CAR INSURANCE

You know it’s time to get insured, but, um, where do you start, exactly? They didn’t teach you this in Life Skills class. TLDR: there are three different ways you can sort yourself out with insurance, with various pros and cons to each.

01. Use a comparison website

In case you couldn’t already tell, we think it’s better to compare. There are some serious benefits to sourcing car-insurance quotes through a comparison website like ours. There’s the general ease of completing the whole process online (you’re a digital native, after all). You cut out the middleman, which inevitably speeds things up and gets you insured faster. You empower yourself with knowledge at every step, rather than outsourcing everything to a third party (a surefire way to keep yourself scared about all things financial forever). And – we saved the best for last – you could save money, since BetterCompare will source you a stack of quotes, allowing you to choose the one that makes the most sense for your lifestyle – and your wallet.

02. Go through a broker

We’re not here to bash brokers – a good one will have your best financial interests at heart and will put in the blood, sweat and paperwork to bring you the best deal possible. Here’s the thing though: brokers usually represent or work with just one or two insurance companies, from whom they’ll earn a small monthly commission should you pick one of their products.

The upside to this is that they have an in-depth knowledge of the company’s products, and good relationships that could result in a better deal for you. The downside is that they’re unlikely to present you with a potentially better option from a company outside their network.

03. Go directly to the insurer

If you’re pretty confident that you want to go with a particular company (congrats to their marketing team!) then you may choose to contact them directly, rather than using a comparison site or dealing with a broker. Look, you do you, boo. The heart wants what the heart wants. Just know that you’re not seeing all your options, and you may be leaving money on the table.

Want to give the comparison game a whirl? BetterCompare is South Africa’s only 100% impartial and independent comparison site. It’s quick and easy to get quotes for car insurance, personal loans, home loans and more.