Vehicle insurance is designed to protect you in times of need, but that protection could vanish if your vehicle isn’t roadworthy.

Insurers have the legal right to reject a claim if a car’s poor condition is found to have caused or contributed to an accident.

Here’s how to protect your cover and your safety:

Understand what roadworthy really means

• Your car must meet the legal safety standards outlined in the National Road Traffic Act 93 of 1996.

• Roadworthiness includes working lights, effective brakes, legal tyre tread depth, safe steering mechanisms, and more.

• It’s not a one-time requirement at registration but an ongoing obligation.

Insurance is conditional on your car’s condition

• Most insurance policies require your vehicle to be roadworthy at all times.

• If your car fails to meet basic safety requirements, insurers can legally reject your claim.

• Even with valid insurance, your claim may be denied if your car contributed to the accident.

Tyres and brakes: The usual suspects

• Worn-out tyres and faulty brake systems are among the top reasons insurers reject claims.

• A tread that’s level with tread wear indicators is legally unroadworthy – regardless of age or mileage.

• Brakes that are worn or uneven may not only cause accidents but also invalidate your cover.

Causality matters: The law vs equity

• Insurers must show that the vehicle’s condition contributed to the accident.

• If your car is unroadworthy but didn’t influence the incident, the claim might still be upheld.

For example, if worn brakes played no role in an accident caused by swerving to avoid a pothole, insurers can’t use the brake condition as grounds for rejection.

Real-world lessons from Ombud cases

• In one case, a worn tyre led to aquaplaning and a crash. The claim was rightfully rejected.

• In another case, poor brake condition had no bearing on the accident, and the insurer was ordered to pay out.

Keep your insurance intact

• Check tyre tread depth regularly and replace tyres before they become borderline illegal.

• Maintain your brakes – If they feel spongy, squeak, or cause pulling, have them checked immediately.

• Stick to your service schedule and don’t ignore your manufacturer’s maintenance recommendations.

• Service history and repair receipts can support your case in the event of a dispute.

The bigger picture

• Keeping your vehicle roadworthy is not just a legal obligation; it’s a moral and contractual one.

• Roadworthy vehicles reduce accident risks for you and others.

• Ignoring maintenance could mean paying for repairs out-of-pocket, including third-party damages.
Information from NFO