Motorists are buying older cars and struggling with maintenance costs as pressure on households builds. Right to Repair CEO, Kate Elliott warns that the current cost of living crisis is creating a risk to road safety as drivers buy older cars and struggle with maintenance costs.

The warning comes at a time when the South African Reserve Bank Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) announced another 75 basis points hike to the repurchase rate effective 23 September. This is the fifth consecutive increment since November 2021. 

An ageing car park with cash strapped consumers is not a South African challenge only. Graham Stapleton, CEO of Halfords, the UK's leading provider of cycling, motoring services, vehicle servicing and repairs says, “Based on what we’re seeing in our garages and taking into account continuing issues with the supply of new cars, we believe the average age of cars will pass the nine-year mark very soon and could even creep above 10 years before the cost of living crisis eases,” he said.

Elliott concurs saying locally the car pool is also aging with a general slowdown in new vehicle sales. She says the situation is further exacerbated by the fact that  in South Africa we have no enforcement of Periodic Testing. In the UK for example testing needs to be carried out every year.  Ferose Oaten, National Chairperson of the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA), says there is no requirement for a roadworthy inspection for nearly 80% of the vehicle population in South Africa, and stresses the critical need to focus on vehicle safety.

She sites Regulation 138 of the National Road Traffic Act which was amended in 2014 to include the testing of vehicles older than 10 years every 2 years, at a “date to be determined by the Minister”.  “To date however this has not happened and at present vehicles are still only required to have a statutory roadworthy test on change of ownership,” says Oaten. 

Elliott says while this may seem like a double-edged sword, enforcing safety checks on motorists when consumers are already so financially stretched, the good news for motorists is that “Since the coming into effect of the Guidelines for Competition in the SA Automotive Aftermarket, we have seen a general opening up of the market providing motorists with the freedom to shop around to find the most competitive service provider. This makes our aftermarket a fairer place to do business and while we don’t necessarily foresee service prices coming down that much, we are seeing better quality service being provided and a general slowing down in inflation of service prices. Parts on the other hand have actually seen a decrease in price due to the extra competition now in place. This all bodes well to counter the effects of inflation and help keep our roads safe,” concludes Elliott.