One of the questions I get asked on a regular basis is the age-old "What's the best car you've driven?" one. It's always difficult to answer because my best may not be your best. It's tough to quantify what is best unless you give a specific set of parameters; best SUV, best hatchback, best comfort, etc.
Related: Tips to get the best car insurance price
When it comes to service providers, it's much the same. The service I get is based on my individual needs and your experience may be rather different. So when it comes to selecting the best insurance company, it's best to sample a large group of people and take an average. This is exactly what Consulta has done with their market research on short-term insurers in their 2020 SAcsi (South African Consumer Satisfaction Index).
While short-term insurance is broad, motor vehicle insurance falls within its scope and is one of the most common forms of short-term insurance.
Customer satisfaction
Consulta sampled a group of 2 600 people in the latter half of 2020 who had policies with a wide range of insurers, garnering data on their overall satisfaction. The 2020 report saw a few movers and shakers with OUTsurance coming out on top for the 2020 year, ahead of Virseker who held the coveted title in 2019. Both performed above industry standard for the 2020 year with OUTsurance showing the most improvement.
Consulta results were as follows:
| Position | Company | 2019 | 2020 |
| 1 | OUTsurance | 81.5 | 82.3 |
| 2 | Virseker | 83.2 | 81.7 |
| 3 | Old Mutual Insure | 81.2 | 81.3 |
| 4 | Momentum | 77.8 | 81.2 |
| Industry Average | 80.0 | 79.9 | |
| 5 | Santam | 79.7 | 79.5 |
| 6 | Discovery | 76.2 | 78.8 |
| 7 | Auto & General | 78.4 | 75.1 |
Tailor-made solutions
The names above may not reflect the entire range of insurers available to the individual but it does provide a snapshot of the key players in the industry. With that said, it's worth noting that even if a firm is on the smaller side, they may be able to service you in a way that is beneficial to you. Many of the smaller enterprises are able to provide customized product offerings that will take certain factors into account. In the car insurance world, this is particularly true and you will be able to find bespoke products that cater for older vehicles, vehicles that aren't driven as much, and even classics.
Related: 10 Insurance myths busted.
While using an aggregator like Hippo can steer you in the best direction, it's a smart move to contact a broker that is able to perform an accurate risk analysis on your personal profile and suggest a product that will see you getting the most value for your money. Brokers, such as IntegriSure, assist with the application, portfolio maintenance, and claims process, taking the hassle out of insuring your car.
*Any information herein is not intended nor does it constitute financial, insurance, tax, legal, investment or other advice. Before making any decision or taking any action regarding these please consult a suitably qualified professional.*
