A change in who regularly drives your car, worn tyres or an expired licence disc may seem unrelated to insurance, until you need to submit a claim.
During Transport Month, Youlon Naidoo, Executive Head of Claims and Procurement at Miway Insurance, is urging motorists to check whether changes in how they use and maintain their vehicles have been disclosed to their insurer. He highlights 6 common oversights that could affect how a claim is assessed.
- Not updating the regular driver
The person who drives a vehicle most often is an important part of its insurance risk profile. If a spouse, child or another person becomes the regular driver, their age, driving experience and claims history may affect the premium or policy terms.
“If someone else starts using the vehicle more frequently than the declared regular driver, whether for a limited period or permanently, contact your insurer to check whether the change needs to be recorded,” says Naidoo.
- Using the vehicle differently from what the policy states
How a vehicle is used can change over time. A car insured for private use may later be used for regular business travel, deliveries, client visits or a substantially longer daily commute.
“Business or delivery use may require different cover from ordinary private use,” says Naidoo. “If the insurer has not been told about a material change, the policy may no longer reflect the actual risk.”
- Driving on worn or damaged tyres
Tyres with inadequate tread depth can compromise road safety by reducing grip and increasing stopping distances, particularly in wet conditions. If worn or damaged tyres contributed to a collision, the vehicle’s roadworthiness may become relevant when the claim is assessed.
Motorists should inspect their tyres regularly for tread wear, cuts, bulges and incorrect pressure, and replace them when necessary.
- Neglecting routine vehicle maintenance
Roadworthiness extends beyond tyres. Brakes, steering, suspension and other safety-critical components require regular inspection and maintenance.
“Poor maintenance increases the risk of a breakdown or accident and may become a factor in a claim if a mechanical defect contributed to the incident,” says Naidoo. “Insurance protects motorists against unexpected events, but vehicle owners also have a responsibility to keep their cars safe and roadworthy.”
- Letting licences or vehicle documents expire
An expired driver’s licence card or vehicle licence disc does not necessarily result in an automatic claim rejection. Insurers generally consider the circumstances of each claim and whether the documentation issue was relevant to the incident.
“Even where expired documentation was not material to the loss, it can lead to avoidable questions or administrative delays,” says Naidoo. “Keeping licences and vehicle documents current helps demonstrate compliance and ensures the information available during the claims process is accurate.”
Ultimately, motorists can reduce uncertainty at claim stage by checking that the regular driver and vehicle use are correctly recorded, keeping the vehicle roadworthy and renewing all required documentation on time. “Insurers assess whether information was withheld, policy conditions were breached or a vehicle defect contributed to the loss,” Naidoo concludes. “The closer the connection between an issue and the accident, the greater the risk that a claim could be disputed or rejected.”