Fortunately Car Insurance in South Africa is not a complicated affair. There are primarily three types of car insurance. These are Comprehensive Car Insurance, Third Party Fire and Theft and Third Party only.

Comprehensive car insurance provides the widest cover and covers for theft and hijacking, damages due to an accident, fire or explosion and natural disasters like hail and floods. Comprehensive car insurance cover also includes damage to the vehicle’s glass and liability to other parties as a result of an accident.

Third Party Fire and Theft provides insurance cover for any damage you may cause to the vehicle of another person, and the accidental death or injuries of third parties involved in the same accident. You will also be compensated for the loss of your vehicle due to attempted theft, theft or hijacking, as well as any damage to your vehicle that was caused by fire, lightning or explosions.

The main difference between Comprehensive and Third Party Fire and Theft is that your car is not covered against accidental damage. Third Party Fire and Theft is the second most expensive of the three car insurance types.

Third Party Only, the cheapest of the three, provides insurance cover for any damage you may cause to the vehicle of another person, and the accidental death or injuries of third parties involved in the same accident. You have no cover under this insurance type against the loss of, or damage to your own vehicle.