RVM’s 4 critical checks make sure you buy a second-hand car safely. Preloved cars are budget-friendly, but overlooking these key safety features can put you at unnecessary risk. Before you purchase a pre-loved car, you need to know exactly what to look for. In this guide, we break down the 4 critical safety checks that will help you buy a used car in South Africa with complete confidence.
#1: Driver Visibility
Your visual field when driving is the single most important factor when it comes to car safety. When buying a used car in South Africa, you need excellent visibility so you can react quicker, anticipate hazards and stay confident behind the wheel.
Here are the three visibility-based features to consider when you’re looking to buy a used car:
Windscreen Condition Checks when you buy a second-hand car
Whether your windshield is made of tempered or laminated glass, your visibility in the driver’s seat is the most important safety consideration. When you’re looking at buying a car, new or pre-loved, thinking about how much and how well you can see should be your number one priority.
With our strong South African sun, you should be mindful of…
- Chips
- Scratches
- Tinting
Mirror Checks and Second-hand Car Safety
With your rearview mirror…
Before you start your test drive, play around with the mirror’s angle and direction. Tilt it up, down, left, and right until the rear window sits perfectly in place.
A great safety check is comparing what you see in real life versus what you see reflected: the closer the match, the safer your view.
And your wing mirror’s…
Did you know your wing mirrors affect how big (or small) your blind spots are?
During your test drive, be sure to angle them towards neighbouring lanes. Then, you need to make sure to take note of your blind spots. Keep this in mind before making any purchases.
Check Vehicle Height When you Buy a Used Car
Your field of view is altered depending on how high your car sits. Lower vehicles may reduce your ability to see over traffic. It can also be trickier to spot potential obstacles ahead of time when your car is low to the ground.
On the other hand, higher vehicles like SUVs and bakkies give you power over your vision. You can spot potholes and other obstructions ahead of time in a taller car. Not to mention, you get a night-driving advantage: you’ll be above other vehicles’ beams, making it a lot easier to see during your late-night adventures.
A distorted view is an unsafe view, so look out for the little things when you visit the car dealer near you. This is a critical check when looking to buy a second-hand car.
#2: Tyre Quality and your Pre-loved Car purchase
Your tyres are – literally – where you hit the ground running. As the only part of the car that touches the road, inspecting your tyres before purchasing a used car is a crucial safety point.
3 ways to evaluate tyre quality
Check the tyre tread
The grooves over the entire wheel should be clearly defined. If there’s uneven wear-and-tear, that’s a red flag that points to other mechanical problems like poor wheel alignment.
Check for obvious Tyre pressure problems
A glance over each wheel can let you know a lot about the rest of the vehicle you want to buy. If the previous owner neglected tyre pressure, there may be oversight elsewhere too. Overinflated and underinflated wheels are both very dangerous and can cause serious wear and tear.
Look for clear signs of overuse
If the preloved car you have your eye on has worn tyres, that means a likely upfront cost will be replacing them. Don’t forget to check for bulges or rips in the spare tyre either!
#3: Inside the Car
Interior Safety Essentials When You Buy a Second-hand car
Airbags in pre-loved Cars
Airbags were first invented in 1968 and have been installed in automobiles since the early 1970s. They seem like a given now, but did you know airbags aren’t legally mandated in South Africa?
A lot of vintage vehicles push the limits of safety without this key safety feature. Unless you want a classic car that has fewer luxuries, you should enquire about this safety feature before buying a pre-owned vehicle in South Africa.
Seatbelt Safety in used cars
The seatbelt is one of the earliest safety innovations that came with early mechanical revolutions. These strips of fabric were originally made for pilots, but quickly became adopted by other industries like transport.
The first seatbelt was installed in a horse-drawn taxi, and it predates the invention of road markings! This simple but effective invention buckled down through time, and is more needed today than ever.
When you want to buy a second-hand car, assessing seatbelt durability and comfort has the potential to save your life. And don’t forget, the law demands all vehicle occupants wear a seatbelt.
#4: Modern Safety Tech to Look for in a Second-Hand Car
Blind-spot warning systems
Whether you’re commuting from Joburg to Pretoria, or joyriding down the N3 highway to your holiday down in Durban: lane-changing is the name of the game. That’s where blind spot warning systems come in.
This small device can alert you through a light or a beep that there is a car in your blind spot. While checking over your shoulder before changing lanes is common practice, this technology gives you an extra layer of safety certainty.
If lengthy commutes or long-distance drives are part of your daily life, ask your second-hand car dealer which vehicle comes with this key warning system.
Electronic stability control
More simply called the ESC, this safety feature stops your car from sliding, reducing your risk of a spin-out. While South African legislation doesn’t make ESC mandatory, This safety feature enhances your vehicle’s stability during sudden swerves and on slippery roads. If you’re looking to buy a preloved car for your growing family, the ESC is a worthwhile non-negotiable.
Driver monitoring systems
We all get tired after being on the road for hours. It is a normal reaction to an extended period of intense focus. But, it is also life-threatening for you and your passengers. If you want an attention-based safety net, then driver monitoring systems are just what you need.
By using interior cameras, sensors, and steering-wheel data, this innovative system detects early signs of inattentiveness and fatigue. You get an instant alert through a message, sound or lit-up icon if it picks up on distracted driving.
South Africa’s roads stretch from coast to coast. If you find yourself on long-haul trips often, enquire about a driver monitoring system when you visit the car dealer near you. Whether you’re driving from Alberton to Ballito or from Hout Bay to Limpopo, your safety comes first.
Buying a preloved car doesn’t have to be overwhelming. You also don’t need to compromise your safety. You can choose a truly road-ready second-hand vehicle by focusing on visibility, tyre health and tech-based safety systems. By doing these 4 critical checks, you protect yourself from hidden risks and unexpected repair costs! So make a smart and secure investment, and use these 4 critical checks today.
