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Is your damaged car at risk of getting a hefty traffic fine? If so, sell it.
Owning a vehicle in South Africa is expensive. Increasing fuel costs and maintenance expenses make driving from A to B inaccessible for many. You can’t afford the luxury of insurance and now your vehicle is damaged - be that as a result of an accident, internal faults or poor maintenance. You continue to go about your daily commutes with an unroadworthy vehicle. Did you know that this is not only a risk to your safety (in the event of another accident), but you are also eligible to receive a serious fine? South African law places you in an unfortunate position when it comes to driving an unroadworthy car.
You may be asking: ‘What exactly does SA law say about driving a damaged car? Should I be selling my damaged car? Where can I sell my accident-damaged car? Should I sell my car for cash?’
At SYDC, we hope to clarify the answers to these questions and put you on the right track to avoid those unexpected expenses.
#1 What does SA law say about driving a damaged car?
Section 42(1) of the National Road Traffic Act prohibits driving an unroadworthy vehicle on a public road. Vehicles found to be in an unroadworthy condition may be impounded and, depending on the severity of the car’s condition, the driver will be issued with steep fines in excess of R3 000.
It is therefore paramount for your personal safety (and bank balance) to ensure that you don’t continue to drive such a vehicle. If you're currently uninsured, these fines can quickly become an unnecessary financial burden.
A roadworthy car meets the minimum safety standards set by law. This includes:
- Functional bodywork including the chassis and doors
- The interior of the vehicle including the odometer, speedometer, seatbelts, seats and hooter must be in working order
- All lights and indicators must be operational
- The windscreen must be free from cracks and all side windows that can open must be in working order. Windscreen wipers must also be in good repair.
- Tyres, brakes, wheels etc must be in good condition, with no leaks in the hydraulic system
- Shock absorbers, steering system and wheel alignment must be operational
- The engine and battery should be free from corrosion or leaks, with no loose or damaged wiring, and no excessive smoke being emitted from the exhaust. The transmission must also be functioning properly.
If your car has been damaged in an accident, it's crucial to get it inspected to ensure it still meets these standards before taking the risk of driving it for daily commutes.
#2 Should I be selling my damaged car?
If the severity of the vehicle damage (either internal or external creates a situation where you have an unroadworthy vehicle, you have two courses of action going forward:
Option 1: Repair
Section 42(1) of the National Road Traffic Act to a roadworthy condition can do the trick, but at what cost?
Begin by getting a quote on the repair costs and weighing up the two scenarios.
The financial cost of repair is not the only consideration. The amount of time, effort and inconvenience involved in repairing your damaged car could send you over the edge. If this is your only mode of transport, arranging public transport can become frustrating and expensive, and receiving multiple quotes and commuting to and from the repair shop may cause additional annoyance.
All these factors must be taken into account before going ahead with the repair job.
Option 2: Selling my car for cash
Time is money and the option of finding a reputable and convenient option that sells damaged cars may be your best bet.
There are several advantages to this approach:
- Quick cash upon the sale of your vehicle
- Hassle-free, speedy online upload options are available, for example, at Sell Your Damaged Car
- Free towing of your unroadworthy vehicle from its current location
- Convenient, effortless selling process
- The burden of your unroadworthy vehicle is lifted from your shoulders
#3 Where can I sell my accident-damaged car?
While most dealerships will not be happy to trade in an accident-damaged or non-running vehicle, there are still several options on the table when it comes to selling.
Option 1: Junkyards and salvage dealers
If you’re just looking to get rid of the vehicle and not hoping for much cash in your pocket, this is your quickest option.
Scrap yards typically pay sellers based on the weight of the scrap metal of the vehicle. This is a viable solution for older or heavily damaged cars not worth repairing.
Option 2: Private sales
Listing the vehicle on an online private sales platform is another legitimate option at your disposal. However, the process of sifting through a list of potential buyers and arranging viewings could be tiring and take a long time.
Option 3: Sell Your Damaged Car
With over 8 years of industry experience selling thousands of damaged vehicles in various conditions, Sell Your Damaged Car has become a leader in the industry - and for good reason:
- Immediate cash upon the success of the sale
- Cars bought in any condition - from flood damage to accident damage and every other imaginable scenario
- The process of uploading your car on our websites takes only 90 seconds
- A cash offer within 24 hours
- Cars still under finance are bought
- A safe and secure platform
- Offers are obligation-free
- Hundreds of positive reviews and a rating of 4.68 on Hellopeter.
Are you saying, “I want to start the process of selling my damaged car!”