Ensuring your vehicle’s roadworthiness in South Africa involves inspection fees, potential repairs, and re-inspection costs, which must be looked at cumulatively to ascertain the total cost of the roadworthy process.
In South Africa, obtaining a roadworthy certificate is a crucial step in ensuring the safety and compliance of a vehicle. Whether you’re selling, re-registering, or transferring ownership, understanding the costs of obtaining a roadworthy certificate is essential.
The total cost of the vehicle roadworthy process can be broken up into the following components:
Inspection fees
The first component of roadworthy costs in South Africa is the inspection fee. This fee covers the cost of a qualified inspector examining the vehicle to ensure it meets the necessary standards. Inspection fees can vary based on factors such as the type of vehicle, its age, and the inspection centre. This is the cost of the roadworthy certificate itself and will vary depending on the test station visited.
Repairs and maintenance
Once the initial inspection is completed, the vehicle owner may need to address any issues or defects identified by the inspector. Repair costs depend on the nature and extent of the required fixes. Common issues include faulty brakes, worn-out tyres, and defective lights. Vehicle owners should budget for additional expenses if repairs are needed to meet roadworthy standards.
Re-inspection/ Retest Fees
After addressing identified issues, a re-inspection/retest is necessary to confirm that the required repairs have been completed. Some vehicle test stations may charge an additional fee for this re-evaluation but not necessarily will. It’s important to carefully follow the recommendations provided by the initial test to avoid incurring extra costs during the retest.
Choosing the Right Vehicle Testing Station
The choice of vehicle test station can also influence the cost of obtaining a roadworthy certificate. Different stations may have varying fee structures and service offerings. Researching and comparing prices from different stations is advisable to find one that suits your budget and requirements.
We suggest that you utilise an accredited vehicle testing station that is a member of the Vehicle Testing Association (VTA). Not only can you be assured of a quality service but if you are not happy with the service received by a VTA member there is recourse through the RMI’s dispute resolution process at your disposal.
