Quick answer
Proof of goods in transit (GIT) insurance is normally a GIT certificate, sometimes called a certificate or confirmation of cover. Your insurer issues it, usually through your broker. It shows who is insured, the insurer and policy number, the period of cover, the load limit and where you are covered. Cargo owners, freight brokers and load platforms often ask for it before they give you a load. It proves that cover exists. It does not change what the policy covers.
A GIT certificate at a glance
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | A document confirming that a goods in transit policy is in force |
| Who issues it? | Your insurer, usually requested through your broker |
| Who asks for it? | Cargo owners, freight brokers, load platforms and main contractors who subcontract loads |
| What does it show? | Insured name, insurer, policy number, period of cover, load limit, territorial limits and key conditions |
| What does it not do? | It does not extend or change your cover. The policy wording still decides claims |
| When should it be updated? | At renewal, and whenever your load limit, vehicles, goods or routes change |
Why clients ask for proof of GIT cover
When you load someone else’s goods, you carry their risk for the journey. If the load is stolen, hijacked, burnt or damaged in an accident, the cargo owner wants to know that cover is in place and that it is big enough. A certificate is the quickest way for them to check before your truck is loaded.
The risk is real. SAPS recorded 327 truck hijackings between April and June 2026, and 219 of them were in Gauteng, according to figures reported by Freight News. The Road Freight Association says the true number is likely higher because some operators no longer report incidents. Its CEO, Gavin Kelly, also noted that many hijackings are only reported because insurers require a case number. For a closer look at the numbers, see our article on truck hijacking trends in South Africa in 2026.
Contracts are the other reason. Many shippers write GIT requirements into their transport agreements and tenders, and some set a minimum amount of cover. A guide from the South African freight platform Kweli notes that most cargo owners want at least R500,000 of GIT cover. If your certificate shows less than a client needs, you may not get the load.
What a GIT certificate should show
The layout differs between insurers, but a useful certificate answers these questions:
- Insured name: the exact registered name of the business that signs the transport contract. If the contract is in your company’s name, the certificate should be too.
- Insurer and policy number: so the client can confirm that the policy exists.
- Period of insurance: the start and end dates. An expired certificate is one of the easiest reasons for a client to refuse a load.
- Load limit: the most the policy will pay for goods on one vehicle or one load, stated in rand.
- Territorial limits: whether you are covered only in South Africa or also on cross-border routes, and in which countries.
- Cover basis: the events the policy covers, such as theft, hijacking, fire, collision and overturning.
- Key conditions and excess: for example tracking, security or overnight parking requirements, and the excess that applies to a claim.
- Goods: any types of goods that are excluded or need the insurer’s approval.
- Broker details: the broker’s name and FSP number, so the client knows who to contact.
What cargo owners check before they load
A client who reads a GIT certificate properly will usually check five things. Check them yourself first.
| Check | Why it matters | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Load limit against the value of this load | If the goods are worth more than your limit, the difference is not covered | Ask your broker to raise the limit before you accept higher-value loads |
| Dates | An expired certificate suggests there is no cover | Ask for a new certificate as soon as your policy renews |
| Name | The certificate must match the company in the contract | Update the policy if you trade through a new company |
| Goods | Some goods are excluded or need specific approval | Tell your broker exactly what you carry, especially high-value goods |
| Routes | Cross-border loads need cover for those countries | Confirm the countries before you quote on the trip |
GIT cover and carrier’s liability: know which one you have
Some contracts ask for “goods in transit” cover and others ask for “carrier’s liability” cover. The terms are sometimes used loosely, but they are not always the same thing. GIT cover generally responds to loss of or damage to the goods from the events the policy names. Carrier’s liability cover generally responds when you, as the transporter, are legally liable to the cargo owner for a loss.
If a contract names a specific type of cover, a minimum limit, or asks for the client to be noted on your policy, send that clause to your broker before you sign. It is easier to arrange the right cover first than to argue about it after a claim.
How to get proof of GIT cover through Cross-Cover
- Get a GIT policy in place. Our online quote form asks for your company details, the number of vehicles, whether you are a transporter, transport broker or cargo owner, whether the vehicles are South African or foreign registered, your maximum load value (the minimum is R300,000), the goods you carry, where you need cover, and your insurance and claims history.
- Tell us who needs the certificate. Give us the client’s name and any requirements from their contract, such as a minimum limit or specific wording.
- We arrange the certificate with the insurer and send it to you to forward to your client.
- Keep it current. Ask for an updated certificate at renewal and whenever your limit, vehicles, goods or routes change.
Cross-Cover arranges GIT cover for loads moved within South Africa and, subject to underwriting, on cross-border routes into Botswana, Lesotho, Eswatini, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Malawi, Zambia, Tanzania, Kenya, Angola and the DRC (no further north than Kolwezi). If you are still working out what cover will cost, our guide to how much GIT insurance costs explains what drives the premium.
What a certificate does not do
A certificate is a summary. It does not replace the policy wording or extend your cover. If a load is worth more than your limit, or a loss falls under an exclusion, the certificate will not change the outcome of the claim. Our guide to goods in transit insurance exclusions covers the most common gaps. Make sure the conditions in your policy, such as tracking or secure parking, are followed on every trip.
Checklist before you accept a new contract
- Your load limit is at least the highest value you will carry on one vehicle, not the average.
- Your certificate is current and in the name of the company signing the contract.
- The goods and routes in the contract are covered by your policy.
- You can meet the security conditions in your policy on every trip.
- You know your excess and have budgeted for it.
- Your drivers know how to report a loss quickly, including getting a SAPS case number after a theft or hijacking.
Frequently asked questions
No. The certificate confirms that a policy is in force and summarises the main details. The policy wording sets out exactly what is covered, what is excluded and what conditions apply.
It depends on the client and the goods. Many cargo owners set a minimum in their contracts, and R500,000 is often quoted in the industry. Set your load limit to the highest value you carry on one vehicle, not the average load.
Cross-Cover’s quote form accepts both South African and foreign-registered vehicles. Cover is subject to underwriting and depends on the routes and goods involved.
Not always. Many clients accept a standard certificate, while others want their name or specific wording included. Ask your broker when a contract has special requirements.
GIT cover is usually a requirement set by cargo owners and freight contracts rather than something the law requires of every transporter. In practice, many transporters cannot win work without it.
Related reading
- How much is GIT insurance?
- Goods in Transit Insurance Exclusions Explained
- Truck Hijacking Trends in South Africa 2026
- What our GIT insurance covers
Sources
- Freight News: SAPS truck hijacking figures for April to June 2026, with Road Freight Association comment (1 September 2026)
- Freight News: Road Freight Association on under-reporting of hijackings (24 February 2026)
- Kweli: guide to finding loads for trucks in Southern Africa
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).