Malicious damage is damage that is the direct result from the deliberate or wilful act of someone whose clear intention (plan or purpose) was to cause this damage. An example of malicious damage to your car can be someone deliberately scratching the paintwork on your car with a sharp object. Insurance cover against malicious damage can be taken out in the form of an extension to your normal car insurance policy.

Some policies such as executive car or vintage car insurance automatically includes malicious damage cover, think of the price of damage that can be caused to a soft top vintage car. In South Africa SASRIA cover, which is normally included in car insurance policies will cover malicious damage that is the result of political, riot and strike action, but it does not cover malicious damage falling outside the SASRIA definition. The term malicious damage also excludes the damage caused by the theft or attempted theft of a car. Malicious damage caused during an attempt or the actual theft of a car is covered under theft.

Do not take for granted that your policy includes malicious damage cover, check your policy and ask your broker or insurance company about this extension if you feel that you need this additional cover.