How to Get Cheaper Car Insurance in South Africa (Without Getting Your Claim Rejected)

By Finance Guide Editors Updated October 2026 · 6 sources · 5 min read

Prices and facts checked 16 October 2026. We don't accept payment for rankings.

Short answer: the quickest savings usually come from comparing quotes every year, insuring your car for its current value, raising your voluntary excess (if you can afford it) and asking about tracker or low-mileage discounts. But the cheapest premium is worthless if your claim is rejected. Non-disclosure, such as not declaring a regular driver or a previous claim, is one of the top reasons motor claims end up at the Ombud (Santam; Moonstone on the Ombud's 2023 report).

10 ways to lower your premium

1. Compare quotes every year, then ask your insurer to match. Get two or three quotes for the same cover and excess, then ask your current insurer to match or beat the best one (BusinessTech/WesBank).
2. Insure for today's value. Cars lose value every year, so review your cover annually and after any big life change (Santam). Ask whether you're insured for retail, market or trade value, and what you'd be paid if the car were written off.
3. Raise your voluntary excess, carefully. A higher excess lowers your premium, but you pay more when you claim. Only do this if you have that amount saved.
4. Tell your insurer about a tracking device. A tracker may lower your premium. Compare the discount with the monthly tracking subscription, because sometimes the saving doesn't cover it.
5. Ask about low-mileage or behaviour discounts. Some insurers reward you for driving less. For example, Santam's SmartPark offers up to 20% off premiums.
6. Bundle car and home insurance with one insurer. Combined policies are often cheaper.
7. Improve security and update your address. A locked garage or secure complex lowers theft risk. Moving to a safer area can lower your premium, but only if your insurer knows about it.
8. Don't claim for small damage. Claiming for stone chips or parking dings builds a claims history that can push up future premiums. Pay small repairs yourself if they cost less than your excess plus the likely premium increase.
9. Avoid gaps in cover. Cancelling insurance, even briefly, can count against you when you get new quotes.
10. Consider an advanced driving course. Some insurers see trained drivers as lower risk. Ask before you book.

Why motor claims get rejected

In 2023, motor claims were a large share of complaints to the Ombudsman for Short-term Insurance: 2,887 of 12,188 complaints. The most common reasons insurers gave for rejecting motor claims were (Moonstone):

The second-biggest category of motor complaints wasn't a rejection at all. It was a dispute about how much the insurer paid out.

How to avoid non-disclosure problems

• Name the regular driver. If someone else drives your car most days, such as a partner or a child, declare them. Saying you're the main driver to get a cheaper premium is a classic reason for rejected claims.
• Declare previous claims and losses for the period the insurer asks about, usually the last few years, even claims with another insurer.
• Tell the insurer about changes: a new address, where you park at night, business use, or modifications to the car.
• Read back your policy schedule. When it arrives, check every answer recorded. If something's wrong, fix it in writing straight away.

If your claim is rejected

1. Ask for the reasons in writing, and the policy clause the insurer is relying on.
2. Object to the insurer first. Use its internal complaints process, and keep a timeline of every call, email and promise (Daily Maverick).
3. Escalate to the National Financial Ombud (NFO). It's free. The NFO now handles short-term insurance complaints, along with banking, credit and long-term insurance. You must have complained to your insurer first (NFO).
4. Watch the deadlines. Time limits are set in your policy. For example, one insurer gives 90 days to object to a rejection, then six months to go to the NFO or court, after which the right falls away (Pineapple). Check your own policy's disclosure notice.

The NFO returned almost R443 million to consumers in its second year (Daily Maverick, June 2026). Complaining is worth doing if you have a genuine case.

NFO contact: 0860 800 900, or WhatsApp +27 76 574 8055 (NFO).

FAQ

How can I make my car insurance cheaper in South Africa?

Compare quotes every year, insure for the car's current value, raise your voluntary excess if you can afford to, declare security features such as a tracker or garage, and ask about low-mileage or bundling discounts.

Does a tracking device lower car insurance?

It may. Tell your insurer once it's installed and ask for a revised quote, then compare the discount with the tracker's monthly fee.

What happens if I don't declare a regular driver?

Your insurer may reject a claim for non-disclosure if the undeclared person was driving or regularly uses the car. Non-disclosure is one of the most common reasons for rejected motor claims.

Should I claim for small damage?

Often not. If the repair costs little more than your excess, claiming can raise future premiums by more than you'd get back.

Where can I complain about a rejected car insurance claim?

First complain to your insurer. If that doesn't resolve it, go to the National Financial Ombud Scheme. It's free: call 0860 800 900 or use nfosa.co.za.

Is there a time limit to dispute a rejected claim?

Yes. It's set in your policy, and can be as short as 90 days to object and six months to escalate. Check your policy's disclosure notice as soon as a claim is rejected.

Changelog: 16 Oct 2026, first published.