Every car on a Kenyan road must be insured for at least third-party liability. Insurance is issued with a digital certificate you can check online and that the police can verify on the road.

Types of cover

  • Third party only (TPO) - the legal minimum. Covers injury to other people and damage to their property. Does not cover your own car.
  • Third party, fire and theft (TPFT) - adds cover if your car is stolen or burnt.
  • Comprehensive - covers your own car too, for accidents, theft, fire and more. Needed if the car is financed, and sensible for any car you could not afford to lose.

What it costs

  • Third party cover for a private car typically costs somewhere around KES 5,000 to 15,000 a year.
  • Comprehensive cover is priced as a percentage of the car’s value - commonly around 3.5% to 7% a year. Many insurers apply a minimum premium, often around KES 37,500.
  • Levies set by law are added to the premium.

The rate depends on the car, its value, your age and driving record, where you park it, and the insurer.

Add-ons worth knowing

  • Excess protector - removes or reduces the excess (the part of each claim you pay yourself). Often worth it in Nairobi traffic.
  • Political violence and terrorism (PVT) - covers damage during riots and protests, which standard policies usually exclude.
  • Courtesy car - a hire car while yours is repaired.
  • Windscreen and radio cover, often with separate limits.
  • Tracking - many insurers require a tracker for valuable cars and may give a discount for one.

Buying cover

  • Through a licensed broker - compares insurers and helps with claims.
  • Directly from an insurer or its app.
  • Through your bank, if the car is financed.

Check that the insurer is licensed by the Insurance Regulatory Authority, and verify the certificate online.

Valuation

For comprehensive cover, the car is insured at its current market value, set by a valuation. Keep the value up to date: insuring for too much costs more without paying out more, and too little means a lower payout.

Making a claim

  1. At the scene - stay safe, take photos, swap details, and don’t admit fault.
  2. Report to the police and get an abstract.
  3. Notify the insurer as soon as possible, within the policy’s deadline.
  4. Assessment - the insurer’s assessor inspects the car and approves the repair, usually at an approved garage.

After buying a used car

The previous owner’s policy does not pass to you. Insure it in your name before driving it away. See Transferring a logbook.

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