The insurance certificate or cover note issued by the insurance company constitutes legal evidence that the vehicle specified on the document is insured. The law says that an authorized person, such as the police, may require a driver to produce an insurance certificate for inspection. If the driver cannot show the document immediately on request, then the driver will usually be required within seven days, as of midnight of the date of issue, to take a valid insurance certificate (and other driving documents as well) to a police station. Failure to produce an insurance certificate is an offence.

Motorists in Zimbabwe are required to prominently display a vehicle licence disc on their vehicle when it is kept or driven on public roads. This helps to ensure that most people have adequate insurance on their vehicles because an insurance certificate must be produced when a disc is purchased.

It is worth noting that third party insurance only covers you in respect of legal liabilities to third parties following an accident. Thus, it is supposed to pay for the damage, injuries, medical treatment, legal fees and other costs incurred by the third party following an accident you are liable for. If the cover under your third party policy is not enough, you will be forced to pay the excess costs from your pocket.