BUYING GUIDE · SOUTH AFRICA
Is this used car price fair? How to check in South Africa
Two identical used cars, same version and same year, can be advertised tens of thousands of rand apart. In VEQRO’s own checks (September 2026, 71 checks of 404 ads), the cheapest and dearest ads for the same car differed by a median of R80 000. Here’s how to know where the car in front of you sits.
- Pin down the exact version, not just the model
“A 2020 Hilux” can mean a single-cab workhorse or a Legend 4x4 auto, hundreds of thousands of rand apart. Check the badge on the boot, the engine size, the gearbox, 4x2 or 4x4, and the cab style. The registration papers show the model description; the ad often doesn’t.
- Match the year, then the kilometres
Compare like with like: the same model year first, then similar mileage. Higher-than-average kilometres pull the price down; very low kilometres on an older car deserve a look at the service book.
- Look at the whole market, not one ad
One ad tells you what one seller hopes to get. The fair price is where most comparable cars are advertised. Look at several ads for the same version and year, and ignore the one outlier at either end.
- Too cheap is a warning, not a bargain
A car far below every comparable ad is the classic sign of a scam, especially when the seller asks for a deposit before a viewing, is “overseas” or only communicates by message, or pushes you to decide today. Never pay before you have seen the car, checked the papers and confirmed the seller owns it.
- Check the paperwork before the price is final
The registration certificate should be in the seller’s name, with the VIN and engine number matching the car. Ask whether there is finance outstanding: if there is, the bank has to be settled before it releases the papers. You’ll need a roadworthy certificate to register the car in your name, and the service history should match the kilometres.
- Use the gap to negotiate
If the car is advertised above the middle of the market, you now know by how much. Missing service history, tyres that are due or a long gap since the last service are fair reasons to ask for a lower price.