Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Car Inusrance For South Africans

By Tom Martens

The South African car insurance market has some unique challenges. For the most part, South Africans have the choice of buying car insurance or not, so that translates into a majority of the countrys drivers operating uninsured vehicles. South Africa is also a very risky place to drive. It often leads the world in the number of traffic injuries and deaths each year.

This combination of a risky driving environment and the alarming number of uninsured drivers has led to high insurance premiums for responsible drivers looking for auto cover.

Although it is the most costly form of insurance cover, Comprehensive Cover provides the highest form of protection of all the other insurance covers. The cover includes protection not provided by the other two other forms of cover, Third Party and Third Party Fire and Theft. Third Party covers you in case there is damage another persons property in an accident or a person is injured in a mishap that you are responsible for. Third Party Fire and Theft covers you when your vehicle is destroyed by fire or is stolen. Comprehensive Cover on the other hand is an all inclusive cover. It covers damage to your car, medical expenses and replacement of broken glass

This may not mean much to you right now. But when you realize that each time you get behind the wheel, you take the risk of damage to your car, to yourself, and to other people and property into your own hands, driving without insurance is really a frightening idea. Can you afford to repair or replace your car if you are in an accident? If you cause an accident, can you afford to repair or replace someone elses car or property? What if your car is stolen, hijacked or vandalized? If you cant afford to pay for these things out of your pocket, you need insurance.

Now that youre aware of your need for insurance, take some time to learn about the options you have to lower your premiums.

One of the most influential factors is your driving record. If you have a spotty driving record, you will represent a greater risk to the insurance company, and your premiums will reflect that. Fortunately, if you keep and maintain a clean driving record, your premiums will start to go down. Drivers who already have a good driving record can receive discounts for each claim-free year.

When insuring a car, the a major factor is the type of vehicle. Higher risks are assigned to high performance vehicles. Also, insurance for luxury cars will cost more because they are more expensive to repair or replace.

Some insurances allow for lesser rates if you make your car more safe. Consider putting in a GPX or extra locks to hold down insurance costs.

Compare insurance rates by requesting quotes online. You will find the most competitive rates and may even receive a discount for purchasing online! Bear in mind that the lowest priced insurance policy does not always offer the best coverage. Evaluate your insurance needs and select the policy that covers you best while keeping your rates as low as possible. - 15224

About the Author: