• By Raymond Momanyi

Compare Motor Insurance Companies in Kenya | 2026 Guide

Compare seven motor insurance companies in Kenya by vehicle eligibility, excesses, benefits, claims terms and payment options before requesting quotations.

The cheapest car insurance quotation in Kenya is not necessarily the best quotation.

A policy can look affordable until an accident happens and you discover that the excess is higher than expected, the vehicle’s use was declared incorrectly or an important benefit was never included.

That is why motorists should compare more than premium.

The right motor insurer depends on the vehicle’s age, value, make, condition, usage, claims history, required benefits and the insurer’s underwriting rules.

This guide examines seven motor insurance companies that may appear in quotations facilitated by Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd. It explains what Kenyan motorists should compare before choosing comprehensive, third-party, commercial or PSV motor insurance.

The companies are not ranked from best to worst. No single insurer is automatically the best choice for every vehicle owner.

Quick Answer: Which Is the Best Car Insurance Company in Kenya?

There is no universally best motor insurance company in Kenya.

The best option for a particular motorist is normally the insurer that:

1. Accepts the vehicle and its actual use.
2. Provides the appropriate type of motor cover.
3. Offers reasonable excesses and deductibles.
4. Includes useful benefits with adequate limits.
5. Provides the required optional extensions.
6. Has suitable repair and settlement conditions.
7. Offers manageable premium-payment terms.
8. Has clear claims-notification procedures.
9. Issues terms through a duly licensed insurance channel.

The Insurance Regulatory Authority maintains registers of licensed insurers and insurance intermediaries operating in Kenya. Motorists should confirm the regulatory status of an insurer or intermediary before paying for cover.

If you are still deciding between the major levels of protection, begin with Imana’s guide to Comprehensive and Third-Party Motor Insurance in Kenya.

Why Motor Insurance Comparison Matters

Two insurers can receive exactly the same vehicle information and produce different quotations.

The differences may arise from:

• Comprehensive insurance rates
• Minimum premiums
• Vehicle-age restrictions
• Acceptable makes and models
• Theft exposure
• Claims history
• Vehicle usage
• Excess requirements
• Free-benefit limits
• Optional extensions
• Valuation requirements
• Payment arrangements
• Current underwriting appetite

A quotation is therefore not simply a price. It is a collection of terms, conditions, limits and obligations.

Comparing quotations through ImanaInsurance.com can help you see these differences before selecting cover.

Seven Motor Insurance Companies to Compare in Kenya

The following companies form a selected comparison group. Their inclusion does not amount to a ranking or guarantee that every company will accept every vehicle.

Insurance products, rates and underwriting rules can change. The applicable terms are those shown in the insurer’s final quotation, policy schedule and policy wording.

1. CIC General Insurance

CIC provides private and commercial motor insurance solutions in Kenya. Its motor offerings may include comprehensive and third-party protection, subject to the applicable product and underwriting requirements. CIC also operates EasyBima, a motor-insurance payment solution marketed around instalment-based access to cover. (Best Insurance Company Kenya)

When reviewing a CIC motor quotation, check:

• Whether your vehicle qualifies
• The comprehensive insurance rate
• Minimum premium
• Standard accidental-damage excess
• Theft excess
• Young or inexperienced-driver excess
• Windscreen and entertainment-system limits
• Towing and roadside-assistance benefits
• Excess Protector availability
• Political Violence and Terrorism cover
• Payment arrangement
• Conditions attached to any instalment option

An instalment arrangement should not be evaluated by the monthly amount alone. Confirm the deposit, total premium, payment dates and consequences of missing an instalment.

2. Fidelity Shield Insurance

Fidelity Shield may provide motor insurance for eligible private, commercial and other acceptable vehicle classes.

The critical question is whether the insurer accepts the vehicle’s actual use.

A vehicle insured for private purposes should not automatically be used for taxi, ride-hailing, paid passenger transport, courier services or other forms of hire and reward. Such activities can require a different motor classification.

When considering a Fidelity quotation, examine:

• Permitted vehicle use
• Vehicle-age limits
• Eligible makes and models
• Claims-history requirements
• Comprehensive insurance rate
• Accidental-damage excess
• Theft conditions
• Loss-of-use provisions
• Optional benefits
• Repair arrangements

Always ensure that the policy schedule reflects how the vehicle is genuinely used.

3. Heritage Insurance

Heritage is another insurer motorists may consider when comparing comprehensive motor insurance terms in Kenya.

Vehicle eligibility may depend on factors such as:

• Year of manufacture
• Vehicle value
• Make and model
• General condition
• Claims history
• Security arrangements
• Availability of spare parts
• Intended use

Before selecting a Heritage quotation, compare its windscreen and entertainment-system limits against the actual replacement cost of those items.

Modern vehicles can have windscreens fitted with cameras, sensors, heating elements and driver-assistance technology. A benefit limit that works for an older vehicle may be insufficient for a newer one.

Also confirm:

• Excess Protector terms
• Theft excess
• Political Violence and Terrorism protection
• Courtesy-car or loss-of-use options
• Approved-garage requirements
• Valuation conditions
• Total-loss settlement method

4. Intra Africa Assurance

Intra Africa may offer motor insurance for vehicles that satisfy its prevailing underwriting requirements.

The quotation can be influenced by:

• Vehicle make
• Model
• Age
• Value
• Usage
• Claims experience
• Required extensions

Do not assume that a quoted comprehensive rate applies to every vehicle. Some makes, models, values or uses may attract special terms or require individual underwriting.

Before accepting an Intra Africa quotation, establish:

• Whether the vehicle is eligible
• Whether valuation is required
• The applicable rate and minimum premium
• Standard excesses
• Theft-related conditions
• Excess Protector cost
• Political Violence and Terrorism terms
• Courtesy-car availability
• Windscreen limit
• Repair authorisation requirements

5. Old Mutual General Insurance

Old Mutual provides private and commercial motor-insurance solutions in Kenya. Its private motor cover is presented as protection for the insured vehicle, while its commercial offering caters for vehicles used in business operations.

The correct product depends heavily on vehicle use.

A privately used car, company pickup, delivery van, taxi and general-cartage vehicle should not be treated as the same exposure.

When comparing an Old Mutual quotation, consider:

• Private or commercial classification
• Comprehensive, Third-Party Fire and Theft or Third-Party Only cover
• Vehicle valuation
• Excess requirements
• Optional extensions
• Benefit limits
• Repair conditions
• Settlement terms
• Premium-payment structure
• COMESA extension requirements

Motorists travelling outside Kenya should separately confirm territorial limits and whether a COMESA Yellow Card or another cross-border extension is required.

6. Pioneer General Insurance

Pioneer provides conventional motor insurance and also markets EV Care, a comprehensive product for eligible electric motorcycles, cars and buses.

For petrol or diesel vehicles, compare the ordinary motor-policy provisions, including:

• Rate and minimum premium
• Excesses
• Valuation requirements
• Free benefits
• Optional extensions
• Theft conditions
• Repair arrangements
• Payment terms

For an electric vehicle, additional questions become important:

• Is the traction battery covered?
• Is accidental damage to charging equipment covered?
• Are charging cables included?
• How is battery depreciation handled?
• Are specialist repairers available?
• Is out-of-charge recovery provided?
• Are electrical faults excluded?
• What happens if replacement components are unavailable?
• How will a total loss be calculated?

An ordinary motor quotation should not automatically be assumed to provide appropriate protection for an electric vehicle.

7. SanlamAllianz General Insurance

SanlamAllianz provides general-insurance solutions and maintains motor quotation and policy channels in Kenya. Available protection may include comprehensive motor insurance, subject to the relevant policy and underwriting criteria. (ke.sanlamallianz.com)

When reviewing a SanlamAllianz quotation, examine:

• Vehicle eligibility
• Applicable comprehensive rate
• Minimum premium
• Free-benefit limits
• Excess Protector
• Political Violence and Terrorism cover
• Theft conditions
• Repair requirements
• Total-loss settlement
• Instalment terms
• Special conditions shown on the schedule

Benefits may vary with vehicle value, selected product and underwriting terms. Always rely on the final written quotation rather than a general product summary.

Eligibility Comes Before Premium

A low premium means little if the insurer does not accept the vehicle or its actual use.

Before comparing prices, disclose:

• Registration number
• Make and model
• Year of manufacture
• Chassis number, where required
• Current market value
• Vehicle condition
• Ownership details
• Previous claims
• Modifications
• Security devices
• Primary drivers
• Intended vehicle use

Some vehicles may require a professional valuation before comprehensive cover begins.

Older vehicles, rare models, modified vehicles, high-performance cars and vehicles with limited spare-parts availability may attract additional conditions.

The insurer may:

• Request photographs
• Require a valuation
• Apply a higher excess
• Restrict certain benefits
• Adjust the premium
• Impose theft conditions
• Decline comprehensive protection
• Offer Third-Party Only cover instead

These are underwriting decisions. An insurance intermediary can help clarify and compare them, but cannot force an insurer to accept a particular risk.

Private, Commercial and PSV Use Must Be Declared Correctly

How a vehicle is used can be just as important as its value.

Private use

Private motor insurance generally relates to social, domestic and leisure use, together with any other use expressly permitted by the schedule.

It should not automatically be assumed to cover commercial deliveries, hire and reward or paid passenger transport.

Commercial use

Commercial motor insurance may apply to pickups, vans, trucks and other vehicles used for business.

The correct classification may depend on whether the vehicle carries:

• The owner’s goods
• Other people’s goods for payment
• Agricultural produce
• Construction materials
• Commercial equipment
• Dangerous or specialised cargo

PSV and ride-hailing use

A taxi, matatu, bus or ride-hailing vehicle carries a different risk from a privately operated car.

If a vehicle is used for Uber, Bolt, Little Cab or another paid passenger service, the insurer must be informed and the appropriate PSV or taxi classification used.

Learn more through Imana’s Motor and PSV Insurance page.

Using the wrong insurance class may expose the policyholder to serious problems during a claim.

Compare Excesses Before Comparing Premiums

An excess is the portion of an insured loss that the policyholder must bear.

A motor policy can contain more than one excess. Depending on the policy, these may include:

• Standard accidental-damage excess
• Theft excess
• Young-driver excess
• Inexperienced-driver excess
• Unauthorised-driver excess
• Total-loss excess
• Additional excess imposed through underwriting

Suppose one quotation is KSh 5,000 cheaper but carries a substantially larger accidental-damage excess. The saving can disappear after one claim.

Ask each insurer or intermediary:

1. What is the standard excess?
2. Is it a percentage or fixed amount?
3. Is there a minimum excess?
4. Which additional excesses can apply?
5. Is Excess Protector available?
6. Which excesses are not protected by Excess Protector?

Read Imana’s guide to insurance excess and Excess Protector before accepting comprehensive cover.

Excess Protector should never be described as removing every possible contribution. Its protection remains subject to the policy wording, exclusions and applicable conditions.

Examine Free-Benefit Limits

Comprehensive motor policies may include benefits such as:

• Windscreen protection
• Entertainment-system cover
• Towing
• Emergency medical expenses
• Roadside assistance
• Personal-accident benefits

The word “included” does not tell you whether the benefit is adequate.

For every benefit, ask:

• What is the monetary limit?
• Does an excess apply?
• How many claims are allowed?
• Does the benefit require reinstatement after use?
• Does the insurer need to approve the provider?
• Are cameras, sensors or specialised equipment covered?
• Is the benefit available throughout Kenya?

A KSh 30,000 windscreen limit may be sufficient for one car but inadequate for a vehicle with specialised glass and embedded safety technology.

Compare Optional Motor Insurance Benefits

Optional extensions can materially change both the premium and the usefulness of a policy.

Excess Protector

This may protect the policyholder against an eligible standard excess following a covered loss.

Political Violence and Terrorism

This extension may provide protection against specified losses connected to political violence or terrorism, subject to its wording and exclusions.

Courtesy car

Courtesy-car protection may provide access to a temporary replacement vehicle under defined circumstances.

Loss of use

Loss-of-use benefits generally provide a stated cash amount for an agreed number of days after an eligible claim.

Road rescue

Road-rescue benefits may provide towing or assistance after a breakdown or covered accident.

Enhanced windscreen cover

A higher windscreen limit may be useful for vehicles with expensive glass or embedded technology.

Personal accident

Personal-accident benefits may provide specified compensation following accidental injury, disability or death.

Never assume that an optional benefit is included merely because it appeared in a previous policy or an online advertisement. It should be shown in the final quotation and policy schedule.

Repair and Claims Terms Matter

Most motorists focus on the buying stage. The real test often comes after an accident.

Before selecting an insurer, ask:

• How quickly should a claim be reported?
• Which documents will be required?
• Must towing receive prior approval?
• Can the vehicle be taken to any garage?
• Does the insurer use approved repairers?
• Who appoints the motor assessor?
• When can repairs begin?
• Can the insurer offer a cash settlement?
• How are repair disputes handled?
• How is a total loss determined?

After an accident, avoid authorising major repairs before the insurer has inspected the vehicle and issued the necessary approval.

Imana’s guide on what to do immediately after a car accident in Kenya explains the initial safety, reporting and documentation steps.

Existing Imana customers can also submit a notification through the Claims Request page.

How Total-Loss Settlements Can Differ from Expectations

The amount shown as the sum insured should not automatically be treated as a guaranteed payout.

A total-loss settlement may be affected by:

• Pre-accident market value
• Underinsurance
• The average clause
• Applicable excess
• Outstanding premium
• Financier interest
• Salvage arrangements
• Policy limits
• Fraud or non-disclosure concerns

If the car is financed, the insurer may first recognise the financier’s interest. The policyholder should understand how any outstanding loan balance interacts with the insurance settlement.

A proper valuation can help reduce disputes about the vehicle’s market value, but the final settlement remains subject to the policy.

Can Car Insurance Be Paid in Instalments?

Instalments may be available for eligible comprehensive motor policies, depending on the insurer, premium amount and agreed arrangement.

Before accepting instalments, confirm:

• Initial deposit
• Number of instalments
• Due dates
• Total premium payable
• Whether additional charges apply
• When the policy becomes effective
• What happens if a payment is missed
• Whether a claim can be settled while premium remains outstanding

Third-Party Only policies are commonly paid in one amount, although short-term products may be available for certain vehicle classes.

Do not confuse a short-term insurance policy with an instalment towards annual cover. They are different arrangements.

Which Insurer May Suit Your Situation?

If you have an older vehicle

Prioritise vehicle-age acceptance, valuation requirements, available comprehensive terms and excesses.

If you drive for Uber, Bolt or another platform

Prioritise correct PSV or taxi classification, passenger liability, downtime protection and claims conditions.

If your vehicle is financed

Prioritise financier requirements, valuation, comprehensive protection and total-loss settlement terms.

If you own an electric vehicle

Prioritise battery cover, charging equipment, specialist repairs, recovery services and component availability.

If you depend on the vehicle every day

Consider towing, roadside assistance, courtesy-car and loss-of-use benefits.

If you own a high-value vehicle

Review theft conditions, tracking requirements, repairer options, spare-parts availability and total-loss methodology.

If your main concern is affordability

Compare the complete annual premium together with the excess. The lowest premium may carry a greater financial contribution during a claim.

Ten Questions to Ask Before Selecting a Motor Insurer

Before accepting a quotation, ask:

1. Does the insurer accept my vehicle?
2. Is the vehicle’s actual use correctly stated?
3. What level of motor insurance am I buying?
4. What excesses could apply?
5. Is Excess Protector included or optional?
6. What are the limits for free benefits?
7. Which important benefits cost extra?
8. What repair and total-loss conditions apply?
9. Can the premium be paid in instalments?
10. Who will guide me if I have a claim?

These questions reveal far more than the premium at the bottom of the quotation.

How to Request Comparable Motor Insurance Quotations

For a meaningful comparison, provide the same information to every participating insurer.

You may be asked for:

• Copy of the logbook
• National ID or passport
• KRA PIN
• Vehicle registration number
• Make and model
• Year of manufacture
• Current estimated value
• Vehicle use
• Previous insurance information
• Claims history
• Preferred extensions
• Financier details, where applicable
• Current valuation report, if available

Providing incomplete or inconsistent information can result in quotations that cannot be compared fairly.

Request your quotations through Imana’s Motor Insurance quotation page.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which are the best car insurance companies in Kenya?

There is no single best insurer for every motorist. The right option depends on vehicle eligibility, use, value, excesses, benefits, claims terms and premium.

Is the cheapest car insurance quotation the best?

Not necessarily. A cheaper policy may carry higher excesses, lower benefit limits or fewer extensions.

Can an older car obtain comprehensive insurance?

Some insurers accept older vehicles subject to valuation, condition, make, model and underwriting approval. Available options may reduce as the vehicle gets older.

Does private motor insurance cover Uber or Bolt?

Private insurance should not be assumed to cover ride-hailing. Paid passenger use must be disclosed and insured under an appropriate policy or endorsement.

What is the difference between comprehensive and Third-Party Only insurance?

Third-Party Only insurance principally protects against specified liabilities to other people. Comprehensive insurance may additionally cover accidental damage, theft and fire affecting the insured vehicle, subject to policy terms.

Is Excess Protector automatically included?

No. It may be included, offered as an optional benefit or unavailable, depending on the insurer and quotation.

Can I pay comprehensive insurance monthly?

Some insurers offer instalment arrangements for eligible policies. Confirm the deposit, due dates, total premium and missed-payment consequences.

How long does it take to receive a motor insurance quotation?

Straightforward quotations can often be prepared quickly after complete vehicle and customer information is received. Unusual, high-value, modified, older or previously damaged vehicles may require additional underwriting.

Can Imana guarantee that an insurer will pay my claim?

No insurance intermediary can responsibly guarantee claim payment. A claim is assessed by the insurer against the facts, evidence, premium status, policy schedule, wording, conditions and exclusions.

Final Verdict

The phrase “best car insurance company in Kenya” sounds simple, but the honest answer is personal.

An insurer that suits a privately used family car may not be suitable for an older vehicle, a financed car, an electric vehicle or a ride-hailing taxi.

Begin with eligibility. Confirm the correct vehicle use. Compare excesses, benefits, exclusions, repair conditions and settlement terms. Only then should you compare premiums.

Cheap insurance can look beautiful on renewal day and become painfully expensive on claim day.

The strongest quotation is the one whose terms you understand before you pay.

Compare Motor Insurance Quotations in Kenya

Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd helps individuals, families and businesses compare motor insurance quotations from licensed Kenyan insurers.

The comparison can consider:

• Premium
• Payment structure
• Excesses
• Free-benefit limits
• Optional-benefit costs
• Vehicle-use conditions
• Valuation requirements
• Claims procedures

Request a Motor Insurance Quote

For quotation comparison and customer enquiries, visit www.imanainsurance.com.

For insurance information and authority resources, visit www.imana.co.ke.

For travel and medical insurance comparison, visit www.mykava.co.ke.

Contact Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd

Imana Insurance Agency Kenya Ltd
4th Floor, Krishna Centre
Woodvale Grove, Westlands, Nairobi, Kenya

Call/WhatsApp: +254 796 209 402

Authority website: www.imana.co.ke
Quotation website: www.imanainsurance.com
Travel and medical comparison: www.mykava.co.ke

Author: Imana Insurance Admin Team

Disclaimer: Motor-insurance premiums, acceptance criteria, excesses, benefits and payment arrangements may change. Cover is subject to underwriting approval, payment of premium, the policy schedule, endorsements, exclusions and complete policy wording. Confirm all terms in writing before purchasing insurance.