Frequently Asked Questions
Everything South African business owners ask before getting covered. Can’t find your answer? Contact us at insurancegurusa.co.za/contact
About Insurance Guru
Q: What is Insurance Guru?
Insurance Guru is a South African lead generation platform that connects businesses with specialist short-term insurance providers. You fill in one form, and accredited insurers contact you directly with a quote tailored to your business. We are not an insurer, we are the fastest way to find the right one.
Q: Is Insurance Guru free to use?
Yes, completely. Insurance Guru is free for anyone looking for business insurance cover. The insurers who receive your details cover our costs, you pay nothing to use our service.
Q: How does Insurance Guru make money?
We are a lead generation platform. When we connect you with an insurer and they successfully quote you, they pay us a referral fee. This does not affect the price of your insurance premium in any way.
Q: Is Insurance Guru a licensed insurer or broker?
No. Insurance Guru SA is not an insurer or a registered financial services provider under the FAIS Act. We do not sell insurance, give financial advice, or handle claims. We connect you with accredited insurers who do. Any policy you take out is a direct agreement between you and that insurer
Q: Which insurers do you work with?
We work with a range of accredited South African short-term insurance providers who specialise in business cover. The specific insurer matched to you depends on your business type, industry, and cover requirements. All insurers we work with are registered with the FSCA.
Q: How quickly will an insurer contact me?
Most clients are contacted within 24 to 48 business hours of submitting their details. Response times vary by insurer and volume, but specialist insurers typically prioritise new business leads quickly.
Q: What happens after I submit my details?
Your information is shared with one or more accredited insurers who specialise in your type of cover. They will contact you directly — usually by phone — to discuss your requirements and provide a quote. You are under no obligation to accept any quote
E-hailing insurance
Q: Does my personal car insurance cover me while driving for Uber or Bolt?
In most cases, no. Standard personal car insurance policies in South Africa exclude commercial use, including e-hailing. The moment you accept a trip on the app, your personal policy may be void. If you have an accident while on a trip, your insurer can legally reject your claim. You need a specialist e-hailing policy.
Q: What does e-hailing insurance cover?
A specialist e-hailing policy typically covers your vehicle for commercial use while the app is active, third-party liability, passenger liability, vehicle hijacking, and 24/7 roadside assistance. Cover varies by insurer, the insurer who contacts you will outline exactly what is included.
Q: Do I need separate insurance if I drive for both Uber and Bolt?
No, a specialist e-hailing policy covers you regardless of which platform you use. The insurer covers you for commercial passenger transport, not for a specific app.
Q: Does Uber or Bolt provide insurance for drivers?
Both platforms carry limited liability insurance, but this is typically restricted to specific incidents during confirmed trips and may not cover damage to your own vehicle or incidents between trips. It is not a substitute for a dedicated e-hailing insurance policy.
Q: How much does e-hailing insurance cost in South Africa?
Premiums vary depending on your vehicle, location, driving history, and the level of cover. Submit your details and an insurer will provide you with a quote specific to your situation. Insurance Guru cannot quote you directly, that is the insurer’s role.
Business vehicle insurance
Q: Does my personal car insurance cover my vehicle for business use?
Most personal car insurance policies in South Africa exclude business use. If you use your vehicle for deliveries, client visits, or any commercial activity and have an accident, your insurer may reject the claim. Business vehicle insurance covers commercial use explicitly.
Q: What vehicles does business vehicle insurance cover?
Business vehicle insurance covers a range of commercial vehicles including company cars used by employees, delivery bakkies, trucks and heavy commercial vehicles, and employee personal vehicles used for work purposes
Q: Does business vehicle insurance cover hijacking in South Africa?
Many specialist business vehicle policies include hijacking and theft recovery cover, including GPS tracking activation and a replacement vehicle while yours is being recovered. Confirm the specific inclusions with the insurer who contacts you
Q: What is goods in transit cover?
Goods in transit cover protects the value of stock, equipment, or goods being transported by road against loss or damage during transit, even if you use a third-party delivery service. It is often included in or added to a business vehicle policy.
Guesthouse & hospitality insurance
Q: Why isn't standard business insurance enough for a guesthouse?
Guesthouses and lodges have unique exposures that standard commercial policies often exclude, guest injuries on your property, loss of revenue from insured damage, theft of guest belongings, and specialist items like swimming pools, boreholes, and backup power systems. You need a policy designed specifically for the hospitality industry.
Q: Does guesthouse insurance cover load shedding damage?
Power surge and machinery breakdown cover — which protects generators, inverters, solar systems, and commercial appliances against electrical damage — is available on specialist hospitality policies. Many standard policies exclude this. Make sure the insurer you choose explicitly includes power surge cover.
Q: What is business interruption cover for a guesthouse?
Business interruption cover pays for your lost revenue and fixed costs if an insured event, such as a fire or flood, forces you to close temporarily. It keeps your business financially viable during the recovery period
Q: Does guesthouse insurance cover theft of guest property?
Theft of guest property can be included on specialist hospitality policies. Cover and limits vary by insurer. Confirm the specific terms with the insurer who contacts you after you submit your details.
Public liability insurance
Q: What is public liability insurance?
Public liability insurance covers your business against legal and financial claims made by third parties, customers, visitors, or members of the public, who suffer injury or property damage as a result of your business activities. Without it, your business is personally liable for legal fees, medical costs, and compensation payouts.
Q: Does every business need public liability insurance?
Any business that interacts with the public in any way carries liability risk. This includes retailers, restaurants, contractors, guesthouses, consultants, event organisers, and freelancers. Public liability insurance is not legally mandatory in South Africa for most businesses, but it is strongly recommended and increasingly required by clients and venues.
Q: What is the difference between public liability and professional indemnity?
Public liability covers injury to people or damage to property arising from your business activities. Professional indemnity covers financial losses your clients suffer due to errors, negligence, or omissions in your professional advice or services. Many service businesses need both.
Q: How much public liability cover do I need?
Cover limits typically start at R1 million and go up to R10 million or more, depending on your industry and client requirements. The insurer who contacts you can advise on appropriate cover levels for your specific situation.
Claims & General questions
Q: How do I claim if something goes wrong?
Claims are handled directly by your insurer — not by Insurance Guru. Once you have a policy in place, contact your insurer directly using the contact details on your policy schedule. Insurance Guru is not involved in the claims process.
Q: Can I get cover anywhere in South Africa?
Yes. Insurance Guru connects businesses across all nine provinces with South African insurers. The insurers we work with are national, not limited to specific regions.
Q: What if I already have insurance, can Insurance Guru still help me?
Yes. Many clients use Insurance Guru to compare what they currently pay against what specialist insurers can offer. There is no obligation to switch, but you may find better cover at a lower premium.
Q: Is my information safe with Insurance Guru?
Yes. We comply with the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA). Your details are shared only with accredited South African insurers for quoting purposes. We do not sell your data. See our Privacy Policy for full details.
Q: I have a question that isn't answered here — how do I contact you?
Visit insurancegurusa.co.za/contact or email us at info@insuregurusa.co.za. We will respond as soon as possible during business hours.