What happens if I can't pay my premium:

Your policy must be paid monthly in advance on the agreed date as stated in your Policy Schedule. Most Insurers only accept debit order payments. It is your responsibility to ensure that there are sufficient funds in your bank account so that the debit order can be processed. Depending on the Insurer you are with, they might make a further payment request within the next 7 to 15 days. If no payment is received within the period, your policy will be cancelled and you will have no cover for the period for which you did not pay. Some Insurers will allow a double deduction the following month or if agreed, accept a deposit for the outstanding premium. Refer to your policy documents or contact your broker for further assistance.

What happens if I change address or have any other changes:

Should any of the information contained in your Policy Schedule change, this could affect your cover, the conditions of cover and your premium. You must immediately inform us of these changes. Examples of information changes:

–	Moving to a new residence (temporary or permanent).
–	Changing the regular driver of your insured motor vehicle.
–	Installing a linked alarm system (which could lower your premium).
–	Getting tenants to rent your property.
–	Building a thatch lapa or thatch extension to your home.
–	Upgrading you mobile phone.

What is an excess:

An excess is a specified amount that you are liable to pay in the event of any claim being settled. For example, if you are in an accident and the damage amounts to R20 000, you will pay the first R2 000 (or an amount you chose to pay when your cover started) to the panel beater when you collect your vehicle once it is repaired. The Insurer then pays the difference to the panel beater.

Is there a benefit if I select a voluntary excess:

Yes, this will give you the benefit of a lower premium.

Will my premium increase after a claim:

Some Insurers will guarantee the premium for a year and only adjust the premium after one year, taking into account your claims experience. Other Insurer may choose to increase the premium as soon as of just after the claim is finalised.

What is All Risk cover:

The All Risk cover section provides cover for loss or damage to items you normally wear or carry with you outside your home. This includes items such as your clothing and personal belongings. This product is basically another name for portable possessions insurance and provides cover for your portable items, from your cell phone to your briefcase or handbag and glasses.

Notice period for cancellation:

You may cancel your policy or any item at any time, either telephonically or in writing and this will be with immediate effect. Should you sell your insured vehicle, you may contact us and cancel the insurance immediately. Cover for that vehicle will terminate and we will refund you the related premium for the balance of the insured period. The Insurer may change or cancel your policy by giving you 30 days’ notice to your email or postal address. Any changes will only come into effect after this 30-day notice period has lapsed. If a premium has been paid for any period beyond the date of cancellation of the policy, the relevant portion will be refunded.

Explain the different types of cover available for my car:

Comprehensive Cover: provides the widest cover. It covers loss and damage as a result of: theft and hijacking, accidents, fire or explosion and natural disasters like hail and such as floods.

Comprehensive Vehicle Insurance also includes cover for damage to your vehicle’s glass and liability to other parties (third parties) as a result of an accident.

Third Party, Fire & Theft: Insurance provides the same cover as Comprehensive, but without damages caused to your vehicle by an accident.

Third Party Insurance covers only: liability to other parties and leaves you exposed to risk from theft, accidents and natural disasters.

What is the difference between Retail, Trade and Market value:

Retail Value: is the retail price that the Auto Dealers’ Guide lists for a vehicle of a specific make and model, year, mileage and condition and is an estimate of the price at which most dealers would be able to sell the vehicle to a member of the public. If your vehicle is covered for its Retail Value, and it is either damaged beyond repair, stolen or hijacked without being recovered, the settlement amount will be based on its Retail Value less the relevant excess, which should allow you to replace your vehicle with a similar one.

Trade Value: is the estimate of the Auto Dealers’ Guide of the price that you are likely to get when selling your vehicle to a dealer.

Market value: is the average between Retail and Trade Values. If your vehicle is covered at Market Value then your premium will be lower, but a settlement in the case of a total loss of the vehicle may not quite enable you to purchase a similar vehicle.

Do you provide cover outside the borders of South Africa:

Most policies only covers loss or damage that arises within the Republic of South Africa, Botswana, Lesotho, Mozambique, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland and Zimbabwe, unless otherwise agreed. Refer to your policy document for more information on extended territories with your broker or Insurer.

What is the difference between Private and Business use:

Private Use: is when you use your vehicle for social, domestic or pleasure purposes, and travel to and from work.

Business Use: includes social, domestic or pleasure purposes, driving to and from work and certain professional or business calls (for example, driving to and from business meetings).

How is my premium determined:

There are many factors that impact on the calculation of the risk, and consequently, the premium. Amongst others, these include the make and model of your motor vehicle, where you live, where your vehicle is kept at night, who the driver of the vehicle is, how long you have had a license for, what purpose the vehicle is used for and your previous claims history. It is very important that you are honest when answering these and any other questions we may ask.

Can I insure a vehicle if I don’t own it:

No, the registered owner of the vehicle needs to insure it and specify that you are a regular driver. Alternatively you have to prove your financial interest in the vehicle to the Insurer who will then determine if the vehicle can be insured in your name.

Why do I have to pay the excess when I am not at fault:

An excess is payable whenever a claim is submitted and it is the first payment that needs to be made in the event of a claim – regardless of whether it was your fault or not. If you were not at fault, you can claim the excess amount back from the guilty party. Unfortunately, this can take a long time, especially if the guilty party was not insured. The Insurers legal recoveries department will do their utmost to recover your excess free of charge, but this cannot be guaranteed.

Explain the excess and premiums for young drivers:

Insurance statistics show that older drivers have fewer accidents than younger drivers and that the risk of accidents reduces with age. Age is a factor in the calculation of a premium and younger driver pay a higher premium and in some cases, higher excess than older drivers. This effect on the insurance premium reduces as the drier ages and this will be factored into your annual premium review.

What is a No-Claim Bonus:

A No-Claim Bonus is a reward given to drivers who have not made a claim on their insurance during their policy period, which is usually for one year. This No-Claim Bonus is then translated into a saving on the following year's premium as a reward for not making a claim. For each year the policy holder does not make a claim, they are rewarded with another year's No-Claim Bonus which, when added up, can relate to substantial savings.

How do I determine the value of my household contents:

The best and easiest way is to create an inventory of all of your household contents with the replacement value of the item. The total replacement value of this entire list is the insurable value.

What happens if I am under insured:

You would carry a part of the risk in proportion to the amount that you undervalued your household items. In other words, if the actual value of your household contents is R300 000 and you have cover for R150 000 (50% of the value), you will be covered for 50% of your loss.

What happens if I over insure my contents:

The basic principal of insurance is this: an Insurer should place you back in the SAME position you were in, before you suffered the loss you are claiming for. The idea behind insuring your assets is to financially prepare you for a possible future loss. The Insurer will only replace the items that you lost.

What will my contents be covered against:

The basic insured events are fire, lightning and explosion, storm, wind, earthquake, bursting and leaking of water tanks, pipes and fixed heating apparatus, sudden and violent damage caused by impact, theft and attempted theft whilst inside the private residence, outbuilding and garages and in certain cases: theft while being moved by professional movers or whilst in transit to and from a furniture storage depot. Refer to your policy wording for detailed cover and exclusions.

Should I keep invoices if I purchase household goods:

In the unfortunate event of a household insurance claim, the Insurer can ask you to prove ownership and value of the items you claim for. It is advisable to keep the invoices to ensure that the correct items are quoted on and replaced in the event of a claim.

What is All Risk cover:

The All Risk cover section provides cover for loss or damage to items you normally wear or carry with you outside your home. This includes items such as your clothing and personal belongings. This product is basically another name for portable possessions insurance and provides cover for your portable items, from your cell phone to your briefcase or handbag and glasses.

How do I determine the value of my building:

Buildings are covered on a new for old basis. This means that the Insurer replace old, damaged items with new ones following a claim (e.g. replacing a burst geyser with a new one). In calculating the replacement value of your property, the insurer take into account the costs to demolish damaged structures, removal of the debris, payment for professional and municipal services before any new construction can start. Coupled with these costs are the actual costs for materials and labour. These costs, like many others, are determined by the building industry. It is important to update the replacement costs of the building annually as part of the review of your policy.

What happens if I am under insured:

If, at the time of the loss or damage, the value of your Private Residence, including the cost of demolition and professional fees, is more than the insured amount, you will be responsible for the difference.

What happens if my house is bonded:

If you are still paying the bank or another financial institution for your home loan, you must inform us when taking out a policy and agree to the following should you make a claim for loss or damage caused by a Covered Event to your Private Residence: In the event that your residence is totally destroyed, the Insurer will first pay to the bank or financial institution the amount owing on your home loan or the sum insured – whichever is the lesser amount.

Should I notify you of alterations to my home:

Should you wish to make any alterations to your Private Residence, professional plans must be drawn up and you must receive approval from the relevant public authorities, where necessary. We should be advised to ensure the sum insured is adjusted accordingly.

Why is premiums higher when my house has a thatch roof:

A thatch roof house is significantly more expensive to insure than a standard tile roof due to the higher fire hazard that a thatch roof poses. In fact, any thatch structure on your property such as a lapa could have an impact on the cost of your insurance cover depending on whether it is attached to the main building or the distance it is from the main building. It is essential that the actual plans for the lapa building are logged at the deeds office and approved to avoid any possible repudiation of claims. Extra safety precautions will also need to be implemented to get cover, such as regular fire retardant treatments and lightning conductor rods.

Can I insure my swimming pool pump and gate motor:

Yes, your building insurance includes swimming pools (including fixed filtration plant), tennis courts, Sauna, spa rooms and baths, borehole equipment, gates, walls, fences and driveways, paths and patios constructed of brick, concrete, pavers, asphalt, paving or stone (not gravel).

Is my garages and domestic outbuildings also covered:

The Dwelling means the private residence, its domestic outbuildings and garages situated at the address stated in the policy, includes swimming pools (including fixed filtration plant), tennis courts, Sauna, spa rooms and baths, borehole equipment, gates, walls, fences and driveways, paths and patios constructed of brick, concrete, pavers, asphalt, paving or stone (not gravel).