When you sign up for car insurance you may be under the impression that you simply pay your monthly premium and you are covered for everything bar an unsuccessful attempt at the land speed record. While a good policy protects you from most driving calamities, it does not allow you to be reckless, nor can you materially change the conditions under which the insurance was granted.

Not knowing your way around your policy can result in a serious dent in your wallet as well as your bumper. If there are any grey areas pertaining to your conditions of cover you are going to be the one draws the short straw. So while you are busy shopping around for the best price it is also a good idea to look at the inclusions, exclusions and the activities that you may be penalised for.

Did you know for example that should your car be involved in an accident due to lack of maintenance, your insurer is unlikely to pay out. Policyholders can be covered against their own negligence-to a degree but insurers are entitled to decline a claim if the policyholder’s behaviour was reckless or if their vehicle was not roadworthy. So if you add a NOS kit and a jet booster to the engine, chances are you will not be covered when it spontaneously combusts on start up.

The onus is on you to safeguard the vehicle from loss and damage and maintain it in an efficient condition at all times to remain covered. So, if for example you leave your keys in the ignition when you pop into the local Shabeen, or you leave it next to a demolition site in the path of a wrecking ball;  your insurer would conclude that reasonable steps were not taken to safeguard your car.

Ensure that tyres, brakes, gears, wipers, and everything else that contributes to the effective and safe working of the vehicle is actually working. If you had an accident on a rainy day and your tyres were as smooth as Zuma’s excuses, the insurance assessor would not certify the car roadworthy. If you need the length of a jetliners runway for your car to stop-well this would also be a problem.

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