What is a “roadworthy” test and why do you need it?

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kingr
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What is a “roadworthy” test and why do you need it?

Post by kingr »

Although you could be forgiven for believing that “roadworthy” in South Africa simply implies that a vehicle moves forward in a straight line and has all four wheels (!) it’s a lot more than that. In spite of the sputtering wrecks held together with wire and duct tape that we sometimes encounter on the roads, roadworthy isn’t a joke and should be understood for its importance and value, no matter that it’s yet another occasion where citizens have to pay the government!

A roadworthy certificate - from which you clip the small round disc that you affix to your windshield - is but a token of the much greater detail behind it. It confirms that a car has been tested for overall road safety and that it presents no threat to you or others, as far as the standard tests can tell. The roadworthy disc also carries a host of identifying details the law considers essential for any vehicle to display. Current, valid roadworthy certificates are a legal requirement when you buy or sell a car too. Although it often happens that in a sale the roadworthy certificate is absent or expired, but the car is sold regardless, there are really good reasons not to skimp on the issue, especially for buyers.

When you’re buying a car, should any detail on the car’s documents differ from the visible details on the car, you’ll need to obtain police clearance on the car - a painfully taxing bit of admin. Quite apart from the hassle, there’s the real prospect of becoming involved in some kind of scam once you enter this arena, a very good reason to insist on valid documents that correspond to the car when buying it. Roadworthy is hassle-worthy!

What makes a car roadworthy?

A roadworthy test asserts that a used car is fundamentally sound and its safety features intact and functioning. While previously only municipalities were able to test vehicles, nowadays private companies are also legally allowed to conduct roadworthy tests. Although private companies might charge a bit more, their service is generally faster and their inspectors are SABS-approved. The South African Bureau of Standards is also responsible for random testing of the testing stations themselves, in order to ensure effective, legitimate testing.

Hot tip: When you find it’s time for you to take a car in for a roadworthy test, foot the bill for an engine and chassis steam clean. Nothing irks examiners like a greasy, dusty or muddy mess. A thoroughly clean car raises the bar, as it presents as roadworthy in appearance, and also avoids tilting the inspector into failing your car as they scrape away grime, fishing for a bird’s eye view on things!

If when applying for a roadworthy certificate, your car fails the test, you’ll have a 14-day grace period in which to correct or fix listed items and resubmit the car to testing, for free. If your car fails twice, you’ll have to pay for a new test. A passed certificate is also valid for 60 days, thereafter it expires.

Private car sales and roadworthy certificates

Although many car buyers skimp on requesting a roadworthy certificate in private car sale transactions, this is something you should avoid, unless you are buying a non-runner. Buying a used car without a valid roadworthy certificate places a burden on you to not only take the car for a roadworthy test, but also fix any issues that may arise if the car fails the test.

Even though the car can be registered within 21 days in your name after the seller submitted the change of ownership form, you won't be able to get a new licence disk until you have a valid roadworthy certificate for the car. So avoid running around fixing any issues and negotiate with the seller that a roadworthy certificate must be included with your deal.

Related: Guide To Buying A Car Privately In SA

Dealership car sales and roadworthy certificates

In the vast majority of cases, any car coming from a dealership will come with a roadworthy certificate, having been tested. Dealerships feel more keenly their public image, and also providing a roadworthy with the car just makes their life easier, getting through admin and making the sale.

Typically a dealer buying a car will first check for any needed repairs, and then take the car in for roadworthy testing. Don’t be surprised if the roadworthy test is only done once you’ve expressed interest in the car. A dealership will usually only take a car in to their closest roadworthy testing station once you’ve made a successful offer on the car. This ensures that the roadworthy certificate will be current when you’re busy putting the car into your name.

What do they check when doing a roadworthy test?:
  • The roadworthy certification identifies a car by its chassis and engine numbers, thus identifying stolen cars or cars with falsified number plates.
  • It ensures that the car’s electrical system as seen in the lights, indicators, hooter, alternator and battery is sound, maintaining safety.
  • It ensures that the car’s seats are correctly secured, that the seatbelts are functional and SABS-quality, and also that doors and hinges are sound, with no dangerous sharp edges inside that can cause injury.
  • The test will also look at the safety glass in all windows and that the windows can be opened and closed. Remember that a noticeably chipped or cracked windshield will disqualify your car for roadworthy status.
  • A roadworthy test covers the braking system, steering rack and even broad alignment, to ensure that the car can both travel and stop safely.
  • Inspectors will look at the tyres for soundness that includes the tread depth, governed by law, and this includes the spare tyre, assuming you’re not on run-flats.
  • The test will also look for a correct fuel cap and the safe and correct functioning of the fuel tank, as well as the overall mechanical soundness of the vehicle, from a safety perspective.
  • Roadworthy inspection also ensures that there are no sharp edges, loose panels or other dangerous quirks outside the car, on the body
Compelling Reasons Not To Skimp on Roadworthy

So far so good, but far too often in the rush of the sale car buyers waive their insistence on a current roadworthy certificate, thinking they’ll just “get it done later” before registering the car in their name. While this might be an immediate fix to just get the deal done and get back to your day, it opens you up to some desperately unpleasant realities.
  • Although no one is ever prosecuted for buying a car without a valid roadworthy certificate, the law will kick in when you apply for a roadworthy certificate, only to find that there is a history of missed annual renewals. In other words, if the car seller failed to pay for their annual roadworthy certificate for a year or perhaps several, you will be liable to settle that bill - that includes penalties - and it isn’t going to be a few hundred either. Even if only one year has been missed, the cost will typically be just under R1000 to straighten that up, something the seller knew full well and yet has passed onto you now. Although it was the seller’s responsibility, you have now become involved in a mildly criminal transaction (!) as you accepted the car without legally mandated documents, so don’t expect anyone else to foot that bill except you. In severe cases, playing catch-up on a few missed years with the traffic department can cost you thousands.
  • Also, and far more worrying, an absent or expired roadworthy certificate can mean that the car couldn’t be roadworthied, either for gross mechanical faults that yet remain invisible to you at the time of the sale, or because it was stolen. These realities will both cost you a lot more. You’ll either need to pay to fix that which was spuriously hidden from you when buying the car, or even run the risk of losing your new car, as it is involved in a criminal investigation! You might go from “new car owner” to “person of interest” in a heartbeat, all because you skimped on a fundamental component of a car transaction.

In a nutshell, you should never buy a used car from ANYONE without a roadworthy certificate, and that includes dealerships. Especially where you’re paying on the road costs, a roadworthy certificate has to be part of the deal.

Related: What are on the road costs?

Do you have need a roadworthy certificate for a new car?

No, new cars are the exception and don’t need a roadworthy certificate. Roadworthies are only applicable to used cars.

Illegal roadworthies

All of the above being sound advice, in a country where you can typically get away with doing 160 in a 60 zone for the price of a 2lt Coke and some KFC, even “legitimate” roadworthy certificates could have been bought. With the extent of corruption evident in South Africa, many times a certificate has simply been bought without the car undergoing an actual test for roadworthiness. While you might think that you’ll “see” any issues on a sale car before buying it, the above scenarios show that to be a naive assumption.

What to do then? When the certificate is actually official, yet illegitimate in reality? You might have obtained a car valuation when looking at the car, which is a good place to start. If you’re financing a sale car privately, the mandatory multi-point check and roadworthy are covered as needed components of the deal, so all good. If, however, you’re buying a car outright with cash, it’s still a good idea to get a roadworthy test and multi-point check done. Remember that most car owners who bribe their way into a certificate are hiding major mechanical or criminal issues.

Last thoughts

You need to insist on a car’s current roadworthy certificate when you’re buying it. Look at the certificate carefully and ensure all details listed are correct and that the date means it’s still current. Don’t skimp. Insist on it. And get needed intel if you have any doubts, including taking the car in for mechanical evaluation. Lastly, as a responsible motorist, and a responsible citizen who’d prefer not to see something like road safety in the hands of those who can be bought for small favours, get it done when it’s your duty to do it too!
Kurt #3337

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