What "comprehensive" doesn't always cover
Comprehensive cover generally protects you against accident damage, fire, and some theft — but hijacking, being a crime that happens while you're in the vehicle, is sometimes treated as a separate risk category with its own conditions.
| Cover type | What it typically includes | What to double-check |
|---|---|---|
| Third-party only | Damage you cause to someone else's vehicle or property | Nothing for your own car at all |
| Third-party, fire & theft | The above, plus fire damage and straightforward theft | Hijacking may be excluded or capped |
| Comprehensive | Accident, fire, theft and usually hijacking | Tracker requirements, excess amounts, and whether a second tracking device is required on high-risk models |
Why the fine print matters more this year
Insurers have been tightening theft and hijacking conditions on the models most frequently targeted — bakkies and popular hatchbacks in particular. If your car appears on a high-risk list, some insurers will only pay a hijacking claim if you can show a tracker was active and reporting at the time.
The fastest way to find out where you actually stand is to compare a quote against your current policy, side by side, rather than assuming last year's cover still matches this year's risk.
Does comprehensive cover automatically include hijacking?
Usually yes, but insurers can apply conditions — like requiring a working tracker — before they'll pay out. It's worth confirming this line by line rather than assuming.
Will my premium go up if my car is on a high-risk list?
It can. Vehicles that are frequently targeted, like certain bakkies and hatchbacks, often carry higher premiums or stricter tracking requirements.