The end of the year has finally arrived, and many households are no doubt planning to make a trip to one of South Africa’s neighbours for the holidays, but there are a few things you need to double-check before making your way over to the border.
This includes getting all your cross-border documents in order, and making sure that you have insurance coverage on your travels.
There and back again
The first thing you’ll need when visiting a neighbouring country like Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique, or Zimbabwe is the paperwork for your car, which can vary depending on its ownership status.
If your vehicle was bought on finance and is not fully paid off, you will need a “border letter” from the finance institution, as it is the car’s legal title holder until the agreement is complete.
This letter authorizes you to be able to take the car across the border, and it must be signed by a Commissioner of Oaths.
Acquiring this document requires that you provide your credit provider with your passport number, driving licence details, the dates you will be travelling, and a list of all the countries you intend to visit.
If you have paid off the vehicle but have yet to transfer the title deed to your name, a border letter will still be required.
Another important detail not to overlook is that certain finance contracts have a pre-determined annual mileage cap that cannot be exceeded, so owners must check how much leeway they have with regard to distance before setting off on a long road trip, as this may go beyond the allowance.
Motorists who own their cars, meanwhile, will need to bring their original Natis registration certificate with them, as this shows you are not trying to take a car across the border without the owner’s knowledge.
As for rental cars, drivers must provide a letter from the rental company authorizing them to take it to another country.
The other important aspect that road users must think about is their insurance, as you need to provide proof of insurance at the border post regardless of whether the car is yours, is still being paid off, or a rental.
The first step is to check whether your policy covers trips to neighbouring countries, bearing in mind that the extent of coverage can vary based on a number of factors, according to Naked Insurance.
Different countries have their own risk profiles, so what is covered in South Africa may not necessarily be accounted for in Zimbabwe, and insurers may also limit the amount of time your vehicle can be out of the country to maintain the policy.
Nations that are experiencing civil unrest are often flagged as a risk and insurers will not pay out in these scenarios, which is very important for anyone thinking of visiting Mozambique right now where violent protests broke out after a recent election.
It’s also necessary to think about the type of insurance you’ll need while abroad, accounting for scenarios such asvehicle damage, car theft, property damage, or bodily injuries to other road users.
Zimbabwe, Swaziland, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Lesotho, and Botswana have mandatory third-party insurance, which most South African insurers will not provide when out of the country, so you will need to purchase this either before you leave or at the border post.
If your vehicle breaks down while abroad, insurers will typically require that you pay the cost of getting it back to South Africa before it can be towed to a repair centre.
Finally, don’t forget to pack your passport and driving licence, as you’ll obviously need these when crossing the border.
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