Buying a Car in South Africa

Buying a car in South Africa won’t be the easiest item to check off an expat’s moving list, but it is certainly one of the most necessary tasks to undertake. The country’s lack of reliable, safe, and comprehensive public transport means that expats have little other choice than to drive.

Acquiring a car is best approached with the mindset that it will take several weeks, if not longer. Foreigners are required to complete some extra paperwork on top of what is required of locals. In addition, the notoriously slow South African bureaucracy slows things down, making this process more time-consuming than it would likely be in your home country.

On the bright side, most expats won’t need a local driver’s licence immediately. Until they’re permanent residents, an expat’s foreign licence is perfectly fine, as long as it is issued in one of South Africa’s 11 official languages (most likely in English), has a picture of the applicant attached to it, and has not expired. Once they have been granted permanent residence, they’ll have a year to convert their licence.

Contrary to popular belief, expats will not even need an International Driving Permit in addition to their licence unless their original licence isn’t in English.

Choosing a car in South Africa

It’s a good idea to start the car-buying process while still in your home country to ensure you have made a few decisions upfront. New or used car? What size? What make? Diesel or petrol? There are a few things you should know about South Africa when making your decision:

• Cars are notoriously expensive in South Africa, and you will certainly pay a lot more for a car here than you would expect
• Petrol (gasoline) is about one-third more expensive than in the United States, but still well below European prices
• Most roads are good, especially in metropolitan areas. Should you decide to venture into the bush during your stay, a four-wheel drive will come in handy.

New vs used cars

Given the high cost of cars, many expats are tempted to buy a used car. The advantage of new cars, however, is that they typically include a motor plan that allows owners to get their cars serviced for a number of years. Some used car dealerships will also offer a service plan of some type, but many do not. If a service plan is offered, find out the terms regarding validity, as service plans typically expire after a certain mileage or number of years.

You should also be wary that used cars sold by private sellers in South Africa may have questionable maintenance histories. If you decide to buy from a private seller, you should arrange for the car to be inspected at a dealership or by a mechanic of your choice, just to make sure there aren’t any hidden problems.

The dealership can also run the chassis number through their system to find out if the car being considered has ever been in an accident. Also, buyers should make sure the car has a roadworthiness certificate before they make the purchase.

Size and make

Regarding size, an expat would have to consider the car’s intended day-to-day usage. Naturally, a family of four or five will require more space than a single expat.

When it comes to the car’s make, do consider that purchasing a car model with little representation in South Africa will make it difficult to service. Additionally, it will mean that spare parts will be expensive and may need to be sourced from abroad.

If a buyer is going to live in South Africa for a defined period of time, then it’s worthwhile to consider the resale value of the vehicle they buy. To maximise resale value, ensure that you have your car serviced regularly and keep rigorous records of the car’s history. Naturally, popular brands of cars will sell more easily than less well-known makes.

Smash-and-grab protection

Unfortunately, given the high rate of theft from cars in South Africa, one added amenity to look for when car shopping is smash-and-grab protection. This film protects the windscreen and windows against smash-and-grabs, which may occur while cars are stopped at traffic lights. Most higher-end cars are equipped with smash-and-grab protection, but if not, they can be added later.

Finding a car in South Africa

If buying a used car, you should check used car websites and online classified portals to get a better idea of what’s out there. Another option for more knowledgeable car buyers is auction houses. Auctions are an opportunity to pick up a real bargain but be aware that the cars may have undisclosed issues, which you will be liable to fix. New cars, as is the case in all countries, are found at car dealerships.

Registering a car in South Africa

In South Africa, a buyer gains possession of their car once they’ve paid for it, but they still need to register the vehicle to gain title ownership formally. The place to do this is at the nearest licensing office.

Once the car has been registered, buyers must cut out the car’s licence disc (renewable every year) and affix it to their windscreen from the inside. For new cars, licence plates should be ordered (the dealership will usually do this on behalf of the buyer) and affixed to the car’s front and back. While waiting for licence plates to be made, a temporary car licence certificate is placed inside the car’s rear window.

Car insurance in South Africa

Once the car has been registered and the licence plates affixed, you will have one last hurdle left before you can hit the road: insurance.

Most car insurance companies in South Africa will insure a vehicle over the phone and book an appointment for the car to be inspected at a registered dealership.

Cost of insurance

As in most countries, the price of car insurance in South Africa varies according to several factors. These include the model and make of the car, the age of the driver, and the relative safety of where the car is stored during the day and night.

When obtaining insurance quotes, you should inquire about roadside assistance. Most insurance companies provide it, and having this already covered will take one more item off the checklist.

Car accidents

Typically, if an accident occurs, expats should exchange contact details with the other driver involved and take pictures of their licence and both cars from various angles to document the damage. The accident would then need to be reported at a police station to get a case number. The case number is used to make insurance claims. If the accident is of a serious nature, expats can call their insurance provider while at the scene. The insurance provider will then contact emergency services on their behalf.

Tracking services

Some insurance companies will also give customers a discount on their monthly premium if they have a tracking service that electronically monitors their car’s location through a GPS system. This service has evolved due to the high incidence of carjackings in South Africa. Most tracking companies offer various support levels, such as adding a panic button or upgraded tracking services.