Learn
Understanding vehicle finance
Learn the ins and outs of vehicle financing.
Have a clear idea of the type of motor vehicle you want and what you can afford to buy before you enter into a deal. Before applying for vehicle finance, ask yourself the following questions:
Keep in mind when you apply for vehicle finance that sometimes you get better value for your money by buying a used vehicle. Previously owned vehicles are cheaper because they have already depreciated in value. However, new vehicles usually come with a manufacturers' warranty and may offer limited risk in terms of accident damage or mechanical breakdown and can have a longer life span.
In an environment of rising interest rates fueled by overheating inflation, the cost of living has gone up rather dramatically and somewhat surprisingly.
The most important points to think about when deciding to finance a new or used vehicle are as follows:
How big a deposit should you put down?
In terms of the National Credit Act, you do not need to pay a minimum cash deposit on any vehicle purchased. However it makes sense to save for a deposit, as your monthly repayments will be a lot less. Your deposit can either be in cash or as a vehicle trade-in. The size of your deposit and the length of the repayment period are at the discretion of the bank and are related to the risks involved. A general rule is that the older the vehicle the bigger the deposit and the shorter the repayment term.
Minors (anyone below the age of 18) cannot legally enter into a contract to buy a motor vehicle or secure instalment credit for the purchase of a motor vehicle.
As the buyer, you have the legal right to receive a vehicle free of any hidden defects - but only if you purchase your vehicle through an approved dealer.
Your responsibilities
If you default on your repayments, the finance company has the right to:
There are two principal ways of paying for the vehicle you have purchased. You can sign a bank debit order so that the repayments are automatically deducted from your bank account and paid over to the vehicle financier every month. You can also pay in cash or electronically by handing over or transferring the money to the institution that has financed your vehicle every month.
A debit order is the preferred payment option. There are two principal ways of paying for the vehicle you have purchased. You can sign a bank debit order so that the repayments are automatically deducted from your bank account and paid over to the vehicle financier every month. You can also pay in cash or electronically by handing over or transferring the money to the institution that has financed your vehicle every month. A debit order is the preferred payment option.
Should you comprehensively insure the vehicle you purchase?
Any vehicle that is being financed through a finance company must be comprehensively insured. Failure to properly insure could result in financial disaster for the purchaser. Remember that one non-payment of an insurance premium can result in the policy lapsing
The signing of a surety
If you are a first time buyer, you may need assistance in obtaining credit from a bank for the first time. The financial institution may ask that a blood relative stand surety on the financial transaction to enable you to qualify for credit. A parent makes the ideal surety on a financial transaction. Remember that, if the surety offered is acceptable to the bank and you fail to meet your obligations, the financial institution concerned can hold the person who signed surety responsible for the debt. However, even if a surety is signed, the financial institution is still responsible for ensuring that you have the ability to service the debt.
There are two main types of vehicle finance packages available - Instalment Sale agreements and Lease Sale agreements.
With an Instalment Sale Agreement the vehicle is purchased from the dealer, or private seller. You drive the vehicle, but the bank owns the vehicle until you have finished paying it off. You make monthly repayments to the bank for a specified amount over a specified period, after which, when your final instalment has been paid, you take full ownership of the vehicle. The interest rate applicable on an Instalment Sale Agreement can be of either a fixed or a variable nature and the upper limit of interest that can be charged by a bank is governed by an Act of Parliament (the National Credit Act).
A Lease Sale agreement allows you to lease a vehicle from the financier with the option to buy the vehicle at the end of the agreement. The main advantage of this type of agreement is that you enjoy the use of the vehicle without outright ownership and the lease payments may be tax deductible. This type of agreement would suit people who are more tax orientated or self-employed.
Shop around before you make a final decision
It's always advisable to shop around before you make your final decision - especially if you have a vehicle to trade in on your purchase. The price dealers offer for trade-ins can vary considerably depending on their stock levels and ability to sell on your traded in vehicle
In an environment of rising interest rates fueled by overheating inflation, the cost of living has gone up rather dramatically and somewhat surprisingly.
The most important points to think about when deciding to finance a new or used vehicle are as follows:
If at all possible, always insist that the vehicle you are purchasing comes with a warranty.
Reputable and "authorised" dealers will back up their sale by offering a warranty of some kind. Because their reputations and their relationships with the banks that finance the vehicles they sell are important to them, they generally keep their end of the bargain when it comes to latent defects on a vehicle. They also provide you with additional services such as vehicle licensing, a vehicle condition report, roadworthy certificate, vehicle finance and insurance, etc.
What an Instalment Sale Agreement offers
Periods ranging from 12 to 72 months
Interest that is calculated at either fixed or prime-linked rates
Please note that the goods must be fully insured during the agreement
What does an Instalment Sale Agreement entail?
You may want to consider taking the following option with your finance package
Take-A-Break Payment
Is there a way to lower my monthly instalments?
Yes, if you decide on adding a Balloon Payment to your overall repayment amount, your monthly instalments can be reduced. A Balloon Payment is effectively a way to postpone a portion of your payment until the end of your Instalment Sale Agreement. Once you reach this point, you need to pay a lump sum before the vehicle officially becomes yours.
My available insurance/warranty options are
This option is best if
What a Lease Agreement offers
You may want to consider taking the following option with your finance package:
Take-A-Break Payment
Is there a way to lower my monthly instalments?
Yes, if you choose to go for the Residual Value option, we will lower your vehicle instalments, with the Residual Value payable at the end of the lease.
In short a Residual can be described as the amount you can purchase the car for at the end of your lease, should you choose to keep it. When you buy a car via Lease Agreement, you only pay for the portion of the car's total value that you actually use. The remainder of the value, at the end of the agreement, makes up the Residual.
Available insurance/warranty options
Learn
Learn the ins and outs of vehicle financing.
