Owning and driving a 4×4 in urban South Africa is becoming an increasingly costly habit, both for the owner's pocket and for the environment. Worldwide, the financial and environmental effects of these vehicles have resulted in a significant downward trend in sales, with some of the major motor manufacturers experiencing difficulties as a result.
A recent article by Geoffrey Lean, "End of the road for urban 4x4s?", published on Motoring.co.za, and originally in The Independent , quotes Sir David King, chief advisor to the British Government, as saying that 4×4 ownership should be discouraged, because of the negative effect on the environment. In addition, British insurance industry figures show that they are 25% more likely to be involved in an accident than ordinary cars, and do much more damage when they are. Comprehensive insurance is therefore of paramount importance.
General Manager of Dial Direct, Fabian Angiers, comments, "For many 4×4 owners, the costs are starting to outweigh the benefits. South Africa is becoming increasingly environmentally conscious and many 4×4 owners are nature lovers. More hard-hitting though is the fact that continually escalating fuel prices, coupled with the expense of filling such a large fuel tank and the heavy fuel consumption that results from 'town driving' necessitates a far greater budget than many of South Africa's drivers can afford. That doesn't even take into account the cost of insuring such a vehicle, which usually comes with expensive accessories and greater risks associated with off-road, 'adventure' driving and travelling."
Dial Direct offers comprehensive cover for 4X4 vehicles of all sizes and makes, having geared its 4X4 cover to cater for the specific needs of this market. In addition to providing comprehensive cover, Dial Direct also provides free cover to a maximum value of R10 000 for the accessories that are typically an integral part of a fully-equipped off-road vehicle, such as tow bars, roll bars, racks and winches.
Angiers adds, "As a personal lines insurer, Dial Direct does not provide commercial insurance cover. This therefore excludes the eco-adventure business for example, where 4x4s are hired to tourists or are used to transport tour groups. Clients can however take out business cover through Dial Direct, which will insure them when their jobs take them off-road – geologists, construction workers and quantity surveyors are some of these sorts of clients.
Our 4×4 policies also automatically provide cover in Botswana, Lesotho, Namibia, Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and Zambia, some of the most frequently visited African countries from a holiday and business perspective by South Africans. No additional premium is payable when visiting these countries, however, we always advise policyholders to check their policy documents before travelling out of the country and to alert their insurance company when they are going to be travelling outside of South Africa."
Dial Direct's broker-free approach results in lower cost insurance for the 4X4 owner – independent research, based on 1200 motor & household insurance quotes, proves that its premiums are on average 17% cheaper than the nearest competitor.