The verdict in three sentences
A property and casualty insurer can sell its simple policies, motor and home, online, provided the rating engine follows the applicable regulation (in our example in Libreville, the CIMA code used across 14 African countries) and customers can finish without returning to a branch for every document. The site must also handle after sales: claims reporting with photos from a smartphone and a map of the 12 branches. At Kolonell, the showcase site costs 800,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (1,220 to 5,340 EUR) depending on the Starter, Growth or Premium level, and a custom rating engine 2.5 to 15 M+ FCFA (3,810 to 22,870+ EUR) depending on complexity, everything else being quoted on request.
Which policies to sell online first
Not every product suits digital sales. Simple policies with standard cover and modest premiums are the right candidates: motor third party liability, extended third party cover for private cars, home insurance for flats and houses. In Gabon, the average premium for a motor or home policy sits around 180,000 to 450,000 FCFA a year (about 275 to 690 EUR), a range where customers accept to pay online after a clear quote.
Business risks, large fleets and industrial multi risk stay in assisted sales. The site gives them a qualified appointment form rather than a rating engine.
| Product | Indicative 2026 annual premium | 100 % online sale | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor liability, private car | 180,000 to 260,000 FCFA | Yes | CIMA minimum tariff applies |
| Extended third party (theft, fire, glass) | 250,000 to 450,000 FCFA | Yes | Vehicle photos at signup |
| Home insurance, flat | 60,000 to 150,000 FCFA | Yes | Short property questionnaire |
| Home insurance, house | 150,000 to 350,000 FCFA | Yes, with review | Declared values checked |
| Corporate motor fleet | Assessed case by case | No | Sales meeting |
| Business multi risk | Assessed case by case | No | Risk survey needed |
The rating engine: compliant, simple, traceable
The motor rating engine applies your approved scales: fiscal horsepower, use, area, years of licence, bonus or malus and chosen cover. It must automatically refuse out of scope cases (heavy commercial vehicles, novice drivers on powerful cars) and route them to an adviser. Every quote is stored with its scale version, so any audit or complaint can be traced.
The ideal journey has 5 steps: vehicle, driver, cover, quote, then payment and certificate. Payment by mobile money or card, followed by a provisional certificate sent by email and SMS, removes the branch visit for standard policies.
| Component | Kolonell level | Range | Indicative timeline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Showcase site, 5 pages and branches | Starter | 800,000 to 1,200,000 FCFA (1,220 to 1,830 EUR) | 5 to 6 weeks |
| Showcase with 12 branch map, blog, analytics | Growth | 1,200,000 to 2,000,000 FCFA (1,830 to 3,050 EUR) | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Showcase with advanced SEO and rich content | Premium | 2,000,000 to 3,500,000 FCFA (3,050 to 5,340 EUR) | 8 weeks |
| Simple motor rating engine, one product | Simple application | 2,500,000 to 4,000,000 FCFA (3,810 to 6,100 EUR) | Per quote |
| Motor and home rating with payment | Medium application | 4,000,000 to 7,000,000 FCFA (6,100 to 10,670 EUR) | Per quote |
| Sales, claims and policy system connection | Complex application | 7,000,000 to 15,000,000+ FCFA (10,670 to 22,870+ EUR) | Per quote |
Connection to the policy administration system, site languages and hosting are set in the quote.
Claims reporting with photos
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The CIMA code requires policyholders to report a claim quickly, generally within 5 working days and within 2 days for theft. A mobile form asking for the policy number, date, place, a photo of the accident report and 4 to 8 photos of the damage saves the claims handler several days. The customer gets a file number instantly and can follow progress.
Photos are compressed on the phone before upload, since many policyholders report from the accident scene on a weak connection. A complete claim from the first report also reduces fraud risk, because the photos are time stamped.
Mini case study
Patrick, deputy CEO of a P&C insurer in Libreville, sells about 9,000 motor and home policies a year, almost all in branches. The average premium is 280,000 FCFA. He targets 10 % of new business online in year two.
He chooses a Growth showcase at 1,800,000 FCFA and a medium complexity motor and home rating engine estimated at 6,000,000 FCFA, so 7,800,000 FCFA (about 11,890 EUR) in total. If the site brings 600 extra new policies a year, written premium grows by 168 million FCFA. With a cautious 8 % underwriting result ratio, the contribution is about 13.4 million FCFA a year, more than the project cost in year one, before counting data entry savings in branches.
FAQ
Is selling motor insurance online allowed in CIMA countries? Yes, within the CIMA code, approved tariffs and pre contractual information duties. The final certificate follows the usual rules, and a provisional one can be sent within 24 h.
How long does the rating engine take? Plan 8 to 14 weeks for a motor and home engine with payment, once your technical department signs off the scales. The showcase site can go live earlier, in 6 to 8 weeks.
Can we take payment through Airtel Money or Moov Money? Local mobile money and bank cards can be integrated; providers and their fees are specified in the quote.
How do we limit claims fraud? Time stamped photos, optional geolocation and policy number checks reduce dubious reports. Claims above a threshold, for example 1,500,000 FCFA, still go to an assessor.
What maintenance budget should we plan? Kolonell maintenance is 35,000, 75,000 or 120,000 FCFA per month (53 / 114 / 183 EUR) depending on the level. A site with a rating engine and payment usually needs Premium.
Let's scope your project. Send us your motor and home rating scales and your branch list, and we will scope the showcase site, the rating engine and the claims journey with a phased timeline. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
