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The questions we answer most about insurance in South Africa
Tap any question to open our assistant — it answers only from our own comparison research, in rands and plain English. Not sure what to ask? Start with how our comparison works.
How CompareInsurance.co.za works
Are you an authorised FSP?
No. We compare and research cover; authorised FSP partners issue the quote and give the advice.
What happens after I request a quote?
You give a few details and POPIA consent, we match you to the relevant authorised FSP partner, and they call you back — usually within one business day.
How do you rank insurers?
A weighted score built from customer rating, claims turnaround and average premium, reviewed monthly. See our methodology page for the full breakdown.
How is my personal information protected?
We only share your details with the partner matched to your request, never sell data, and you can withdraw consent at any time.
More detail: How we compare, Methodology, How rankings work, Data protection.
Car Insurance questions
Compare car insuranceComprehensive, third party & roadside · from R249/pm
How do I get car insurance quotes in South Africa?
Enter your vehicle, driving history and postcode once and we request quotes from up to 12 South African insurers in parallel. You compare premium, excess and claims turnaround side by side before speaking to anyone — the comparison itself is free and your details are never sold to brokers.
How long do car insurance quotes stay valid?
Most South African insurers hold a quoted premium for 14 to 30 days. Re-quote after that, or after any change in address, vehicle use or driver profile, because rating factors are recalculated at inception.
Is it worth comparing car insurance every year?
Yes. Premiums drift as your car depreciates and your claims history changes, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive insurer for an identical driver profile is routinely 30–40%. An annual comparison saves the average South African R1,800–R2,500 a year.
What is the cheapest car insurance in South Africa?
Entry-level comprehensive cover typically starts near R249 per month for an older vehicle in a lower-risk metro, usually from budget-tier insurers such as King Price, Budget Insurance or Dialdirect. Cheapest is not always best value — a R6,000 excess can cost you more on a single claim than three years of premium savings.
What does comprehensive car insurance cover in South Africa?
Accident damage to your car, theft, hijacking, hail and storm damage, fire, and third-party liability if you damage someone else's car or property.
Do I need a tracker for car insurance in SA?
Most insurers require an approved tracking device for vehicles valued above R250,000 or for higher-risk metros like Johannesburg and Pretoria. Below that, it's usually optional but earns a premium discount.
Life Cover questions
Compare life coverSecure your family up to R50m · from R180/pm
How much does life insurance cost in South Africa?
R1 million of cover for a healthy 35-year-old non-smoker is around R180–R260 per month. Smoking, age and existing conditions are the biggest premium drivers — the same cover for a 45-year-old smoker can exceed R600 per month.
How much life cover do I need in South Africa?
A common rule is 10–15× your annual income, plus enough to settle your bond and any debt. Families with young children should err on the higher end.
Is life cover taxed in South Africa?
Pay-outs to a nominated beneficiary are tax-free in your beneficiary's hands but may attract estate duty if paid into your estate. Naming a beneficiary directly is usually more tax-efficient.
What's the difference between term and whole-of-life cover?
Term cover runs for a fixed period (e.g. 20 years) and is cheap. Whole-of-life cover never expires and builds value, but costs significantly more for the same sum assured.
Can I get life cover with a pre-existing condition?
Usually yes, but you may face a premium loading, an exclusion for that specific condition, or both. Honest disclosure at application is critical — non-disclosure is the most common reason claims get rejected.
Funeral Cover questions
Compare funeral cover48-hour payouts, no medicals · from R55/pm
What is funeral cover and how does it work in South Africa?
Funeral cover is a small-sum life policy that pays a tax-free lump sum, usually within 48 hours of a validated claim, to cover burial or cremation costs. Cover is capped at R100,000 per insured life, requires no medicals, and carries a standard six-month waiting period for death from natural causes.
How much does funeral cover cost per month in South Africa?
R30,000 of cover for a single adult runs roughly R65–R120 per month. A family plan covering two adults and four children at R30,000 each costs R200–R350 per month, and adding parents or in-laws typically adds R70–R160 per life depending on their age.
Why do funeral cover prices differ so much between insurers?
Insurers price on the ages of every insured life, the payout amount, whether funeral services are bundled, and how premiums escalate later in life. Two plans quoting the same R50,000 payout can differ by more than R150 a month once age-65 escalation clauses are taken into account.
Who can I add to a family funeral cover plan?
Most South African insurers allow a spouse, children including stillborn, parents, in-laws and extended family — some plans go up to 21 lives on a single policy. Each additional adult life is individually rated and starts its own waiting period.
How quickly does funeral cover pay out in SA?
Most South African insurers pay valid claims within 48 hours of receiving a death certificate, the claim form and proof of relationship.
Can I get funeral cover with no medical exam?
Yes — funeral cover up to R100,000 per life is guaranteed-acceptance in SA. Insurers offset this risk with a 6-month waiting period for natural death.
Medical Aid questions
Compare medical aidHospital plans, gap cover & savings · from R1 250/pm
How should I compare medical aid schemes in South Africa?
Compare on four things in order: hospital network, chronic-medication formulary, day-to-day benefit structure, and co-payments on planned procedures. Premium is the last filter, because a cheaper option with a restricted network often costs more out of pocket.
What is the cheapest medical aid in South Africa?
Entry-level hospital plans from Bonitas, Momentum and Fedhealth start around R1,250 per adult per month, but cover varies — always compare the schedule of benefits, not just the price.
Do I need gap cover with medical aid?
Yes, in most cases. Specialists often charge 300–500% of the scheme's tariff. Gap cover (R200–R450 per month for a family) closes that shortfall.
What are Prescribed Minimum Benefits (PMBs)?
PMBs are 271 conditions and 26 chronic diseases that every registered medical scheme in SA must cover in full, regardless of your plan option. They include emergencies, major surgeries and chronic illnesses like diabetes.
Can my medical aid reject me?
Open schemes cannot reject you on health grounds, but they can apply a 3-month general waiting period, a 12-month condition-specific waiting period, and a late-joiner penalty if you join after 35.
Home & Buildings questions
Compare home & buildingsBuilding, contents, all-risks · from R195/pm
How much is home insurance in South Africa?
Buildings cover on a R2 million home is typically R200–R350 per month, while contents-only cover for a two-bedroom apartment runs R90–R180. Insure for rebuild cost rather than market value — underinsurance is the single most common reason home claims are reduced.
Is home insurance compulsory in South Africa?
Buildings cover is compulsory if you have a mortgage bond — the bank requires it. Contents and all-risks cover are optional but cover the bulk of what you'd actually claim for.
Does home insurance cover load shedding damage?
Power-surge damage to appliances is covered by most insurers, but check the limit. Some insurers exclude consequential damage (e.g. spoiled food) unless you specifically add it.
What's the difference between buildings and contents cover?
Buildings cover protects the physical structure — walls, roof, fixtures. Contents cover protects everything that would fall out if you turned the house upside down — furniture, appliances, clothing.
Business Insurance questions
Compare business insuranceSME liability & asset cover · from R420/pm
What business insurance do South African SMEs need?
Most SMEs start with public liability, asset and business-interruption cover, then add professional indemnity if they give advice and contract works cover if they build. Package policies start near R420 per month for a small trader.
What insurance does a small business in SA legally need?
There is no single mandatory business insurance, but Workmen's Compensation (COIDA) is compulsory for any business with employees, and most landlords and clients contractually require public liability cover.
What is SASRIA cover?
SASRIA is a state-owned insurer that covers riot, strike, civil commotion and politically-motivated damage in South Africa. It's bought as a separate top-up to a standard commercial policy.
Travel Insurance questions
Compare travel insuranceInternational & regional · from R95/trip
Do South Africans need travel insurance for a Schengen visa?
Yes — Schengen applications require proof of at least €30,000 in medical and repatriation cover valid across all Schengen states. Compliant single-trip policies from South African providers start around R95 per trip.
Mobile & Gadgets questions
Compare mobile & gadgetsPhones, laptops, wearables · from R39/pm
Is cellphone insurance worth it in South Africa?
For devices above roughly R8,000 it usually is — cover from R39 per month protects against theft, loss and accidental damage, which network warranties exclude. Check the excess, which is often 10% of the claim value.
Pet Insurance questions
Compare pet insuranceVet bills, accidents & illness · from R150/pm
How much does pet insurance cost in South Africa?
Accident-only cover for a young dog or cat starts around R150 per month. Comprehensive plans that also pay for illness, chronic medication and routine care typically run R300–R600 per month, rising with the pet's age and breed risk.
Does pet insurance cover pre-existing conditions?
No. South African pet insurers exclude any condition that showed symptoms before cover started, and most apply a waiting period of around 30 days for illness and 2 to 6 months for conditions such as hip dysplasia or cruciate ligament injuries.
What should I compare between pet insurance quotes?
Compare the annual claim limit, the per-condition sub-limits, the co-payment percentage you carry on each vet bill, whether illness and chronic medication are included, and the waiting periods. Two plans at the same monthly premium can differ by thousands of rand on a single surgery.
Is dog insurance worth it in South Africa?
A single cruciate ligament repair or foreign-body surgery commonly costs R15,000–R35,000 at a South African veterinary hospital, which is why owners of young dogs usually get the most value. Insuring before the first illness matters more than the premium, because anything already diagnosed is excluded.
What does pet insurance cover in South Africa?
Accident plans cover injuries such as fractures, bite wounds and swallowed objects. Comprehensive plans add illness consultations, diagnostics, hospitalisation and surgery, and some add routine care such as vaccinations and dentistry as a separate benefit.
Can I use my own vet?
Yes. South African pet insurers reimburse against a paid invoice from any registered veterinarian, so you are not restricted to a network practice.
Knowledge topics behind the answers
Every answer is grounded in this published research. Read the source pages in full.
Insurance explained
- What is excess on a South African insurance policy?
- How insurance premiums are calculated in South Africa
- Why insurance claims get rejected in South Africa
- How no-claims bonuses work in South Africa
- How funeral cover works in South Africa
- How medical aid waiting periods work in South Africa
- What is gap cover and do you need it in South Africa?
- South African insurance terms, explained simply
- How to escalate an insurance complaint in South Africa
Head-to-head comparisons
South African market insights
- Hijacking hotspots and what they mean for your premium
- Hailstorm season — why Gauteng and KZN drivers pay more
- Load shedding and your insurance — what's actually covered
- Funeral cover and the South African family — cultural considerations
- Insurance for Uber, Bolt and delivery drivers in South Africa
- Insurance affordability in South Africa — what's actually possible on a tight budget