John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual

South Africans are known for hitting the road over Easter, whether for holidays or church trips, often leaving their homes unattended and relying on their insurance cover to respond should something go wrong.

While it is common advice to “review your insurance before the holidays,” what does that actually mean in practice? More importantly, what are the often-overlooked details that could leave you financially exposed when you need cover the most?

As John Manyike, Head of Financial Education at Old Mutual, warns, the excitement of a well-earned break can quickly be overshadowed by the harsh reality of having an insurance claim rejected. Importantly, such rejections are seldom arbitrary. In many cases, what may seem like minor issues can lead to a claim being rejected because in contractual terms, key policy conditions have simply not been met by the insured person.

Manyike suggests the following five critical checks every family should prioritise before travelling this Easter.

1. Roadworthiness is non-negotiable

Your vehicle must be in a roadworthy condition at all times. Faulty brakes, broken lights, or mechanical defects etc not only endanger lives (yours and those around you on the road) but may also result in your insurer rejecting a claim on the basis of negligence. A quick pre-trip inspection could make all the difference.

2. Keep your vehicle licence up to date

An expired licence disc is more than just a traffic violation, it can have serious insurance implications. Many policies require that your vehicle be compliant with road and traffic laws, and this includes having a valid licence. Therefore, failure to renew your licence could give your insurer grounds to repudiate a claim.

3. Tyre condition matters more than you think

Worn-out or damaged tyres can contribute to road accidents. Insurers may assess whether your tyres met the legal safety standards at the time of an incident, and if they find that they did not, your claim could be partially or fully rejected, leaving you exposed or responsible for costs yourself. Even if the cause of the accident had nothing to do with the tyres, for example if your car was stationary, the insurer could still use the fact that your tyres were worn-out as a reason to reject your claim.

4. Speeding and reckless driving can void your cover

Driving above the legal speed limit, especially significantly, may be interpreted as reckless or negligent behaviour. This can trigger policy exclusions and leave you without cover when you need it most. Always stick to the speed limit, not only does this save lives, but it can also protect you when you need to make a claim.

5. Where you park your car is important, it describes how well secured you car is

Protected from natural perils like hail, Protected from other vehicles, people, animals etc and, Protected from criminals.

6. Full and honest disclosure is critical

Insurance is built on the principle of good faith, and this must come from both sides. Misrepresenting the value of your assets, whether it is your car or household contents, can have serious consequences. For example, insuring a TV for R20 000 when it is only worth R2 000 may be viewed as material misrepresentation and dishonest, and could potentially lead to a claim being rejected, even for a payout of R2 000.

Beyond these checks, Manyike encourages people to actively engage with their financial advisers to ensure their cover aligns with their current circumstances.

“Insurance is not just about having a policy in place, but also about understanding the terms of that policy and ensuring that you meet your obligations as a policyholder. Many claims are rejected due to issues that could have been avoided through regular reviews and honest disclosure,” Manyike explains.

Ultimately, having insurance should bring peace of mind, not a false sense of security, he adds.

Before the Easter break comes, therefore, take the time to review your insurance, make sure you are adequately covered, speak to your financial adviser, and ensure that nothing stands between you and a valid claim when it matters most.

ENDS