Claims
How to claim on your insurance in South Africa (and avoid having it rejected)
Roughly 1 in 7 SA insurance claims is repudiated. Most rejections are avoidable — here's the step-by-step.
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Overview
The Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance reports that roughly 14% of SA claims are initially rejected. The top three rejection reasons are: non-disclosure at policy inception, lapsed premiums and material change of risk (e.g. moved address, changed regular driver) not communicated.
How claims pricing works in SA
Step one when you have a loss: report to the SAPS within 24 hours and obtain a case number. Step two: notify your insurer within 30 days (most policies require this — late notification is the #4 rejection reason).
Key factors to compare
Document everything with photos and keep all original receipts. For motor claims, get the assessor's report in writing and the salvage valuation before agreeing to settlement.
What to do next
If your claim is rejected and you believe unfairly, escalate to the Ombudsman for Short-Term Insurance (free service) — they overturn roughly 30% of rejections referred to them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does claims cover cost in South Africa?+
Premiums vary by insurer, risk profile and product. The fastest way to benchmark is to compare matched quotes from multiple providers — see our claims comparison.
Which insurers should I compare for claims?+
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Is comparing quotes free?+
Yes. CompareInsurance.co.za is free, independent and POPIA-compliant. We never sell your details — we match you with FSCA-licensed providers only.
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Reviewed by SA-licensed FSCA broker panel. Editorial is independent of our commercial relationships — see our methodology.