Car Insurance

Finding the right car insurance policy for you is easy with Get Car Insurance Quotes, a premier South African car insurance publisher site. Car insurance, as with most other types of short-term or life insurance, is not something that comes to mind until you need it. Accidents, burglary and even theft are bound to happen at some time, statistically, and it is at these times that adequate car insurance cover is critical.

Finding the most affordable car insurance used to be a difficult, time consuming process involving multiple meetings with multiple car insurance companies’ brokers. Getting all your facts straight, and comparing apples with apples, took a lot of time and effort. Thanks to the Internet and innovative business modelling by car insurers, getting car insurance has become a quick and easy process.

For example: simply complete this 1-minute e-quote form from Dial Direct to receive a free car insurance quote from South Africa's direct insurance leaders:

Car insurance: Know what cover you require

Doing your homework before spending a cent is a good consumer philosophy. When it comes to getting car insurance, the logic is no different. Before you even think about getting comparative car insurance quotes however, it makes sense to assess your own car insurance needs. Are you driving a new car or an old skedonk? If you are a broke student driving a barely-roadworthy 1965 VW beetle, you probably will not be too keen on comprehensive car insurance; a third-party car insurance policy will probably all your budget can afford.

If you’re driving a brand new car, parking on the road and commuting through high-traffic areas, you may well wish to consider getting comprehensive car insurance. If you’re employed as a travelling sales rep or client service executive, your job probably requires you to drive around in your own car on a frequent basis. This type of vehicle usages as classified by insurers as “business usage”, and is subject to different insurance premiums and conditions of cover.

Car insurance for business usage tends to be more expensive than a cover policy for private usage, tempting some drivers to consider signing up for private usage cover only. Do not make this mistake.

Honest is the best policy.

Purposefully misinforming your insurer is considered fraudulent, and will at best lead to your claim not being settled if you’re involved in an accident during working hours. When applying for car insurance, it is critical that you provide the car insurance company with the correct details pertaining to all aspects of proposed usage – what you’ll be using the car for, where it will be parked during the day and night, and especially the security and anti-theft devices the car is equipped with need to be mentioned to the car insurer when taking out a cover policy.

Similarly, even the slightest deviation from the truth could result in your insurance claims not being settled, so err on the side of caution. Once you’ve got a rough idea as to the kind of insurance cover you’ll require, the next consideration will almost certainly be your budget.

Car insurance, as with life insurance, is considered by most consumers to be a ‘grudge buy’; the less you can spend on your monthly premiums, the better. Although your budget may be limited and one wouldn’t want to get ripped off, your first consideration should be that the level of cover your policy provides will be sufficient to meet your unique needs.

When comparing car insurance quotes, therefore, it is critical that you compare apples with apples.

When requesting quotes online, you will promptly receive automatically generated premium quotes via email, followed by an office-hours call from a seasoned car insurance consultant. Be advised that the default excess amount, for example, may vary from one insurer to the next. Ask the consultant to re-calculate the monthly premiums using a fixed excess amount in order to get an accurate comparative perspective.

Another factor to be aware of is what you can afford to spend on an excess payment. Although opting for a higher excess amount should reduce your monthly premiums a bit, this may expose you to greater financial risk. Consider what your budget would look like if you were to be involved in a car accident – however minor – on the same month you paid for a plane ticket, attended two out-of-town weddings and needed emergency dental surgery?

Rather spend R50 a month more than end up having to cash your personal savings to pay a large excess.

Why it pays to get car insurance online

Getting car insurance quotes saves you time, effort and money. By cutting out the middleman – the traditional car insurance broker, South African insurers can pass on the savings to you, the consumer. Thanks to the use of dynamic call centres and electronic contracts, companies such as Dial Direct are able to offer you direct savings on your monthly car insurance premiums. And, by getting an online car insurance quote from Dial Direct Insurance, you’ll qualify for an automatic 5% discount!

During 2008, for example, both Dial Direct and Dial Direct offered discounted car insurance premiums – with savings of up to 25%! In addition to streamlining their car insurance sign-up process, Dial Direct also gives policyholders the option of accessing and updating their insurance cover policy online via a user-friendly web interface.

How can I save more on car insurance?

There are several ways of reducing your car insurance premiums. Many car insurance companies will offer you a reduced premium if your vehicle is fitted with a tracking device. Parking your car off-street at night and at work, rather than in the street, may also help reduce your premiums.

One of the most effective ways of saving on your car insurance is getting a free insurance quote from one or more of your current insurer’s competitors. Price, rather than soft loyalty benefits, is once again a key priority for cash-strapped South African drivers, and hence you may well be able to get a better deal from other insurers.

The trick, however, is to ensure that you still maintain adequate levels of insurance cover. If you’re buying a new car or your first car, it may be advisable to get something slightly more affordable, rather than maxing your budget on the car and skimping on your car insurance cover. Again, also be sure not to set your car insurance excess amount too high.