Photo: Pavel Špindler, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY 3.0Travel insurance for Botswana
Visitors, foreign vehicles and the MVA Fund
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What the MVA Fund does for visitors
Medical and rehabilitation benefits only, and only while the visitor is in Botswana: they are revoked when the visitor leaves (section 23(2) as amended by the Amendment Act 2021). Loss of earnings and loss of support are not payable to visitors or their dependants (exclusions).
Foreign-registered vehicles: the levy at the border
| Vehicle | Levy |
|---|---|
| Any vehicle except a bus or minibus | P150 |
| Minibus | P300 |
| Bus | P400 |
| Commercial vehicle (Road Traffic Act) | P400 |
Paid to the Botswana Unified Revenue Service on entry and valid for 90 days; driving without paying is an offence (fine up to P5,000 or up to six months in prison) (regulation 7, S.I. 144 of 2022). The Fund may recover its costs from a foreign vehicle driver who did not pay (exclusions), and asks for proof of payment with a claim (check list).
Buying travel cover
The levy and the MVA Fund do not pay for damage to your vehicle, illness, cancelled trips or evacuation home. Visitors usually buy travel insurance at home; residents of Botswana buy it from a licensed insurer or through a licensed agent or broker (insurance companies in Botswana).
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Frequently asked questions
Does the MVA Fund cover tourists in Botswana?
Only medical treatment and rehabilitation for a road crash injury, and only while the visitor is in Botswana. It does not cover illness or travel home.
How much is the third-party levy for a foreign car entering Botswana?
P150 for a car, P300 for a minibus, P400 for a bus or commercial vehicle, valid for 90 days (S.I. 144 of 2022).
Sources
- MVA Fund Botswana — Who is covered (P1,000,000 cap, P300,000 for a negligent party, visitors, foreign vehicles)
- MVA Fund Botswana — Exclusions and reductions
- Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (Amendment) Act No. 13 of 2021 (sections 22, 23, 29 and 30) — MVA Fund copy
- Motor Vehicle Accident Fund (Amendment) Regulations, 2022 (S.I. 144 of 2022: foreign vehicle levy, P1,000,000 and P300,000 caps) and Benefits for Loss of Support Order (S.I. 145 of 2022) — MVA Fund copy
- MVA Fund Botswana — Check list: documents to lodge a claim, processing times, funeral expenses maximum P7,500