Car insurance: the three types and how to get quotes

Car insurance comes in three levels. Comprehensive covers your car and other people's. Third party, fire and theft covers other people's cars plus your own if it is stolen or burns. Third party only covers damage you cause to others. A financed car must be comprehensively insured. Insurers price on the car, the driver and the postal code where it sleeps. Updated September 2026.

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Who it suits

Comprehensive suits anyone whose car is financed, because the bank requires it, and anyone who could not replace the car from savings. Third party, fire and theft suits an older, paid-off car that you could live without but would not want stolen. Third party only is the minimum for a car of low value. If you drive for Uber or Bolt, say so on the form: most personal policies exclude e-hailing and we route those requests only to insurers who cover it.

What the insurer will ask, and why

These are the questions on our form for car, with what the insurer does with each answer. Nothing here is optional guesswork: every question exists because a licensed insurer needs it to quote.

Year of manufacture: Vehicle age and value.
Make: Rating by make and model (theft frequency, parts cost).
Model
Roughly what is it worth today?: Sum insured band.
Is the car financed?: Financed vehicles must be comprehensively insured; bank is a noted interested party.
Type of cover you want
How is the car used?: Usage class; e-hailing is often excluded from personal lines.
Where is it parked at night?: Theft risk rating.
Is a tracking device fitted? (optional)
Is the car insured right now?: Continuity of cover affects rating.
Gender (as on your ID): Rating factor.
How long have you had your licence?: Driver experience loading.
Claims in the last 3 years: Claims history.
Marital status (optional): Used by several SA insurers as a rating factor.
Postal code where the car sleeps: Area rating is the strongest location factor in SA motor.
Your date of birth: Age is the primary rating factor across every product.
Which province do you live in?: Regional risk and pricing tables.
Town or suburb (optional): Postal-code rating for short-term products; language and dialect hints for call centres.
What best describes your work situation?: Affordability and, for income products, insurability.
Do you have a bank account you can pay from by debit order?: Collection method.

Questions people ask

Why does my postal code matter so much?

Area is the strongest location factor in South African motor pricing. Two identical cars parked in different suburbs get different premiums, based on theft and accident claims in each area.

What if I am not sure which type of cover I need?

Choose "Not sure" on the form. The licensed insurer who calls you is allowed to advise you; Olvian is not.

Does a tracker reduce the premium?

Often, and some insurers require one on higher-value cars. Tell us if one is fitted and the insurer will factor it in.

Olvian is a marketing and lead-referral service. We are not a licensed financial services provider, we do not give advice, and we do not sell insurance.