Hyenas Cross Here, and Not Just the Road
Women in Wheels reports South Africans steal a large number of vehicles on a daily basis. We know they have a plan to redistribute wealth. Could this be a case of locals mucking in to support their government? Anything is possible in the ‘rainbow nation’, where presumably everything goes including the wheels from your rental car overnight.
Women on Wheels Travel Advisory
Women on Wheels staff reporter Caira-Lee thinks your chances of rental car theft are fairly likely. At least at some time in your life if you are a regular hirer. However, she cannot recommend trying to recover the vehicle yourself. Cars stolen in South Africa end up in informal settlements where chop shops rip them apart in a few hours for spares.
What to Do When Your Car Rental Goes AWOL
Instead, she recommends finding a police station, and filing a report. They will ask for details about the vehicle, and where it was, when you last saw it. If you lost the rental contract and the keys in the incident, then you may have difficulty proving you are not just wasting time. The car theft police are busy people, perhaps phone the rental company first.
The rental company loss waiver will have a tiny clause in it requiring you to report the loss within 24 hours, and furnish them with a copy of the police report. This can be tricky if someone hijacked your car in Kruger National Park, and you are up a thorn tree fending hyenas away with your shoes. But do persist. If a rental company invalidates their waiver, you may need to go to court to enforce your rights.
If you used your credit card to pay for the hire - but declined their offer for insurance - then Caira-Lee introduces this possibility: “Most of the time, credit card companies assist their client in finding secondary coverage offers”. We find it hard to believe anybody would back-fit insurance on a stolen car. Our job is to report dispassionately on news relating to our business as we find it.
Alternatively, Simplify Your Life with Bonzah
After going over these tips you will probably agree theft and damage cover is a good thing to have when visiting South Africa and hiring a car. Bonzah offers up to $35,000 insurance cover against a rental car suffering damage or theft. This comes at a fraction of what hire and credit card companies expect. We do not have any first deductible amounts or similar surprises either.
You see, we don’t believe in giving with one hand and taking some back with the other. We just want to be there for you when you need us most.
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Hyenas Cross Here and Not Just the Road: US Geological Survey BY Public Domain