TL;DR – Our version of “I’m not reading all that, *SparkNotes pls.”
- Comprehensive car insurance covers both your car and others’ against accidents, theft, hijacking, fire, floods, hail, vandalism, and more. This makes it your “all-in-one” fix for all your car woes.
- It’s not just for new cars, even older vehicles faces risks like storms, theft, and third-party damage.
- Pineapple’s cover gives you access to 24/7 roadside assistance, adding an extra layer of security to savings and convenience.
Insurance is a little… complicated. Especially when you start throwing words like “Comprehensive” into the mix (that’s a big word for Elmo).
But worry not, because this guide will show you exactly what comprehensive car insurance is, what it covers, who it’s for, and the perfect choice for your comprehensive car insurance needs. (Pssst, it’s Pineapple)
And we’re also going to tell you how it only takes 90 seconds to lock down a quote that will help you unlock the ultimate peace of mind.
Click here, mtase (not a spelling error, it’s slang for “friend” in Zulu. Say it with me now: M-ta-se), we’re not trying to steal your information, we promise.
What is Comprehensive Car Insurance?
Comprehensive car insurance is an insurance tier that covers your car against loss or damage from pretty much everything.
It covers damage to your car from causes other than a collision, because, as we all know, owning a car comes with a vast number of risks, both on and off the road.
Let’s put this into perspective. For my makeup baddies (if you’re over 35, no, we’re not talking about criminals. A baddie in 2025 is a lady), this is like full coverage foundation, covering scars, blemishes, and everything in between. For the men reading this, this is like that 3-in-1 body, face, and hair wash your wife has been trying to get rid of for ages.
So really, comprehensive car insurance is a single package that tackles a whole lot. And whether you’re rolling around in your new whip or your baby has a bit of mileage on her, comprehensive car insurance is just what she needs.
Here is a list of all the things comprehensive insurance covers:
- Accidents
- Fire damage
- Theft and hijacking
- Windscreen repairs
- Claims from third parties (third-party liability)
- Malicious damage
So long story short, comprehensive ≠ collision-only.
Why is Comprehensive Car Insurance Important?
When it comes to owning a car, anything can happen. Comprehensive car insurance makes sure that you’re covered if any of this happens. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons that make it as important to car owners as a Tupperware is to our Gogo’s:
- It Covers More Than Accidents: When you own a car, getting into an accident isn’t your only worry. You’ve got to worry about pesky hailstorms, trees that decide to fall on your car, and theft too. Comprehensive car insurance is there to cover these.
- Theft and Hijacking Protection: Vehicle theft and hijackings are a harsh reality in South Africa. How harsh, you ask? The numbers tell us that a total of 7,731 vehicles were stolen between January and March of this year. This means about 85 vehicles were stolen per day. Are you trying to leave your vehicle’s safety to Lady Luck when this is the reality?
- It Covers Natural Disasters: Mother Nature is as unpredictable as our exchange rate, so you don’t want her to catch you slipping (literally). From storm damage to flooding and fire, comprehensive car insurance is your ticket to floating above waters you didn’t put yourself in.
- It’s Your Key to Ultimate Peace of Mind: Since it covers everything, and then some, comprehensive car insurance lets you sleep better knowing you’re protected from those “yoh” moments and financial shocks.
Do I Reeeaally Need Comprehensive Insurance?
Having car insurance isn’t a legal requirement for car owners, but trust us, it’s not something you want to be caught without. Not having comprehensive insurance means signing up for third-party medical bills, anxiety from your neighbourhood mechanic overcharging you, emotional distress, and debt.
And before you think you can secure that new whip and skip on insurance, you can’t. See, financial institutions need you to provide proof of insurance before allowing you to take your car home. It’s giving lobola, but honestly, it’s just to keep the investment safe.
What Does Comprehensive Car Insurance Cover?
While the jury’s still out on whether Pineapple belongs on pizza, one thing’s for sure: your car needs it. Before we start guilt-tripping you into getting a free quote (which, by the way, you totally should), here’s a peek at what our comprehensive car insurance actually covers:
Here’s What Is Included In Pineapple’s Comprehensive Car Insurance
|
Covered Event |
Included in Pineapple’s package |
Extra notes |
|
Theft |
✅ Yes* |
Includes hijacking too, because South Ah (if you’re anything like my boss and have no idea what this means, it’s short for South Africa) and hijackings have a very toxic relationship. |
|
Fire |
✅ Yes |
Only covers accidental damage |
|
Weather |
✅ Yes |
Includes floods, hail, etc. If Mother Nature decides to act up, we’ll pull up. |
|
Third party |
✅ Yes |
We’ll help cover damage to property or injury you were responsible for. |
|
Glass Repairs |
✅ Yes |
Chips, cracks, or your exe’s parting gift. We’ve got you. |
|
Vandalism |
✅ Yes |
If it’s reported, it’s covered. |
What’s Not Covered by Comprehensive Insurance?
That’s a lot of juicy goodness wrapped up into comprehensive insurance. But, like all good things, it has its limits.
Let’s Unpack What Comprehensive Insurance Typically Doesn’t Cover:
|
Not Covered |
Why Not? |
|
Wear & Tear |
Damage from everyday use is excluded. That’s maintenance territory, babes. |
|
Deliberate Damage |
Damage you cause on purpose, even to your car, isn’t covered. |
|
Unlicensed Drivers |
If someone doesn’t have a valid license and drives your vehicle, your claim may be denied. |
|
Reckless Driving / DUI |
It’s okay to have a little drinky drink, but driving under the influence or recklessly is not covered. |
Alright, now let’s take things back to primary school and give you a breakdown of Pineapple’s comprehensive insurance benefits, ABC style.
A-Z of Pineapple Benefits
Not a lot of people know this, but when The Jackson 5 wrote the chorus for “ABC”, they were talking about comprehensive car insurance (We don’t have a source, but just go along with it).
So let’s get into these ABCs of Pineapple’s comprehensive car insurance for you, from A-Z, because like our cover, we’re generous like that:
A: Accidental Damage:
Did your car catch a case of the oopsies? We’ll cover those “Eish” moments, big or small.
B: Betterment:
Our insurance’s primary goal is to put you back exactly where you were before the loss (no better, no worse).
C: Credit Shortfall:
This is the difference between what you owe a registered credit provider (under the National Credit Act regulations) at the time loss or damage occurred and the car’s Retail Value.
D: Digital:
Forget mountains of paperwork. With us, you can get a quote, place a claim, complete your pre-inspection, and more, by simply using our app or website.
E: Emergency Assist:
Flat battery? Out of fuel? Stuck in the middle of nowhere? We’re your “don’t panic” button, offering 24/7 roadside assistance to get you moving again.
F: Fire:
We cover accidental damage that has been caused by fire. No biggie.
G: Get ‘Blessed’ when you drive less:
Driving under 300km a month? We see you, homebody. Thanks to our Drive Less, Get Blessed benefit, you can enjoy up to 30% off your premium.
H: Hellopeter:
With a *9.7/10 rating on Hellopeter, it’s safe to say we’re the stuff of customer-service dreams.
I: Instant:
Get your quote in 90 seconds, and say goodbye to awkward phone calls and long documents to fill out.
K: Key Replacement:
Have you lost your car key again? (We’re not judging.) We’ll replace it, but check your policy for the limit.
L: Liability:
Accidents happen, and if you’re held liable for damage to property, injury, or accidental death, we’ll step in so your wallet doesn’t have to.
M: Monthly:
Our policies run on a month-to-month basis. So no long-term commitments, no awkward breakups, just vibes.
N: New Vehicles:
If you are the first registered owner of a new vehicle within 12 months of its registration and total loss occurs, we’ll pay you the retail value of your car.
O: Open door policy:
Say goodbye to declaring a secondary driver (as long as they’re 18 years or older, have a valid South African driver’s licence, and have the policyholder’s permission to drive the car). An additional excess does apply here.
P: Premium:
Pineapple is all about affordable premiums that won’t make your wallet cry.
Q: Quote:
Whether life happens, or you’re just scared of commitment and can’t activate your policy immediately, we understand. That’s why your quote is valid for 30 days.
R: Retail Value:
We insure your vehicle for its full retail value, so in the event of a total loss, you’ll be compensated based on the current Retail Value applicable at the time of the incident.
S: SASRIA:
Anything can happen in South Africa, our Land, including strikes, riots, and civil commotion. With SASRIA included in your policy, your insured items are protected against damage caused by these events, along with war and terrorism.
T: Transparency:
No smoke, no mirrors. Our community feed lets you see what’s being claimed and insured in real-time.
U: Use:
Your premium price is affected by your use description, so make sure this is accurate, as it can affect the validity of your claim.
V: Vehicle Accessories:
Does your car look like it just drove out of an episode of Pimp My Ride? We’ve got you, just make sure you let us know what these upgrades are and how much they cost.
W: Windscreen and Window:
Crack, chip, or full-on smash? We’ll repair or replace your windows. Psst, the excess may even be lower than usual. Talk about the glass being half-full, right?
X: *Xcess:
(We meant excess, but we’re Xtra like that) This is the small amount you pay when claiming, just to protect the community from over-claiming for minor damage incidents.
Y: “Yoh” Moments:
As a car owner, anything can happen, and that’s why we’ve ensured our comprehensive cover is there for you.
Z: zzzz:
Our comprehensive coverage is all about peace of mind, so you’ll save that ching ching and get more zzzz’s.
It’s as easy as 1,2,3, right? And sure, we skipped “J,” but our copywriter was having a bit of a long day. (Psst. Rumour has it that getting a quote will help brighten up their mood a little bit 👀.) Check out our list of insurance terms and definitions for more!
How Does Pineapple Compare to Other Car Insurance?
Now that you (hopefully) have a firm grip on comprehensive car insurance, you’re probably wondering what makes us different from every other insurance provider, right?
Hopefully you were, because we will unpack that for you in this easy-to-read table (we love a good table).
|
Feature |
Pineapple |
Traditional Insurer |
|
Quote Time |
90 seconds |
5-30 minutes |
|
Mobile-First |
App + Web |
Mostly desktop to submit your name and number for a phone call. Remember, some don’t allow you to get a quote and buy online |
|
Comprehensive w/ perks |
Yes |
Often limited |
|
Cancel Anytime |
Yes |
Not always possible |
Pretty straightforward with some standout energy, right? We’re not trying to reinvent insurance; we’re just trying to make it suck less.
Comprehensive Car Insurance: The Superhero We All Need
Look, life is unpredictable. One minute you’re vibing to the yano’s, and the next you’re kissing a backside (of another vehicle, obviously 🤭). Comprehensive car insurance is that quiet hero you need in your corner.
Why? It’s got your back when things go sideways, backwards, or straight into a tree.
Ready to have your own superhero with a P on their chest? Click here to get a quote today. It’s free, unlike fixing your car without insurance. (Bad joke? Sorry)
Frequently Asked Questions: Comprehensive Insurance
1. Is comprehensive car insurance worth it for an old car?
In theory, the older your vehicle + the longer you’ve had your licence + a good claims history = affordable insurance, right?
No, this isn’t always the case.
This is why it’s so important to assess whether you would be paying more for insurance in a couple of months than it would cost to replace the car.
Regardless, we recommend you get insured because not everyone has R25-R90K lying around to buy a new car.
2. What’s the difference between general comprehensive and third-party insurance?
The essence of third-party insurance is making sure the other affected party is taken care of should things hit the fan, not you. Comprehensive cover makes sure you’re both taken care of. Let’s break this down:
-
Covers damage you cause to others
Third-party insurance: ✅
Comprehensive cover: ✅
-
Covers damage to your car
Third-party insurance: ❌
Comprehensive cover: ✅
-
Covers theft and hijacking
Third-party insurance: ❌
Comprehensive cover: ✅
-
Covers natural disasters
Third-party insurance: ❌
Comprehensive cover: ✅
-
Covers glass and windscreen repairs
Third-party insurance: ❌
Comprehensive cover: ✅
-
Covers vandalism and malicious damage
Third-party insurance: ❌
Comprehensive cover: ✅
-
Provides roadside assistance
Third-party insurance: ❌
Comprehensive cover: ✅
3. Does comprehensive insurance include roadside assistance?
Car troubles don’t only happen during business hours, and comprehensive insurance is all about having your back when those troubles arise. And that’s what makes Pineapple’s comprehensive car insurance your perfect match.
If you find yourself stuck with a dead battery, a flat tire, or your keys deciding to play hide-and-seek in your car, our Emergency Assist benefit is there for you. And the best part? It’s available 24/7, anywhere in South Africa at no extra cost.
Lost story short, yes.
4. Can I cancel Pineapple insurance anytime?
Yes, you can. See, Pineapple works on a month-to-month basis, so there are no lock-in contracts and no awkward breakup calls. Just cancel via the app whenever you need to (but, please don’t cancel? We do be needing the cash).
Pineapple (FSP 48650) is underwritten by Old Mutual Alternative Risk Transfer Insure Limited, a licensed Non-Life Insurer and authorised FSP. T&Cs apply.
Please Note: The information provided above is for informational purposes only; you should not construe any such information as legal or financial advice.
