Quick answer
Goods in transit (GIT) insurance pays for the goods you are carrying if they are lost or damaged on the road, for example in an accident, a fire, a theft or a hijacking. It covers the load, not the truck. For an owner-driver it is usually the first cover clients ask about, because it protects their goods while they are in your hands. Cross-Cover arranges GIT for commercial vehicles over 3,500 kg tare, with load limits from R300,000.
What is GIT insurance?
GIT is short-term insurance for cargo while it is moved by road. The policy sets a load limit, which is the most it will pay for one load. If a covered event damages or destroys the goods, the insurer pays for the loss up to that limit, less your excess.
Three groups buy it: transporters who carry other people’s goods, transport brokers who arrange loads, and cargo owners who move their own stock. The wording differs slightly for each, which is why our quote form asks which one you are.
What GIT usually covers
- Accident, collision and overturning
- Fire and explosion
- Theft and hijacking, subject to the policy’s security conditions
- Damage while loading and offloading, where the wording includes it
- Storm and flood damage during the journey, depending on the wording
Extensions can add riot and strike cover through SASRIA, debris removal, pollution clean-up and cross-border cover. Our comprehensive GIT cover checklist goes through them one by one.
What GIT does not cover
- The truck or trailer itself, which needs commercial vehicle insurance
- Damage you cause to other people’s property, which needs liability cover
- Delays, missed deliveries and lost income
- Goods the policy excludes or only covers with extra security
- Losses that happen while a policy condition was not met
For the detail, read why GIT claims get declined.
How a GIT claim pays out
Say a hijacking takes a load worth R420,000 and your load limit is R500,000. Once the claim is accepted, the insurer pays for the goods, R420,000, less your excess. If the same load had been worth R650,000, the most the policy would pay is R500,000, and the rest would be your problem. Whether the value is based on the invoice or on cost depends on your policy wording.
Our step-by-step GIT claims guide explains what to do from the moment a load is lost.
Do owner-drivers need GIT?
There is no general law that requires it, but many cargo owners, freight brokers and load platforms will not give you work without proof of cover. Kweli, a load-matching platform, notes that most cargo owners want to see at least R500,000 of GIT cover. Your broker issues a GIT certificate that you can send to clients.
GIT terms in one table
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Load limit | The most the policy pays for one load |
| Excess | The part of each claim you pay yourself |
| GIT certificate | A document that proves your cover is in force |
| SASRIA | The state insurer that covers riot, strike and public unrest |
| Carrier’s liability | What you are responsible for as the transporter under the law or your contract |
| Security conditions | Rules such as tracking or secure parking that must be met for cover to apply |
How to get a GIT quote
Have your company details, number of vehicles, the goods you carry, your maximum load value, the areas you drive in, and your insurance and claims history ready. Then complete the online quote form or call Justin Cripps on 083 357 5553.
Frequently asked questions
Goods in transit. GIT insurance covers goods while they are being transported, usually by road.
They overlap. GIT usually refers to road transport within South Africa and neighbouring countries. Marine cargo insurance normally covers imports and exports by sea or air, often including the road leg.
Either can. Transporters buy it to protect loads in their care and to win work, and cargo owners may insure their own goods. Check your contracts so you know who is responsible for what.
It depends on your load limit, the goods you carry, your routes, your security and your claims record. Our guide on how much GIT insurance costs explains each factor.
Your company details, number of vehicles, the goods you carry, your maximum load value, where you drive, and your insurance and claims history.
Related reading
- How much is GIT insurance?
- Choosing your GIT load limit
- GIT vs carrier’s liability vs marine cargo
- Proof of goods in transit insurance
Sources
This article is general information, not financial advice. Cover depends on underwriting and the policy wording. Cross-Cover Insurance Brokers is an authorised financial services provider (FSP 14628).