Top tips to ensure your car insurance works for you

Johannesburg - Every year, South African roads and highways see countless car accidents. In between, motorists also face a slew of other risks – theft, hijacking and pedestrian incidents, all of which could become serious financial setbacks. This is the gap that car insurance can fill, but paying your premium on time isn't the only way to protect your vehicle. Ensuring that your car insurance remains intact, should it become necessary to claim, is just as important. A few, simple, proactive measures can help you do that.

Providing his advice on this topic is Ryno de Kock, Head of Distribution at PSG Insure, who suggests that car owners bear the following factors in mind.

Responsible driving pays off

When assessing the validity of a claim, insurers take a close look at any liability on the part of both parties. This includes whether you were driving under the influence of alcohol, if you were following the rules of the road at the time of the incident, as well as whether you engaged in any reckless driving or speeding. These are all illegal activities and could lead to a claim being repudiated.

"For this reason, driving carefully and lawfully is not only a way to protect your life, your vehicle and the lives of others. It's also a way to ensure that in the event of claim, you have the cover you need to repair or replace your car without any delays, unnecessary disruptions or having to worry about your claim being rejected," says de Kock.

Keep an eye on your tyres

With winter weather now in full swing, an important factor to keep in mind is tyre tread, which is a major determinant of a car's traction and road holding capability, especially in wet and slippery conditions. South Africa's National Road Traffic Act specifies that the minimum legal tread depth for any vehicle is 1mm. However, it is recommended that you replace your tyres when your tread-wear indicators become visible, which is usually around 1.6mm.  

In the event of an accident, if your tyre tread is found to be under this legal minimum or other defects are discovered, this could lead to a 'wear and tear' claim repudiation on the grounds that you failed to perform the necessary maintenance on your tyres to ensure optimal safety.

Don't neglect regular maintenance and checks

The standard recommendation for maintaining a vehicle is to service it at least once annually or after every 15 000 kms. As de Kock explains: "If a vehicle has not been properly maintained and a mechanical issue leads to an accident, your insurer may ask to review your service history. If you haven't kept up with these basic maintenance requirements, your claim may not be processed or paid out."

Apart from on-time servicing, other important maintenance checks include replacing your windscreen wipers (for optimal visibility), checking your engine oil level and making sure that your dashboard warning lights remain functional.

Bump up your car's security

In previous years, motorists relied on measures such as steering wheel locks and basic alarm systems to secure their vehicles. Unfortunately, with the rate of vehicle crime skyrocketing, car owners need a lot more. Installing a tracking device – and in some cases, two – is one of the most effective ways of securing a vehicle and can also be a minimum requirement for certain vehicles that are at a higher risk of theft and hijacking.

Leverage the value of professional advice

In taking all these factors into consideration, de Kock urges car owners to always use reputable and qualified professionals for any maintenance, repair, added security measures or modification work.

"The advice of an insurance professional in all cases that involves your insured possessions could prove more valuable than you may think. If you're considering buying a new car, your insurer may be able to provide you with credible statistics on brands that are most prone to crime.

Your adviser will also be able to offer you sound advice on how to secure your particular vehicle effectively and most importantly, how to make your insurance policy work for you as your needs and lifestyle changes," de Kock concludes.