Key factors that influence your car insurance premium

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Among the factors which will determine the premium you pay for your car are your gender, age, marital status, where you live and a financial background check. These factors have a bearing because the statistics collected by insurers show that they have an effect on the likelihood of accidents or other incidents while financial checks provide an indicator of the possibility of making unjustified claims.

The vehicle you drive

It's not just you, but also the vehicle you drive which determines the premium. Typically, more expensive cars will attract a higher premium as they are more expensive to repair in case of an accident and cost more to replace if stolen. However, those cars which are easily stolen or which are regularly targeted by criminals present a greater theft risk and therefore will attract higher premiums too.

Importantly, premiums can increase as time goes on because in the event of an accident, the cost of repair increases regardless of the age of the car. It doesn't cost any less to replace the bumper on a one-year-old vehicle than it does on the equivalent brand new one. Parts, labour and paint will all increase over time, irrespective of the age of the vehicle - and with the lion's share of claims coming from accident damage, the reduced total value of the vehicle has little bearing on the price of the premium.

Who you are

Another factor which is important to note on your policy and which has an impact on the premium is the regular driver. The person's age and other details like when the driving licence was issued, gender, will be the primary factors determining the premium; most insurance companies require this detail. And if the person who drives the car most often, in any monthly period, is correctly noted as the 'regular' driver, anyone with a valid South African driving licence and adheres to the terms and conditions of the policy, will be covered.

As previously mentioned, among the factors used to determine a premium is age. Younger drivers, in particular, regularly consider this to be unfair. However, statistical evidence shows that younger drivers are a higher risk. These drivers are more likely to have an accident due to a lack of experience on the road. The higher premium, in effect, covers this higher risk. Older drivers are less likely to get into an accident and therefore have lower-priced premiums.

Vehicle protection

Protecting your car such as installing an approved car alarm system or a tracking device is a good idea to reduce premiums. But what about cars that don't have these devices? Some can still be insured, but again, this will come down to the type of car and where it is located.

Looking after your car, in the eyes of the insurer, also depends on where and how it is parked, particularly overnight. Different areas have different risk profiles, which are calculated in accordance with the frequency of thefts and other incidences of crime, such as smash and grabs and hijackings. And, if your car is parked in a security estate with guards at the entrance or in a locked garage, it is less likely to be targeted than one on the street. That means the premium for the protected vehicle will be lower than the one which isn't under cover.

Finally, car insurance and the premium you pay for having your car covered does not cover the things you carry with you that you might keep in your car. Typically, you will need to take out additional cover (at the same time as you take out the car cover) at an additional premium to be sure that these items will be covered.