A consumer has expressed concerns about the risks for potential buyers of used cars relying on independent vehicle assessment reports issued by Dekra Automotive when making purchases from JSE-listed WeBuyCars and other used car dealerships.
Journalist Jonathan Witt recounted his experience on X, previously known as Twitter, on Thursday after inspecting several vehicles at the WeBuyCars location at The Dome in Randburg, Johannesburg.
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Witt noted that he was interested in two cars, closely examined them, and took one for a test drive.
“To clarify, the pricing, while on the lower side, aligns with market values.
“The sales representatives either explicitly stated or suggested that both cars were in excellent condition.
“The @DEKRA_sa reports indicated that both vehicles were categorized as good to very good, with no visible signs of damage, faults, or repairs, and both were labeled as ‘Platinum’ condition.
“I recorded the VIN numbers and checked back today [Thursday], confirming that both vehicles had been involved in accidents,” he remarked.
“One had been in at least three accidents, while the other was deemed uneconomical to repair after a serious accident and has since been rebuilt.
“None of this information was disclosed, leading to concerns that such details may have been intentionally concealed and the vehicles misrepresented.
“I will never buy a car from WBC [WeBuyCars], and as far as I’m concerned, the Dekra report holds no value,” he concluded.
Moneyweb could not reach Witt for direct comment.
Dekra report ‘does not encompass a full mechanical evaluation’
Witt’s experience parallels those of other consumers dealing with WeBuyCars and various used car dealers, highlighting the need for a precise and fully transparent Vehicle Salvage Database (VDS).
WeBuyCars sales director Janson Ponting stated on Friday that without specific vehicle details, a thorough response isn’t feasible.
Ponting explained that the Dekra Used Vehicle Report provides “an independent assessment of a vehicle’s road-worthiness, focusing on components like brake performance, tyre condition, shock absorbers, and diagnostic error codes.”
He added, however, that it “is not a thorough mechanical evaluation and does not verify whether a vehicle has been involved in an accident.”
Ponting emphasized that South Africa lacks a reliable system for tracking vehicle accident histories.
“With fewer than 30% of vehicles insured, data from insurance companies can be incomplete and should not be fully relied upon to verify accident histories accurately.
“WeBuyCars currently cannot distinctly indicate which vehicles have been involved in accidents due to the limitations of available information,” he elaborated.
Ponting stressed that insurers decide if a vehicle is “uneconomical to repair” based on factors like parts cost, availability, repair duration, and associated expenses.
He clarified, however, that this classification “does not necessarily imply structural damage but reflects the insurer’s assessment that paying the claim is more financially sensible than repairs.”
Read: What to do if your car is written off, but not paid off
“It is crucial to highlight that this does not alter the vehicle’s official status [Code].
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“WeBuyCars is committed to full transparency. All known defects are revealed, and vehicles classified as Code 3 or 4 are advertised accordingly,” he stated.
‘No interference’ in inspection reports
Dekra Automotive’s chief operating officer, Stefan Bleitner, confirmed that Dekra operates entirely independently and takes pride in this autonomy.
He mentioned that there is “absolutely no franchise agreement” with WeBuyCars and no interference in the inspection reports they provide.
“The inspections are carried out by Dekra personnel … and each branch conducts the assessments independently, which are then quality-checked by Dekra staff before release,” he clarified.
Read: Buying a pre-owned vehicle?
In addition to Witt’s experience, Moneyweb shared with Dekra details of two prior instances where Dekra’s vehicle assessment reports faced scrutiny.
These included:
- An article published by Moneyweb on 12 September 2024 regarding WeBuyCars refunding a buyer after a car was deemed “dangerous” by a workshop because the Dekra report did not disclose the extent of the vehicle’s damage.
- An article published by Moneyweb on 9 February 2023 discussing a Johannesburg court ruling that required used vehicle dealership Jambo Motors to refund the total outstanding financed amount plus interest for a vehicle purchased without the buyer being aware it had been previously ‘written off’ by an insurance firm. The Dekra assessment suggested that the only issues with the vehicle were minor. The ruling noted: “It appears the Dekra Report could be flawed.”
Bleitner stated that Dekra has not had the chance to thoroughly investigate these claims but assures that “no fraudulent reports have been issued to WeBuyCars or any other vehicle dealer.”
“In situations where the public contests a report provided to WeBuyCars, we usually recommend that the customer brings the vehicle to one of our branches for re-assessment.
“We have also set up an email account where the public can confirm the authenticity of any Dekra report provided to them by any vehicle dealer,” he noted.
Read: WeBuyCars refunds buyer of ‘dangerous’ car
Dekra’s website claims that a Condition Report can provide consumers with assurance regarding the operational condition of a second-hand vehicle they are considering.
“Rather than relying solely on the seller’s assertions, the report offers a professional and impartial evaluation that allows you to make an informed decision.
“Having a vehicle independently assessed increases confidence that there are no hidden problems or surprises,” it clarifies.
Vehicle Salvage Database
In 2023, the South African Insurance Association (Saia) launched the first phase of its publicly accessible VSD, aimed at preventing consumers from unintentionally purchasing written-off vehicles at inflated prices.
The rollout of the second phase, which would include used (Written-off Code 2) vehicles deemed uneconomical or too costly to repair by insurance companies, was scheduled for December 2023 but did not fulfill its commitment to provide consumers with this information.
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