The best car insurance companies will offer a combination of great service, premium quality and excellent value for money.
In order to find the best car insurance company for your circumstances, you need to understand what makes one car insurance company different from another.
This is why it is important to shop around and compare quotes before settling on a policy.
There are a number of car insurance companies in South Africa that offer both private passengers cover and commercial coverage.
The different types of policies available include third-party cover, fire and theft, comprehensive, accident cover and medical aid cover.
Choosing a car insurance company is a decision that can save you money or put you in a financial bind.
Many people are not aware of how to choose the best insurance company for their needs or even what they really need.
Insurance companies differ in the products they offer and the cost of those products. When choosing an insurance company, do your research so that you can find one that offers the products and services you need at prices you can afford.
It is not just the cost of the policy that you need to consider but all the additional benefits as well. Some insurers will offer more than others when it comes to additional perks such as no-claim bonuses, cashless garages and warranties.
Insurance companies may also offer lower premiums for having a security system fitted to your vehicle, as well as for driving under certain conditions such as defensive driving courses.
Be sure to ask each insurer if they offer any of these additional benefits before making a decision on which car insurance company you choose to buy from.
Car Insurance Companies in South Africa
The best South African car insurance companies are those that offer you one of the cheapest premiums, while also compensating you in the event of an accident.
In this article, we will look at 12 of the best car insurance companies in South Africa, based on customer satisfaction and affordability.
In order to rank the top 12 car insurance companies in South Africa, we need to look at three different things; value for money, customer service and client satisfaction.
Value for money is a combination of the price a client pays for their car insurance policy, and how much they get compensated if they have an accident or are victims of theft.
Client satisfaction is measured by asking clients how likely they were to recommend their insurer to a friend or colleague.
Customer service is the client’s experiences with their insurer in terms of how easy it was to make a claim, how long it took for them to process the claim and how good their communication is (phone calls, emails and social media).
How to Choose the Best Car Insurance Company?
One of the most confusing and difficult things to manage after an accident is to find the best car insurance company that will suit your needs and provide you with the right protection.
There are quite a few companies in South Africa that offer insurance, but not all of them can give you the right kind of coverage.
Here are some tips on how to find the right car insurance company for your situation:
Comparing car insurance quotes
Comparing car insurance quotes requires a little research upfront. The good news is that, once you’ve got it done, you’ll have the information you need to make an informed decision.
To get the best deal, shop around. Don’t just go with the first quote you find — keep looking until you find a policy that provides good value for money and meets your needs.
Brand reputation
Although all insurers offer more or less the same product, brand reputation and past experience do play a role in attracting customers.
Some companies have a better brand image than others and this can influence your decision when choosing an insurer.
Insurance coverages
Compare the coverages offered by various plans available in the market before zeroing down on any one particular plan.
Ask your agent or insurer to explain the various benefits included in your plan and also clarify whether they are optional or compulsory.
Check whether your car insurance policy covers all types of damage or accidental expenses regarding your car, including collision, theft, fire, flood, etc.
Other things to consider
- Choose between the annual or monthly payment
- Know what you are purchasing before you buy it.
- Check out customer reviews on the internet if you can find any
- 3rd party liability
- Add-ons in the policy
- No-claim bonus
- Anti-theft devices
- Discounts
Best Car Insurance Companies in South Africa
1. King Price Car Insurance
The best car insurance company in South Africa is King Price. They offer both personal and commercial cover.
Personal cover is designed to protect you, your passenger, and any third party involved in an accident that occurs while you are driving.
This cover will also help to repair your vehicle if it has been damaged in an accident or if it has been stolen.
The commercial cover is designed to protect your business, its stock, assets and employees against damages or losses arising from any claims or damages that may occur during the course of operating your business.
For many drivers, King Price is the most cost-effective option. This is why it gets the number one spot on our list of best car insurance companies in South Africa.
If you have a good driving record and are paying your policy off in full, this is a great choice.
King Price offers coverage for all vehicle types which includes cars, trucks, buses, taxis, trailers, motorcycles, mopeds, scooters etc. They can even insure vintage vehicles.
2. AA Car Insurance
AA Insurance is one of the leading car insurance providers in South Africa established in 1910 by the Automobile Association in South Africa, offering comprehensive cover for all types of vehicles.
AA Insurance has been protecting South Africans for over 133 years and offers a full range of insurance products to match your lifestyle.
The company offers insurance products and services to customers in all nine provinces of South Africa, including compulsory third-party liability, comprehensive motor vehicle insurance, personal accident cover and funeral funds.
The AA is not an insurance company but a consumer association that provides specialised motor vehicle insurance products as well as general insurance services.
When you’re shopping for the best car insurance companies in South Africa, AA Insurance is one of the most trusted brands that you can choose from.
3. DialDirect Car Insurance
When you go shopping for car insurance, you’ll find that the competition is fierce. Despite this, there are some insurers that stand out from the crowd by providing excellent service and value for money.
DIAL Direct Insurance is in business for about 14, and it has been rated as one of the top five insurance companies in South Africa. It will provide you with good service and competitive pricing.
Dial Direct provides a range of different car insurance products to suit all kinds of needs including business vehicle insurance, personal vehicle insurance, and fleet vehicle insurance.
You can get an instant auto insurance quote online at Dialdirect.co.za. This website will give you a good idea of how much it will cost to insure your vehicle.
The website also offers additional information about auto insurance and its coverage options.
4. Discovery Car Insurance
Discovery South Africa is the best auto insurance company in South Africa and one of the most trustworthy companies in the country.
Discovery Car Insurance offers comprehensive as well as third-party liability insurance packages for your vehicle that can be customized to fit your needs.
They also offer instant online quotes and a range of payment methods.
Some people might think that because it is a well-known insurance company, it will cost them more money.
This is not true when it comes to car insurance and even if you have had some past accidents or violations on your record, they will still be able to offer you affordable car insurance rates.
Most people pay for their car insurance once a year but with Discovery Car Insurance, you can choose how often you want to pay for it and whether monthly or quarterly payments suit your budget better.
5. Momentum Car Insurance
Over the past couple of years, Momentum has made great strides in terms of customer service.
Having said that, it’s still important to note that the company does not insure high-performance vehicles – in other words, those with an engine capacity of over 3.0 litres.
So if you’re a fan of fast cars and fancy yourself as a bit of a speed demon, you’d be better off with one of the big players.
If on the other hand, you drive a small hatchback or something similar and don’t have any major violations on your record, you may want to consider Momentum because they offer competitive insurance rates without sacrificing much in terms of quality service.
Momentum is a member of the MMI Holdings Limited financial services group, so you can expect quality service.
The Momentum brand offers home loans, life and medical insurance, investment products and savings accounts, as well as car insurance for all kinds of vehicles.
6. MMI Car Insurance
Insurance is, without a doubt, one of the most popular car insurance companies in South Africa. In fact, it’s so popular that it has more than a million customers who insure their vehicles through this company alone.
The company is based in Johannesburg and its main products are comprehensive motor insurance and breakdown cover.
MMI also offers car hire excess insurance to protect you in the event that you’re found liable for damage or theft of a vehicle.
This type of policy gives you financial protection should your vehicle be stolen or damaged by an uninsured driver or if you cause an accident that leads to someone else’s vehicle being wrecked or damaged.
You can get 24-hour roadside assistance through MMI and they give you free emergency repairs on their policies if you have an accident while on holiday abroad.
This means that if your vehicle breaks down while you’re on your travels and you need to have your car towed back to your home country, MMI will cover these costs as well as any excess charges that may occur when you get back home.
7. MiWay Car Insurance
Choosing an insurance company is a very important decision. Insurance can mean the difference between living and dying.
Everyone needs to have an insurance policy that suits their needs.
As the first South African-based direct insurance company to offer short-term insurance policies online, MiWay Insurance offers a wide range of car, home and business insurance packages.
Tired of spending hours on the phone with an insurance broker trying to navigate through all the options?
At MiWay, there’s no need to do that. You can purchase your policy online in mere minutes and begin enjoying the peace of mind that comes with having all your bases covered.
MiWay partners with some of the biggest and most trusted names in the insurance industry, including Discovery Insure, Santam and Sanlam, so you know you’re getting a great deal on your policy.
The company also offers a range of flexible payment options, so it’s never been easier to get affordable protection for your vehicle, home or business assets.
8. Outsurance Car Insurance
Outsurance car insurance is one of the most trusted brands in South Africa. They have won awards for their customer service, but also for the services they provide to their clients.
They provide specialized insurance products that suit your needs, at affordable rates.
Travelling abroad? You can get a special International Policy to protect yourself and your vehicle while you are away.
This policy covers you with sufficient funds should you go over budget on your trip.
Outsurance has various cover options for you and your vehicle no matter what your lifestyle choice may be.
For example, if you are a motorist that likes to ride in the fast lane, then Black Label is the ideal choice for you.
This policy includes all risk coverage on a 24-hour basis. In addition, they offer an option called Flexi which allows you to customize your insurance based on how much of a risk taker you are when it comes to driving.
If you are not as daring with driving or just want to make sure that if anything happens, your car is safe and sound, then their Classic policy is the right option for you.
It offers comprehensive coverage at competitive rates and has a no-claims bonus reduction clause that rewards safe drivers with lower premiums over time.
9. Santam Car Insurance
If you are one of the many South African drivers who are planning on getting their own car this year, it’s important to ensure that once you get your driver’s license, you can also get a great car insurance plan.
Santam has been offering car insurance in South Africa for many years. It is a well-established company that has been operating since 1957.
The company offers a wide range of vehicle insurance products and services to both individuals and corporate clients.
Santam offers comprehensive, third-party cover, third-party fire and theft cover, motor legal protection, personal accident cover, breakdown assistance and many other extras.
10. 1st for Women Car Insurance
There is a car insurance policy to suit every driver. Here are the best car insurance companies in South Africa in terms of coverage and value for money:
1st for Women Car Insurance, part of the Moneyweb group, is a general insurer that caters exclusively to women. It provides fully comprehensive car insurance for ladies and non-motorists aged 25 years or older.
It also offers insurance for bikers and all-terrain vehicles (ATVs). 1st for Women was launched in 2009 as a joint venture between FirstRand Bank and Old Mutual, which owns 49% of the company.
In 2013 it was bought by SWICA, which owns 100% of 1st for Women. The insurer has more than 140 000 customers, who are mostly in Gauteng and the Western Cape.
1st for Women aims to offer customers excellent service at no extra cost — it doesn’t charge any administration fees when you buy your policy or make changes to your cover.
It holds an AA rating and is among the cheapest providers in South Africa with regard to premiums.
The maximum annual premium that can be charged to a female driver under 25 years old is R14 950, while a mature driver can pay up to R30 000 per year.
11. Liberty Car Insurance
The Liberty Insurance Group is a top South African insurer with over 130 years of experience in the local market, offering a range of tailored products for the needs of both individuals and businesses alike.
Liberty offers a wide range of insurance products for both personal and business use.
Liberty car Insurance offers comprehensive and third-party liability cover for cars, bakkies, light trucks and motor homes.
Liberty’s core business is to provide competitively priced products through a combination of innovative technology, commercially astute underwriting and high-quality customer service.
It provides 24/7 claims service to its customers by utilising an online claims portal, with more than 45 000 claims serviced successfully since inception.
12. Metlife Car Insurance
MetLife Car Insurance is one of the most expensive and comprehensive auto insurance in South Africa. It offers coverage for death, personal liability, fire and theft and third-party property damage.
This is comprehensive insurance that offers some of the best coverage. The customer service offered by MetLife is also pretty good as they are available 24/7 and can be reached easily.
Buy car insurance in South Africa from MetLife and enjoy the peace of mind that comes with having a trusted insurer backing you up.
MetLife understands that there’s more on the line than just your car when you step into the driver’s seat.
That’s why they’ve developed a comprehensive range of policies to safeguard you, your passengers, your vehicle and other road users against any eventuality.
Final Thoughts
This brings us to the end of our reviews of the top five car insurance companies in South Africa.
What we can say is that each of these companies offers a high standard of service and gives fantastic value for money.
It can be difficult to compare South African car insurance providers as they all have different coverage options, and at different prices.
But ultimately, it’s more to do with which company you feel more comfortable with, and what is important for you in terms of coverage and price.
After all, this is something that you’ll be paying for every year (and hopefully not often!).
And if you’re looking to save money on your car insurance this year, the tips we outlined above should really help.