The main guarantees
Car insurance combines several guarantees. Third-party liability covers damage you cause to another party with your vehicle; it is mandatory in most countries of the sub-region. On top of this base, additional guarantees can be added depending on the level chosen: theft, fire, windscreen damage, or damage to the insured vehicle itself.
- Third-party liability: damage caused to another party, the base guarantee.
- Theft and fire: the insured vehicle itself, in case of theft or fire.
- Windscreen damage: the windscreen and windows.
- All-accidents cover: damage to the insured vehicle, even when at fault.
Third-party, extended third-party, comprehensive: the guarantee levels
Car insurance offers are generally split into three levels. Basic third-party is limited to third-party liability. Extended third-party, sometimes called third-party plus, adds a few chosen guarantees such as theft or fire. Comprehensive additionally covers damage to the insured vehicle, including when the driver is at fault. The level chosen weighs more on the indicative price than most other criteria.
Deductible and coverage cap
The deductible is the part of a claim left to you; the coverage cap is the maximum amount reimbursed for a claim. Two offers at the same indicative price can have a very different deductible or cap. These are comparison criteria just as important as the price shown, especially for a recent or valuable vehicle.
The ECOWAS brown card, for travelling across the sub-region
The ECOWAS brown card is a third-party liability insurance certificate recognised in several countries of the Economic Community of West African States. It allows a vehicle to travel from one member country to another without taking out a new insurance policy at every border. The exact issuing conditions, its validity period and the countries covered depend on the insurer and the regulations in force. If you are planning a road trip to a neighbouring country, check before leaving whether your offer includes it or whether it must be requested separately.
Useful documents for a quote request
Before requesting a quote, it helps to prepare:
- the vehicle's registration document;
- the previous insurer's claims history statement, if available;
- the main driver's licence;
- a no-claims proof, when the previous insurer issues one.
Compare, then request a quote
Once the guarantees are clear, comparing indicative offers helps spot the guarantee levels and deductibles offered by partner brokers for this product in the chosen country. The final price, the brown card if it is included, and the exact conditions are confirmed by the partner broker after reviewing the request.