Side-by-side: what each policy actually pays
| Scenario | Comprehensive | TPF&T | Third-party only |
|---|---|---|---|
| You crash into a wall | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Someone steals your car | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Your car catches fire | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| You hit a Range Rover | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hailstorm damages roof | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| Hijacked at gunpoint | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Pothole damages rim | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
| You're flooded in KZN | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ |
The 4-question decision framework
- Is the car financed? → Comprehensive is contractually required.
- Is the car worth more than 18 months of your gross income? → Comprehensive.
- Could you replace the car cash within 30 days if it was stolen? → TPF&T is acceptable.
- Is the car worth less than R40,000 and you'd happily walk if written off? → Third-party only.
Real-claim cost comparison
A common 2025 claim: rear-end collision into a 2023 Toyota Fortuner at a Joburg traffic light. Repair bill: R187,000. With third-party only, your insurer pays for the Fortuner; you pay nothing for it. With comprehensive, your insurer also covers your own car's damage. With third-party fire & theft, you pay your own repairs out of pocket.
Frequently asked questions
Is third-party only worth it in South Africa?→
Yes — but only if your own car is low value (under R40k–R60k) and you have the cash to replace it. The third-party liability portion alone justifies the R180–R260/month premium given typical claim sizes.
Does comprehensive cover hijack?→
All comprehensive policies in SA include hijack as a standard insured event, not an add-on. Some require an approved tracker for vehicles above a certain value.
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