A car without music feels incomplete. Anyone who’s driven a long stretch of the N1 between Johannesburg and Cape Town, or sat in Joburg traffic on a Friday evening, knows that the right playlist can mean the difference between frustration and survival. And for many South African drivers, upgrading a car’s sound system is almost a rite of passage. A factory radio might do the job, but it rarely excites. People add subwoofers, amplifiers, Bluetooth head units, or—at the very least—better speakers.
But here’s the catch: those upgrades aren’t cheap. A proper sound system can cost tens of thousands of rand. And unfortunately, thieves know this all too well. Sound system theft is one of those realities many drivers don’t talk about until it happens to them. You park at a mall thinking you’ll be fine for 20 minutes, only to return to broken glass and silence where your speakers once lived.
This is where Old Mutual’s Sound System Cover comes in—a niche add-on that’s quietly practical, even if it doesn’t sound as glamorous as, say, “comprehensive cover” or “roadside assistance.” Yet, it raises questions too: is it really worth it, who benefits most, and is it just another clever way for insurers to charge us more?
Why Sound Systems Need Special Cover
Most people assume that when you take out comprehensive car insurance, all those extra fittings—the rims, the spoiler, the tinted windows, the upgraded radio—are automatically included. But that’s not always the case. Standard policies typically cover the vehicle as it was originally manufactured. Anything beyond that—aftermarket accessories or modifications—falls into a grey zone.
I learned this the hard way back in my twenties. I had spent months saving up for a Pioneer head unit and a set of 12-inch subs that could rattle my neighbor’s windows. At the time, it felt like my biggest flex. One night, though, someone pried open the boot and walked off with half my system. When I filed a claim, my insurer politely explained that “non-factory modifications” weren’t part of my cover unless I had listed them separately. I ended up replacing the gear out of pocket. Painful lesson.
That’s exactly the gap Old Mutual is targeting. Their Sound System Cover is an add-on designed specifically to insure aftermarket sound systems. Think of it as a safety net for those who’ve invested in custom setups.
What the Cover Actually Offers
From Old Mutual’s side, the offer seems straightforward: if your car sound system is stolen, damaged, or destroyed in an accident, they’ll pay for repair or replacement—provided you’ve listed it on your policy and stated its value.
Sounds simple, right? Well, as with most insurance products, the devil lives in the fine print. The cover usually requires proof of purchase or valuation, and the payout may be capped at the amount you’ve specified when you added the system to your policy. So, if you downplay the value thinking you’ll save on premiums, don’t be surprised if you only get half of what your system was worth in a claim.
It’s also worth noting that insurers sometimes apply conditions around installation. If your R20,000 amplifier was fitted in the boot by your cousin’s friend with questionable wiring skills, there’s a chance a claim might get messy. Insurers like Old Mutual usually prefer professional installation with proof—so keeping that receipt from an authorized installer could save you headaches later.
Who Actually Needs This Cover?
Here’s where things get interesting. Not everyone needs to add Sound System Cover to their policy. If you’re driving a basic city runaround with the standard radio, it probably isn’t worth it. But if you’ve invested in upgrades—anything from a modest R5,000 system to a full-blown, competition-grade setup—it suddenly makes sense.
I know a guy in Durban who spent more on his sound system than on his actual car. His 2007 Citi Golf was worth maybe R40,000 on a good day, but the sound system inside it was valued closer to R60,000. For someone like him, insuring the sound system wasn’t just smart—it was essential. Without it, an accident or theft would have wiped out years of investment.
But here’s a quieter truth: even if your sound system isn’t over-the-top, theft risk in South Africa remains relatively high. A midrange Bluetooth head unit alone can tempt opportunistic criminals. So while some people may dismiss sound system insurance as “extra,” it arguably fills a very real need.
The Costs vs. the Risks
Insurance, at its core, is always a gamble. You pay a monthly premium, hoping you’ll never actually need to claim. Some might argue that the odds of having your sound system stolen aren’t high enough to justify the extra cost. Others would counter that in certain neighborhoods—or if you park on the street regularly—the risk is significant.
Premiums for add-ons like this are usually based on the declared value of the system. So, if your sound setup is worth R10,000, the monthly cost won’t be outrageous. But if you’re rocking a R50,000 custom installation, you can expect the premium to rise accordingly. That’s where drivers need to pause and do the math: how much are you paying monthly versus how likely is it you’ll need to claim?
I’ll admit, I used to scoff at extra add-ons like this. My thinking was, “Why pay the insurer more for something I probably won’t lose?” But then I remembered how bitter I was after losing that first system in my twenties. At the time, I thought I was saving money by not listing it separately. In reality, I lost far more by being underinsured.
Is Old Mutual’s Cover Different from Competitors?
Old Mutual isn’t the only insurer offering this kind of add-on. Companies like MiWay, OUTsurance, and Budget Insurance also allow drivers to insure aftermarket sound systems. The difference may come down to flexibility and customer service rather than the actual product.
Old Mutual appears to frame their Sound System Cover as part of a larger philosophy: recognizing that cars aren’t just vehicles, but personal spaces tailored to lifestyle. Whether that’s marketing fluff or genuine sensitivity is open to interpretation. But there’s no denying that they’re addressing a gap many drivers have overlooked.
Critics might say insurers should just include reasonable aftermarket cover in comprehensive policies to begin with, instead of slicing everything into add-ons. And that’s a fair point. For customers, it sometimes feels like death by a thousand cuts—tyre cover here, windscreen cover there, now sound system cover. Each add-on seems small, but together they can make your premium balloon.
A Story That Says It All
Not long ago, a colleague shared how his brother’s car was broken into outside a university in Pretoria. They stole only the radio and speakers, leaving the car otherwise untouched. The car itself was insured comprehensively, but the sound system wasn’t declared. When he tried to claim, the insurer declined. It became a running joke in their family that the thieves knew exactly what was covered and what wasn’t.
Stories like these are common, and they highlight why Old Mutual’s Sound System Cover exists. It isn’t about luxury—it’s about not being blindsided.
Final Thoughts: Worth It or Not?
So, is Old Mutual’s Sound System Cover worth adding to your policy? The answer, frustratingly, depends.
If you’re still using the standard factory radio, probably not. But if you’ve spent real money on your system—something you’d struggle to replace out of pocket—then yes, it’s worth serious consideration. The peace of mind alone may justify the premium.
At the same time, it’s fair to be cautious about the way insurers carve up cover into dozens of small add-ons. It can feel like they’re charging extra for what should arguably be part of a comprehensive package. That said, the reality is that many insurers simply don’t want to absorb the unpredictable cost of aftermarket gear unless it’s declared upfront.
Personally, after losing my first sound system years ago, I’d never risk it again. If I put money into something, I want to know it’s covered—even if it means paying a bit extra each month. Insurance may not be exciting, but neither is silence when you realize your speakers are gone.