Car Buyers Guide

So, you are thinking of buying a second hand / used car in South Africa, but you don't know where to start, what to look out for, and how much you should spend on what. Remember, to find that perfect second hand / used car you need to have patience and some knowledge- it will take effort to source a good second hand car in South Africa and you will need to restrain yourself until you find the right car at the right price.

Never rush into buying a used car in South Africa. This part is where the patience comes in! You need to start with a list of cars you would like and then start finding car sales and used car dealers across South Africa. Make sure to not only look for a used car dealer in the city you will be residing, but also look in other major cities like Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban- in the end you must be sure that you know exactly what the South African car market has to offer.

Now, the question is where will you start looking for a used car in South Africa? If you've already checked the major car dealerships, the next step would be to take a look at the local newspapers (specifically the classified sections) and surf the Internet for used cars by just going to one of the major search engines and typing in "car sales South Africa", "used cars South Africa" or "second hand cars South Africa". You can also contact local auction houses who are selling bank repossessed cars.

Some newspapers or publications we recommend include the Autotrader look out for the South African and the regional versions. The Cape Ads in Cape Town or the Junk mail, which is also available online, will have plenty of cars to choose from. The AA Autobay or AA publications and other weekly papers all have sections where you can look for second hand cars and used car sales.

As the new owner of a used car you should enquire as to the costs for repairs and availability of spare parts. This will all give you an idea as to what the first service will put you back. Foreigners also need to apply for a Traffic register number before being able to register or licence their new car. For this you will need two colour passport size photographs and a copy of your Passport.

Always remember that when you are buying a used car you should read through the sales documentation carefully. One thing that numerous people never pick up is that in the sales document for a used car in South Africa, you will come across the word "voetstoots". This word has its origin in Afrikaans and means that the car is bought or sold without any warranty at all and in the condition as is.

This in effect means that you have to buy the right car. Buying a cheap car that isn't in a good condition and will break in 3 months just is not worth the time and hassle. Drive Africa's car specialists have decided to jot down some important points that will help you choose carefully when buying a used car.

Alex Jochheim: Writes for Drive Africa is a leading Car Rental Company in Cape Town South Africa, which specializes in used car in South Africa