Motor trade cover explained

Vehicle Stock Insurance

Vehicle stock insurance protects vehicles held for sale against insured physical loss or damage at declared premises and, where arranged, in transit or on demonstration. Values and maximum accumulations must be kept current; ordinary business contents insurance is not designed for motor stock.

What is normally covered

  • New and used vehicles owned as trading stock
  • Consignment vehicles where the trader has an insurable interest
  • Fire, storm, hail and accidental impact where selected
  • Theft subject to security and key conditions
  • Optional road, demonstration and transit extensions

What is normally excluded

  • Normal depreciation or reduced resale value
  • Latent defects, wear and mechanical breakdown
  • Fraudulent purchase, title defects or finance disputes
  • Undeclared overflow yards or concentrations
  • Vehicles used privately or rented out
  • Underinsurance where stock values exceed the declared maximum
Realistic claim example

A hailstorm damages a dealer’s outdoor stock

A severe Gauteng hailstorm dents 18 used vehicles parked in the dealership yard.

How cover may respond: If hail is selected, the stock section may pay reasonable repair costs subject to the accumulation limit, excess and valuation basis.

Important: The maximum value at risk—not the average monthly stock—should have been declared.

Who needs this cover

  • New-vehicle dealerships
  • Used-car dealers and wholesalers
  • Commercial-vehicle and motorcycle dealers
  • Auctioneers or consignment sellers with an insurable interest

Information insurers require

  • Maximum stock value at each location
  • Highest individual value and stock mix
  • Ownership, floorplan finance and consignment arrangements
  • Outdoor versus indoor parking and catastrophe controls
  • Keys, tracking, CCTV, barriers and access control

What affects the premium

  • Maximum accumulation and concentration
  • Hail, flood, fire and theft exposure
  • Vehicle type, age and value
  • Premises protection and key control
  • Transit and demonstration extensions
Relevant trade pages

Cover should match the way you trade

Related cover

Get cover based on your actual risk

Tell us what vehicles you handle, where they are kept and how they are used. A specialist can compare suitable terms and explain the important conditions before you bind cover.

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This is a general explanation, not advice or a policy contract. Cover is subject to the insurer’s schedule, wording, limits, excesses and conditions.