Tips to ensure you own a Roadworthy Vehicle
Buying a used car can be quite intimidating and unnerving. With literally thousands of used cars on the market it’s essential you keep your eyes firmly on the ball. Private sellers and rogue car dealers are often so intent on making a sale, they’re more than willing to dump a defective or unroadworthy vehicle on you without the blink of an eye.
Apart from the inherent mechanical and electronic ‘snags’ that are usually part of a careless purchase - snags that not only have the distinct possibility of costing you plenty, but also the high probability of causing physical damage to you, your passengers and possibly a third party - a motor vehicle that is not roadworthy can land you in very hot water indeed.
Insure your new purchase without independently ascertaining its history and roadworthiness, a process that requires by law the duty of disclosure, and you could find yourself without the requisite motor vehicle insurance cover or even facing a criminal charge of fraud!
What is Duty of Disclosure?
According to the Short-Term Insurance Act of 1998, both the insured and insurer are duty bound to honestly disclose all material facts relating to the insurance contract. This information is used to calculate whether the motor vehicle is insurable and if so, the cost of the policy and whether any special provisions should be applied.
Fail to inform the insurance company of engine modifications, inherent mechanical faults or the fact there are multiple drivers who use the vehicle, for instance, and the legal remedy for breach of the duty of disclosure is for the insurance company to act as if the contract never existed or to begin legal proceedings against you!
Avoid Problems and Buy Used Cars from Reputable Cape Town Dealerships
One way of avoiding embarrassment is to buy used cars in Cape Town and elsewhere in South Africa from reputable car dealerships. Many of the leading franchise dealers have quality control programmes in place that ensure your pre-owned car is a roadworthy vehicle in mint condition – inside, outside and under the bonnet!
Roadworthy Vehicle Checklist
If you’ve purchased your used car from large, reputable South African dealerships such as the Reeds Motor Group, you’ll be fully protected by, in the case of General Motors, the G2 Certified Pre-Owned system.
Should you, however, choose to take a chance and buy from a private source, we highly recommend you have the vehicle independently inspected and assessed by the Automobile Association of South Africa. A valuable roadworthy checklist is:
Ensure the engine and vehicle identification number has not been tampered with or you may end up with a stolen or re-built motor car.
* Request the vehicle’s full service history to gauge overall maintenance.
* Check out the engine and avoid a used car with a build up of dirt or oil. Ensure the engine oil isn’t milky or grey, as this usually indicates the serious problem of water in the oil.
* Look out for any dangerous oil leaks from the engine, transmission, shocks, brakes or axles.
* Ensure there is even wear or tread on all the tyres otherwise there could be an alignment issue.
* Check the body work for rust, damage, loose panels or variations in paintwork, all of which can indicate a serious accident.
* Test drive the vehicle, use all the electronic components and avoid a car with noises, rattles or knocks.
Where to Find Trustworthy Used Car Dealers Online
The internet is an effective tool for sourcing reputable new and used car dealerships in Cape Town and the rest of South Africa, including the highly recommended Reeds Motor Group.
Visit www.reeds.co.za right now and browse the current special offers, learn more about the comprehensive after sales service, conduct a ‘live’ used car search online and then select a pre-owned car safe in the knowledge you are buying a quality vehicle backed by the powerful Reeds brand!
