Whether you are navigating through bustling highways and suburban streets or embarking on a longer trip to a long-awaited holiday destination, knowing you are prepared for whatever you might encounter on the road, makes the journey far more enjoyable.
Comprehensive car insurance does just that: it gives you peace-of-mind that whatever mishaps you may encounter, many of which may be beyond your control, you have the highest level of safeguards for your vehicle.
At Santam we aim to demystify comprehensive car insurance, empowering you to make informed decisions tailored to your specific needs.
So, what exactly does comprehensive insurance entail, and how does it benefit you? Unlike basic types of vehicle cover options, (fire, theft and third-party cover, or third- party only cover), comprehensive insurance presents an extensive range of financial coverage against a vast number of risks, on and off the road. Not only does it cover third party, fire, and theft, but also the cost of repair or replacement of your vehicle (at fair market value limited to the insured amount), and that of other’s if anyone makes a claim against you for an incident that you may have unintentionally caused.
Non-collision events like hail damage, break-ins, smash-and-grab incidents, and other malicious acts are also covered under comprehensive insurance.
One crucial aspect to note is that with comprehensive coverage, your out-of-pocket expenses are minimised, as stipulated in your Santam policy's terms and conditions.
What comprehensive insurance won’t cover
Regardless of which insurance supplier you use, comprehensive insurance does not cover wear and tear such as tyres, vehicle depreciation, nor mechanical breakdowns. Neither will it cover any event damage resulting from driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or if the damage occurs while committing a criminal act. Many comprehensive vehicle insurers also don’t provide roadside assistance, nor rental car reimbursement, although this is not the case with Santam.
Santam value-adds
Santam’s comprehensive insurance goes above and beyond to provide additional layers of protection. From roadside assistance and emergency household repairs to legal advice and trauma treatment, we ensure you're covered in a diverse range of scenarios, both on the road and at home. Those include:
- Six different types of free SOS services for Santam personal lines policyholders, such as roadside assistance, a drive-home service or emergency household repairs;
- Car hire when your vehicle is out of action due to a valid claim
- Free legal advice or route assistance over the phone;
- Replacement costs for locks, keys and remote controls;
- Recovery costs for found vehicles following theft or hijacking;
- Emergency accommodation;
- Emergency costs payable to public authorities;
- Trauma treatment;
- Medical expenses of passengers (your family); and
- In the event of a valid claim and your vehicle is deemed uneconomical to repair or stolen and the age of the vehicle from the date of its first registration is less than 12 months or has travelled less than 30,000 kilometres, Santam will replace your vehicle with a new similar make and model.
Bespoke service
Santam encourages you to discuss your insurance needs with us, so we can design a policy best suited to your specific lifestyle. As with other insurers, you are able to decide how much compensation you want to receive if your car is stolen or written off, locking in a guaranteed value which will ensure compensation for the insured amount of the vehicle. You can also structure your policy’s excess in the event of a claim, meaning how much you are prepared to contribute for the uninsured portion of the loss. A low excess means a higher monthly premium, and vice versa. At Santam you also have the additional benefit of not paying an excess for your insured vehicle if the policy holder is over the age of 55.
However, unlike many insurers, when Santam structures your comprehensive insurance, we will also provide you with an opportunity to align all your insurance policies with other Santam offerings. This level of insurance demonstrates our unwavering commitment to our policyholders, which provides the utmost protection to you, your family, and your possessions.
Speak to your intermediary or contact us on 0860 444 444 if you have any questions about comprehensive car insurance. Remember: if you’re an existing Santam client, you can add policies and make any changes on the Santam client portal.