Financial services company Alexander Forbes has released its latest insurance claim data on South African motorists.<\/p>\n
According to the statistics, the average claim for youth drivers aged 18-25 in the 2017 financial year was R40,976, up from R36,055 in 2016.<\/p>\n
The average claim among young drivers show cabriolets to have the highest average claim amounts, followed by coupes, SUVs, hatchbacks, and sedans.<\/p>\n
The top three had averages of between R50,000 and R70,000 per claim, with hatchbacks and sedans averaging R37,000 per claim.<\/p>\n
BMWs, Mercedes, Jeeps and Minis had average claim amounts of more than R45,000, and were the top youth-driver brands in this category.<\/p>\n
Despite this brand favouritism, the data found\u00a0that 70% of the drivers in this age category are driving hatchbacks<\/strong> – 30% of which are Volkswagens.<\/p>\n According to Colin Mchunu, senior manager at Alexander Forbes Insurance, insurance companies generally classified young drivers as high-risk due to their lack of motoring experience.<\/p>\n “Because youth are more likely to have an accident in the first year after getting their driver\u2019s licence than at any other time in their motoring career, this results in this category being charged higher premiums.”<\/p>\n On average under 25s pay about 30% more than drivers over the age of 25, he said.<\/p>\n “The likelihood of a young, relatively inexperienced driver being involved in accidents is high owing to among other factors, driving at higher than the regulated speed limit and risky driving behaviour.”<\/p>\n Mchunu suggested that for younger drivers to reduce car insurance premiums they need to:<\/p>\n “In addition to the above another good way to keep risk down is to enhance the security features of your car, and consider taking defensive driving courses,” said Mchunu.<\/p>\n\n
\n