What Is The Best Way To Buy A Car In South Africa

What is a Car?

A car or an automobile is a motor vehicle with wheels. Most definitions of cars say that they run primarily on roads, seat one to eight people, have four wheels, and mainly transport people, not cargo.

What Is The Best Way To Buy A Car In South Africa?

  • Determine your budget. Decide how much you can afford to pay each month, taking into account the interest rate and other fees.
  • Get pre-approved for financing. Apply for financing with a bank or lender to get pre-approved for a loan.
  • Research your options. Research different car models and dealerships to find the best deal for your budget and needs.
  • Test drive the car. Visit the dealership and take a test drive of the car you’re interested in.
  • Negotiate the price. Negotiate the price of the car with the dealer, using your pre-approved financing as leverage.
  • Finalize the paperwork. Once you’ve agreed on a price, finalize the paperwork with the dealership, including the loan agreement and any warranties or service plans.
  • Make your monthly payments. Make your monthly payments on time to avoid any late fees or penalties.

How do foreigners buy cars in South Africa?

You will need proof of address.

1. You will need a certified copy of your
  • passport
  • driving license
  • travel document listed above

The easiest way to get this is to take a photocopy and the original document to a police station and ask them to certify it. They will compare the photocopy with the original, and if the same, stamp and sign the copy.

2. You will need two black and white ID photographs.

This is usually done for you at the traffic department, but there are other places to get these – such as photo printing shops, pharmacies or independent locals typically situated near the traffic department.

3. You will need proof of address.

This is usually in the form of a utility account. If the utility account is not in your name, the owner must make an affidavit declaring that you live at that address and you need to attach the utility bill to the affidavit.

If you live in an informal settlement, you will need a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councilor that confirms your address.

Once you have all these documents, you need to go to a traffic department to get your TRN. The ease of finding your nearest traffic department may vary depending on where you live. In most cases you can simply google “Municipal Traffic Departments” and you will get a full list, including where they are and their trading hours

How long is the process of buying a car in South Africa?

Recent data has shown that the timeframe involved when a vehicle purchase is made lasts roughly 3 months.

This counts from the moment a consumer makes the decision to buy a vehicle, runs through the research process, the process of searching for the correct vehicle, runs through the purchase process, and ends when the vehicle is delivered.

What is the minimum salary to buy a car in South Africa?

R6,500 p/m

Employment – Permanent. Salary – On-going monthly salary of no less than R6,500 p/m. Citizenship – South African or permanent resident of South Africa. Credit history – Financers will run a credit report to check your lending habits.

What documents do I need to register a car in South Africa?

What you should do

  1. with your identity document (ID)
  2. proof of residential address e.g. utility account.
  3. if you stay at an informal settlement, you must bring a letter with an official date stamp from the ward councilor confirming your address.
  4. the manufacturer’s certificate containing all the relevant details of the vehicle.