The term 'out of sight, out of mind' perfectly describes most people's relationship to their car's tyres and rims. We pay attention to them when we first get a car but neglect to monitor them until something goes wrong. You may need to make an insurance claim or dip into your personal savings to pay for a repair or replacement — both things that will impact your finances.

Are you wondering how to affordably take care of your car's tyres and rims ? Consider Tyre and Rim Insurance from Auto & General Insurance.

What is the role of Tyre and Rim Insurance?

Tyre and Rim Insurance is a standalone form of insurance that covers repairs or replacements to your tyres and rims due to accidental damage from daily driving. You might be wondering why anyone would consider getting standalone Rim and Tyre Insurance when they already have a primary form of car insurance. 

The answer is simple — various parts of your car will age at a different pace. This impacts the likelihood and frequency of car insurance claims and the corresponding premiums. Tyre and Rim Insurance was created to cover the long-term, sustained damage from driving over poor roads — something that is unfortunately all too common in South Africa. 

South Africans are cutting back on their costs by downgrading their cars to older or more affordable models and driving their cars for longer without trading them in. This means that extending the lifespan of your car's parts is important — as is keeping the number of claims to a minimum. Dedicated coverage for your car's tyres that also includes Rims Insurance can provide this.

What does Rim and Tyre Insurance exclude?

As with all forms of insurance, there are a few exclusions that come with Tyres and Rims Insurance.

With many automotive insurance packages, you won't be able to place a claim for incidents involving illegal activity, and this could even get your insurance terminated completely. Illegal activity can include any damage sustained as a result of speed racing, off-road racing or speed reliability testing. Insurers also won't cover damage due to a lack of reasonable maintenance, misuse, neglect, malicious damage, fraud or deliberate acts.

Insurance for your tyres and rims won't cover damage relating to a car accident, hijacking or theft. It also won't cover any claims that your comprehensive insurance or any other applicable policy will cover.

With this form of insurance, your tyre's tread level (which is required to be a minimum of 1.6mm ) provides a built-in excess you have to pay before you make a claim. There can also be a limit to the value of your replacements or repairs respectively. For the repair to be covered, it must not stem from an inherent manufacturing defect, involve the car's body or involve pre-existing damage. You will need to make the claim within 30 days of the incident and should not proceed with any repair work without getting the insurer's approval.

5 reasons Tyre and Rim Insurance is a must in South Africa

Here are some convincing reasons to add Tyre and Rim Insurance to your car's maintenance and care.

1. It protects your day-to-day driving: In an ideal world, potholes would be quickly repaired. In reality, they're something all South Africans are forced to deal with on the roads. Unlike other forms of car insurance that only kick in when you have an accident or need a repair, you'll receive coverage for the impact that daily driving has on this part of your car.
2. It saves you money: Having dedicated insurance for your rims and tyres will save you money by preserving your primary car insurance. Remember, every insurance claim you make impacts your personal risk profile and the premiums you'll pay.
3. It offers peace of mind: No more stressing about getting an unexpected blowout on the road and the subsequent cost. You can rest assured that your insurance will cover it.
4. It can have added benefits: Specialised insurance often comes with added benefits. For example, Auto & General offers a Fine Support service that helps you to settle traffic fines quickly and often with discounts.
5. Value Retention: Often, we drive around with tyres that aren't in the best condition as the cost of repairing them is too high. When you do this, you could be causing unnecessary stress to your car's steering and braking mechanism. Prevent this and you prevent future repair costs to these parts of your car.

Get a Tyre and Rim Insurance quote from Auto & General

 Ready to start saving money from Auto & General or have more questions about our Tyre and Rim Insurance coverage? We'd love to hear it. Apply for a Tyre and Rim Insurance quote.

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Sources: 

[1 ] Businesstech: Drivers in South Africa are making 2 big changes to save money

[2] Michelin: Tyre tread depth and legal limit 

[3] Mybroadband: South Africa’s shocking roads

Disclaimer: The information in this article is provided for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal, or medical advice.