2023 insurance checklist

Dealing with insurance issues may not be high up on your new year's resolution list, but the start of a new year is the best time to check on your insurance policies.

Use our 10-point checklist to ensure you're covered for the year ahead.

1. Update your details: Got a new cell number? Changed jobs and have a new email address? Make sure all your personal details are all up to date.
2. Review your policies: In an insurance claim, your cover pays out the replacement value of the insured items at the time of loss or damage. Update your policies with the 2023 replacement values for all insured items.
3. Add new items to your inventory: It's common that new goodies made their way into your home or garage after the December holidays. Add any new items to your household inventory list to ensure they're covered in the event of loss or damage.
4. Keep your proof of ownership: If you've recently bought new appliances, furniture, jewellery, or tech equipment, keep your receipts in a safe place. If you need to claim from insurance for them, you'll need to prove ownership. In the case of jewellery, keep your valuation certificates.
5. Ensure alternative power equipment is insurance compliant: With load shedding increasing, many South Africans are looking at alternative energy sources. Ensure any new solar or gas installations are undertaken by qualified professionals and that you have the necessary compliance certificates.
6. Check your home security: Ensure all your burglar bars and security gates are secure, and not affected by rust or damage. Check that electric fences are clear of debris and low hanging branches, and cut back overgrown foliage from perimeter walls and gates. Make sure your electric gate is still secure, and cannot be lifted off its rails.
7. Test your alarms: Contact your security company to test your house alarm, panic button and electric fence alarm. If your car has a vehicle tracking system, ask the tracking company to test that too.
8. Update your vehicle details: Are you still using your vehicle for private use only, or have you started using it for any kind of business too? Your vehicle is insured for the purpose you have listed on your policy. If this has changed, update your policy.
9. Add new regular drivers to your car insurance: Whether your teenager has just got their car licence, or you have sold a family vehicle and two drivers are sharing one car, you need to update the 'regular driver' section of your vehicle insurance policy.
10. Check your car's roadworthiness: It's good to start off every year with a roadworthy check on your car - even if you did one before your December road trip. If you're not sure what to check, take it to a professional.