RAF claim deadline calculator
When your Road Accident Fund claim prescribes
What next: how to claim from the RAF (forms, documents, caps) · what your own car insurance pays
Indicative: a guide to the dates in the Act and in the RAF's own FAQs, not legal advice. An incomplete claim form is not a valid claim, so lodge well before the date shown. You can claim directly at an RAF office for free.
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Get the free PDFThe deadlines in the law
| Claim | Deadline | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Driver or owner identified | Lodge within 3 years of the accident | RAF Act s 23(1) |
| Hit-and-run (driver and owner unknown) | Lodge within 2 years of the accident | RAF Claims FAQs |
| Any lodged claim | Finalised within 5 years of the accident | RAF Act s 23(3); RAF Claims FAQs |
| Undertaking (future medical costs) | Lodged and finalised within 5 years of the date the service was given | RAF Claims FAQs |
Sources: section 23 of the Road Accident Fund Act 56 of 1996 and the RAF's own Claims FAQs. Under section 23(2), prescription does not run against a minor, a person detained as a patient under mental health legislation, or a person under curatorship — the calculator flags these cases instead of giving a date.
Worked example
- Accident on 15 March 2025, other driver identified: lodge before 15 March 2028; the claim must be finalised by 15 March 2030.
- Same date, hit-and-run: lodge before 15 March 2027.
- Accident on 29 February 2024: the calculator uses 28 February of the target year when it is not a leap year.
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Frequently asked questions
How long do I have to claim from the RAF?
3 years from the accident if the driver or owner of the vehicle is identified (RAF Act s 23(1)), 2 years for a hit-and-run. The claim must then be finalised within 5 years of the accident.
What happens if I miss the RAF deadline?
The claim prescribes: the right to compensation from the Fund is lost, unless the time did not run against you — for a minor, a person under curatorship or detained under mental health legislation (s 23(2)).
Does the RAF deadline apply to children?
Section 23(2) says prescription does not run against a minor for claims where the driver or owner is identified. The RAF's FAQs state the 2-year hit-and-run limit without an exception, so lodge a child's hit-and-run claim within 2 years.
How long does an RAF claim take after lodging?
If the RAF does not object to the validity of a claim within 60 days of receiving it, the claim is deemed valid (s 24(5)); you cannot sue before 120 days have passed unless the RAF rejects the claim in writing first (s 24(6)). The claim must be settled or taken to court within 5 years of the accident (s 23(3)).
Do I need a lawyer to claim from the RAF?
No. The RAF says its Information Officers at every branch office help claimants free of charge; you may still choose a lawyer, who charges a fee.