Young South African motorists are increasingly opting for more affordable and practical vehicles as the cost of living puts pressure on household budgets, while still maintaining comprehensive insurance cover.
The findings come from an analysis of customer data by Naked Insurance covering two comparable 12-month periods, from July 2022 to July 2023 and July 2025 to July 2026, involving motorists aged 28 and younger. The data provides a snapshot of how younger drivers are balancing the cost of buying and running a vehicle with the need to protect it.
Volkswagen remains the most popular vehicle brand among the younger customers surveyed, retaining the position it held three years ago. Suzuki, however, has moved from third place to second, with more than one in eight of the younger customers now insuring a Suzuki.
The shift towards Suzuki reflects the growing importance of affordability and practicality. The average retail value of a Suzuki is 12% lower than that of the Volkswagen models quoted on by younger drivers.
Despite choosing more affordable vehicles, younger motorists have not shown a significant move away from comprehensive insurance. According to the data, 98.9% of customers aged 28 and younger currently choose comprehensive cover, compared with 98.5% three years ago.
The average insured value of vehicles owned by this age group has also increased by about 22%, from R208 000 to R262 000. This reflects both general increases in vehicle prices and changes in the mix of models being insured.
There are, however, signs that younger motorists are looking for other ways to reduce their monthly costs. Fewer are opting for car hire as an additional benefit, with take up falling from 19.2% three years ago to 14.9% now.
They are also accepting higher excesses. The average excess has increased from R5 500 to R8 ,000 over the same period.
Around one in five younger customers also take out shortfall cover, which can protect against the difference between the outstanding finance on a vehicle and its insured value if the vehicle is written off.
The findings suggest that younger motorists are not necessarily sacrificing protection to reduce costs. Instead, they appear to be making compromises elsewhere, choosing vehicles that offer better value while retaining comprehensive insurance and adjusting optional benefits and excesses to make motoring more affordable.
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