Buying a car in South Africa

by Jade Brennan

The drought, the unstable Rand, rising food prices, petrol prices and interest rate hikes has left us all with a lot less money at the end of the month . It’s then not surprising that cash-strapped South Africans are searching for solutions online, especially when it comes to cars.

beautiful young african woman driving a car

What are South Africans searching for when it comes to finance?

A look at Google search trends over the past 30 days shows a consistent interest in ‘finance’ as a general search term. Drill down into terms related to the main topic, and you’ll find rising interest in the terms ‘finance calculator’, ‘vehicle finance’ and ‘car finance’.

South Africans are looking to buy vehicles and want to know what they can afford to drive. While new and used vehicle sales continue to decline, for the first time since 2009, demand for used vehicles now outstrips new vehicles.

finance car finance google searches

I’m looking to buy a car. Where do I start?

3 Things to know before buying a car

For most people the idea of buying their first car is a journey into the unknown. They’re potentially committing to a large loan, and none the wiser to the alternatives.  A car is also an important symbol of freedom for many.
new-car

1. Know your car finance terms 

Monthly instalments. Linked or fixed interest rates. Deposits. Insurance. Balloon payments. These are terms that can confuse or simply stand in the way of a buyer getting their new car. Make sure you make the best decisions by understanding these terms in our car finance term guide.

2. Let your budget do the driving 

If you realistically know what you can afford, you will know which car you can afford. Fnd out more about setting a budget when buying a car here. 

3. Don’t forget about insurance 
It is a bad idea to drive a car in South Africa without insurance. While you may be a great driver, you don’t know about other drivers on the road. A monthly premium might seem expensive now, but can you imagine the once off cost of replacing a bumper? Read 8 myths about car insurance to make sure you have the facts before you decide on a policy. And even if your car is high risk, you should still insure it. 

Whether you choose to buy a used car (like most South Africans) or a new car, ensure you have all the information you need.
This article was created using Google Trends by Google South Africa.