Car Insurance Tips

Get car insurance tips & advice that'll save you money on car insurance premiums below! Also get sound advice on car & household cover - so keep reading...

Car insurance is a bit of a grudge purchase - a necessary evil, some might say. Yet as with most types of insurance cover, it is designed to protect the policyholder against financial jeopardy in case of theft of accident. Mycarcover.co.za aims to empower you, the consumer, with the knowledge and insight required to make the right decisions when it comes to taking out car insurance or any other kind of vehicle or household cover.

Take the time to read the below tips and advice on insurance - this information could save you a lot of money and administrative headaches; a lot sooner than you'd think!

Car insurance tip 1:

The right level of insurance cover is critical

When it comes to car insurance, "cheap" generally equals "insufficient". If you are a salesperson, for example, you will probably use your car for business purposes on a regular basis. Should you only opt for personal transportation cover, you will probably not be covered for any accidents happening during business hours! Moreover, you may also be required to prove that you were using the car for personal reasons during working hours, causing more administrative headaches than it's worth.

It's no use cutting corners when it means you probably won't be adequately covered.

Car insurance tip 2:

A higher excess is a bad idea

Many people would opt to buy a slightly more expensive car and skimp on their level of car insurance, rather than to invest in better car insurance cover and less in the vehicle. The resulting situation generally sees the person's budget fairly maxed out from the start, causing severe financial pressure in case of an accident or the vehicle getting stolen.

If you're just keeping head above water financially, a R5000 insurance excess is a bad idea.

Minor "fender bender" accidents tend to happen far more frequently than one would hope, and they generally still end up costing multiple thousands of rands! If you were to opt for a R5 000 excess in order to reduce your monthly insurance premium by R50, accident damage to the value of R5000 or less would see you having to cough up the full amount to get the vehicle repaired.

Few people have a little nest egg dedicated to unexpected car repair costs; for the man in the street, paying a bit extra on a monthly basis is a far more sensible and affordable option than banking on the fact that a minibus taxi is not going to ding your car at some point in the near future. Also e sure to check out these 7 savvy savings tips on how to spend less on car insurance.

Car insurance tip 3:

Honesty is the best policy. Always

Always relay information about accidents as accurately as possible. Any deviation from the truth, however slight, could see your insurance company reject your claim! The same applies for when you apply for cover - if you park on the road at night, don't claim to have off-street parking. Claim assessors are extremely shrewd, and being caught for bending the truth a bit is tantamount to insurance fraud. Don't do it.

Car insurance tip 4:

Don't drink and drive

South Africa is a nation of drink-drivers - while it is generally fine if you only have 1 drink a while before driving home, any indication that you were driving under the influence could negatively impact on your insurance claim in case of an accident. South African law enforcement agencies are clamping down on drunken drivers, and you could even have your car confiscated by the state.

Staying off the sauce when driving is ultimately the safest, most rational policy for the South African car owner.

Car insurance tip 4:

Don't drive like an 18-year-old male

Don't laugh - vehicle insurance underwriting statistics don't lie! On average, young male car insurance policyholders are most likely to be involved in car accidents, and thus also most prone to claiming from car insurers. Reckless driving is not all that difficult to prove, and gross negligence or recklessness - including excessive speeding - could adversely impact on your insurance claim.

Car insurance tip 5:

Reduce your risk exposure

When it comes to car insurance, being sensible pays! Parking on the streets in dubious neighbourhoods late at night increases your exposure to potential theft risk. Even if your car is not democratically redistributed, your brand-new MP3 player may well be! Parking in a guarded parking area, on the other hand, reduces your risk exposure.

Car insurance tip 6:

Pick a safer suburb to live in

If you're considering moving into another neighbourhood, why not submit our car insurance quote form to get an indication of whether the move will impact on your monthly premiums? Ensuring cars parked in safer suburbs costs less than parking it in sketchy "bohemian" areas - whether you're parking on the street or in a garage!

Car insurance tip 7:

Install a security device

Alarm systems, immobilisers, "gorilla locks" or satellite tracking devices such as Tracker will all help to keep your monthly premiums on car and household insurance as low as possible, whilst also ensuring that your car is still there when you get back to where you parked it.

Car insurance tip 8:

Get a car insurance quote from Dial Direct Insurance