With the Easter Holidays upon us, many are preparing to embark on their favoured holiday pastimes.  However, before you do that, don’t overlook the added benefits of your homeowners and vehicle insurance policy, as you may find a few things that can prove to be very handy.

This is according to Mandy Barrett of insurance brokerage and risk advisors, Aon South Africa.  “Amidst the sombre state of South Africa’s economy, something that is free of charge and aimed at helping you when you need it most, is a rare find,” says Mandy.  “Many people are blissfully unaware of the versatile and helpful added benefits that are bolted onto their homeowners and vehicle insurance policies.  These value added products and services are very often under-utilised as most people don’t make the time to go through the offerings.  But they can prove to be gold when mishaps have the potential to spiral into disasters,” says Mandy.

Would it surprise you to know that many vehicle insurance policies include roadside and breakdown assistance?  “If you have a flat tyre or need to jump start a flat battery, not to mention your keys that were accidentally locked in the car, one phone call can solve these issues for you at no extra cost, anywhere in the country,” says Mandy.  “You could even have a free towing service attached to your policy, that will ensure that your vehicle is towed to a service station in the event of a breakdown or that your vehicle is in safe hands, following an accident.  If your partner decides to live on the wild side and take a scenic drive to your holiday destination and get hopelessly lost in the process, one phone call could easily get you back on track and headed in the right direction,” she adds.

Added value benefits on your homeowners insurances may even include household and appliance assist, that provides a solution to home emergencies.  An example is the breakdown of a major household appliance, such as your washing machine or geyser, which in most cases includes the call-out fee of a technician and one hour of labour,” explains Mandy.

“If you ever find yourself in a pickle, your insurance agreement may even go as far as providing acces to legal assistance in the form of legal advice, or even in the provision of standard legal contracts and documentation that you may need,” adds Mandy.

When times are tough, most people understand the need to tighten their belts and are always on the lookout for ways to save money.  “Always check for added value benefits in your insurance policy and speak to your broker about getting the very best value for money from insurance spend – you may be really surprised by the hidden gems in the fine print.   It’s also a great idea to add your broker’s claims call centre number to your list of contacts so that its easily accessible when you need it,” concludes Mandy.