WeBuyCars plans to provide buyers with mechanical test reports

JSE-listed used automobile purchaser and vendor WeBuyCars is contemplating investing in amenities to conduct mechanical checks on the autos it sells to supply this info to the buyer base in South Africa.

WeBuyCars gross sales director Janson Ponting has additionally burdened the significance and want for the used automobile trade and shoppers to have public entry to the total accident injury database of insurers itemizing autos that have been concerned in accidents and declared uneconomical to restore and written off.

Ponting stated a mechanical check on a automobile may be very tough to do, however WeBuyCars can see the worth it may possibly present to shoppers.

Nonetheless, WeBuyCars chief advertising officer Rikus Blomerus emphasised that mechanical automobile reviews for the autos it sells are a part of “a future plan”.

“We went to the US to research and so it’s not one thing that’s going to roll out subsequent week – possibly in three, 4, 5 – 6 months down the road as a result of it’s so vital to us,” he stated.

Car Salvage Database wanted

Their feedback comply with a number of articles revealed by Moneyweb relating to client complaints about autos acquired from WeBuyCars, and the accuracy of the Dekra reviews for a few of these autos, together with the lack of know-how about autos that had beforehand been concerned in an accident.

Learn:
WeBuyCars refunds buyer of ‘dangerous’ car [Sept 2024]
WeBuyCars’s vehicle assessment reports in the spotlight [Jan 2025]
Nine months, and 46 unhappy WeBuyCars customer complaints heard [Feb 2025]

Ponting stated the database of autos that have been declared uneconomical to restore and written off is one thing that will be of nice worth to the used automobile trade and shoppers, however they don’t have entry to this database to test all of the repairs which were completed to those autos.

He stated this knowledge is on the market, however it’s not being shared with the trade or shoppers.

The South African Insurance coverage Affiliation (Saia) in 2023 launched the primary section of its free public entry Car Salvage Database (VSD), which can assist stop shoppers from unknowingly shopping for written-off autos and at inflated costs.

Learn: New database to help consumers avoid buying dodgy used vehicles [Aug 2023]

The primary section of the venture contained the salvage data of rebuilt (Code 3) autos, spare components solely (Code 3A) and scrap completely demolished (Code 4) autos.

Saia was scheduled to launch the second section in December 2023 containing used (Written-off Code 2) autos, however in Might 2024 reneged on a dedication made to the South African Motor Physique Repairers’ Affiliation (Sambra) to supply shoppers with the main points of those autos.

Saia stated it was decided that probably the most important and pressing automobile info to make out there was for Code 3 (autos with structural defects that require substantial rebuilding), Code 3A (can solely be used for spare components), and Code 4 (have to be completely demolished), and this info is at present on its web site.

It added that offering normal entry to Code 2 salvage data will “compromise those that purchase these autos and safely undertake repairs to the producer’s specs”.

Learn:
Concern as database fails to pick up all written-off vehicles [Nov 2023]
Insurers renege on commitment to provide consumers with details of written-off vehicles [May 2024]

Former Sambra director Richard Inexperienced beforehand stated the perfect answer that can most successfully defend shoppers is to reclassify autos on the time the insurer decides to declare the automobile uneconomical to restore and previous to the automobile being offered to the salvage yards after which on to unscrupulous repairers and sellers.

“Sadly, insurers and salvage yards are making large income by promoting written off autos within the method they’re doing now, so there’s little motivation for them to alter,” he stated.

“Solely public stress will make them achieve this.”

Dekra reviews

Ponting emphasised that the Dekra report is a roadworthy report, not a mechanical test or full analysis of a selected automobile.

“We disclose all the things we are able to. We’re clear. Even on the Dekra report there’s an analysis on the panels and images on all the things and we are saying if there’s injury indicating an accident.

“However we don’t have entry to that database and we might disclose it however the insurers defend that knowledge,” he stated.

Ponting added that the WeBuyCars web site and banners in its warehouses state a automobile’s roadworthy standing in addition to what the Dekra report “is and isn’t”.

Nonetheless, Ponting admitted that WeBuyCars can enhance its client communication as a result of there’s clearly a misunderstanding amongst shoppers about what the Dekra report is.

“We are able to do a greater job explaining it to the shoppers as a result of once they see a situation report, they assume the automobile is mechanically 100% however the common age of autos we promote is 9 and a half years.

“Insurers don’t need to write off a automobile as a Code 3. They preserve it as a Code 2 as a result of then they get the next value,” he added.

“They pay out the buyer however then they promote that automobile by means of a channel after which somebody fixes that automobile after which we purchase that automobile.

“It’s not a Code 3, it’s Code 2. However we don’t have a database to know all of the autos [written off] and all of the repairs insurers have completed.”

Ombud success fee ‘fairly good’

Blomerus stated WeBuyCars helps shoppers greater than it’s required to by the Client Safety Act (CPA) “from a model safety standpoint”.

Moneyweb is conscious of situations the place WeBuyCars has cancelled transactions and refunded shoppers.

Blomerus added that WeBuyCars’s “success fee” on the Motor Business Ombudsman of South Africa (Miosa) is “fairly good”.

Learn:
Consumer Tribunal fines used car dealers, orders R1m total refund [Jul 2024]
Consumers increasingly approaching consumer commission after being sold defective cars [Aug 2024]

“It’s not like we lose these Miosa circumstances however we do perceive the frustration of the shopper with Miosa due to how lengthy it takes, as much as 4 months.

“We’re promoting in extra of 16 000 autos per thirty days and after we take a look at the numbers, it’s not [a] giant a part of the people who find themselves sad and we nonetheless month-to-month get recurring clients – there’s some good phrase of mouth, they do purchase autos, and 99.7% of consumers are extraordinarily proud of their buy,” he stated.

Blomerus stated WeBuyCars consistently encounters people who find themselves “economical with the reality”, particularly on social media, once they expertise an issue with a automobile.

However he stated it can’t state on social media that the shopper has been mendacity or take authorized motion towards clients as a result of doing so would make WeBuyCars seem like a company bully and scare clients away from shopping for from it.

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