Congratulations, you passed the K53. Don't rush the car purchase.
Set the budget
- Under R60,000: older cars, possibly with issues. Be ready for maintenance.
- R60,000 – R120,000: good first-car territory. Polo, i20, Picanto, Swift, Yaris.
- R120,000+: low-km options, possibly with some warranty left.
Before you pay anything
- Test drive. Drive it on multiple road types — highway, suburbs, hill.
- Independent pre-purchase inspection. R500-R1,000 at any reputable workshop. Catches engine, gearbox, electrical issues.
- VIN check. Use TransUnion or MyCar.co.za to confirm not stolen, not on finance, not previously written off.
- Documents. NaTIS document (the registration form), valid licence disc, roadworthy certificate (current).
Red flags
- Seller can't show the NaTIS doc
- Roadworthy issued same day you visited
- VIN plate replaced or scratched
- Multiple previous owners in last 3 years
- Mileage that doesn't match service records
The transfer
Change of ownership at any vehicle-licensing office. Take the NaTIS doc, both IDs, current registration certificate, roadworthy, and the fee (around R150).
Frequently asked
- What's the cheapest first car?
- Realistic minimum for a roadworthy car: around R45,000 for an older Polo, Picanto or Swift with low km.
- Do I need a roadworthy?
- Yes — for any change of ownership, the car must have a current roadworthy certificate.