received the keys to your new car and you’re not sure where to start looking for car insurance to make sure you’re protected?
Car insurance is an essential part of your monthly budget that should not be overlooked. With exhaustion, stress and lack of car servicing being prevalent, there is a higher rate of car accidents. Your car can also get suspiciously scratched or damaged.
Choosing a car insurance provider can be challenging because there are so many aspects to consider. With this guide, you’ll have an in-depth look at the best car insurance companies and the benefits they offer.
How To Find The Best Car Insurance in South Africa
Before deciding on a company to utilise first familiarise yourself with the criteria for selecting car insurance. Make a list of everything you’ll need to be covered. Then consider the following questions:
- Have you gathered quotes for car insurance from different companies?
- Have you weighed the costs vs the benefits?
- Have you settled on what to do regarding your excess? The rule of thumb is that low premiums equal high excess. You need to decide on the excess you will be able to pay when the time comes.
Finding the right insurance company takes time. However, the decision is straightforward when you have all of the information in front of you. Let’s get you started on your journey by looking at this list of insurance companies in South Africa.
Our Top List of Car Insurance Companies in South Africa
Regarding car insurance, affordability and coverage are two of the most important deciding factors. That’s why the following car insurance companies reign supreme in South Africa.
King Price
King Price is the only insurance company in the world that considers your car’s depreciating value and adjusts your premiums accordingly. As the value of your car decreases, your monthly premium gets lower. Providing one of the best insurances in South Africa.
Benefits:
- Get up to 20% off your premium when you insure 2+ cars
- Choose your excess
- King’s Cab – gets you and your car home safely after a night out
- Emergency assistance
- Quick and easy claims
Optional Extras:
- Credit shortfall
- Car hire
- Car warranty, for an additional fee each month based on your car’s value, covers car parts as well.
- Scratch and dent insurance
- Personal accident insurance
- Tyre and rim insurance
- Sound equipment and other accessories
Dial Direct
Dial Direct offers its clientele some unique, eye-catching benefits with its insurance for cars. However, they don’t just cover cars, but also motorbikes, caravans, watercrafts, trailers, and even golf carts.
Unique Benefits:
- Cashback for driving safely
- 1GB of free data when you sign up
- Online self-service
- Express claims service
- Inspect your car yourself using your phone
Santam
Everyone has heard of Santam for a reason – they are South Africa’s largest short-term insurer. Santam offers weather warnings and safety tips on social media, topping as one of the best insurance companies in South Africa.
Benefits:
- Free SOS services
- Additional cover that you don’t need can be removed to lower your premium
- Lower premiums for driving less
Budget Insurance
Budget Insurance offers some amazing cover options. With affordable car insurance and a Cash Back Bonus for driving safely, you won’t have to worry about your entire salary going towards protecting your vehicle. It’s one of the cheapest car insurances in South Africa.
Unique Cover:
- Budget Lite for cars valued at R250000 or less
- 4×4 insurance for off-road vehicles
Optional Extras:
- Scratch and dent insurance
- Auto Top-Up Plus – same cover as credit shortfall
- Tyre and rim insurance
- Extended and pre-owned vehicle warranty
- Get a discount when you add multiple cars to your policy
- BetterCar Value – covers the cost of towing and storage after an accident
Auto & General
Founded in 1985, Auto & General is a longstanding popular vehicle insurance company in South Africa. They’ve now upped their game with an app that does everything from mobile crash detection to emergency medical and roadside assistance.
Benefits:
- Auto & General app
- Roadside assistance
- Get cash back if you remain claim free for four subsequent years
- Young@Heart, for people 50 years old and above – remove excess, get funeral cover and dread disease premium
DotSure
DotSure offers comprehensive, affordable car insurance with excellent benefits. Although known as pet insurance, their recent addition of car insurance stands strong against their competitors. With amazingly unique benefits, such as pothole cover, DotSure knows what South Africans need and offers it.
What You Are Covered For:
- Accidental damage to your car and others
- Fire, theft, or hijacking
- Key replacement
- Riots & warfare
- Non-standard accessories
- Vehicle credit cover
Benefits:
- Name Your Price™
- 24/7 Emergency medical, roadside, and legal benefits
- Accidents, potholes, fines and license protection benefits
- Tiger Wheel & Tyre benefit
- Super shortcut benefit
Pineapple
Pineapple is relatively new to the insurance scene; however, they are living up to the old dogs of car insurance with their special benefits. They’re affordable, and offer cash back the less you drive. Pineapple helps you save money even when you don’t use your car.
What You Are Covered For:
- Theft
- Accidental damage
- Weather damage cover
- Third-Party liability and vehicle damage
- Fire
Benefits:
- Pineapple Rewards
- Choose your excess
- Activate your cover now and pay later
- Digital self-activation
- Digital car pre-Inspection via app
- Roadside assistance
- Drive Less Benefit – 30% of your premium back when you drive less than 300km a month
- Auto crash detect via app
- Trauma counselling if you’re ever the victim of hijacking or violent theft
More Top Car Insurance Companies in South Africa
- 1st for Women
- Hollard
- Discovery
- Momentum
- Old Mutual
- AA Insurance
Final Thoughts on Vehicle Insurance Companies in South Africa
Follow this guide on getting the best car insurance for your needs before deciding which company to cover your car with. Contracts are legally binding and extremely challenging to break.
You won’t regret your choice of auto insurance if you do your homework. Read the fine print, double-check that you’re signing a valid contract, and make sure you know what you are getting.
Once you’ve completed all the steps, kick back and relax knowing that you won’t have to deal with the consequences of driving a car in South Africa alone.