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Practical articles for South African vehicle owners.

Research-informed articles on vehicle value, finance, ownership costs, verification, warranty terms and digital onboarding.

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Your car’s value. The cost of keeping it on the road. The questions to ask before you decide. Choose a topic, or explore the calculator below.

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What could time mean
for your car’s value?

Start with a value. Explore a few possibilities. See how a change today could look a few years from now.

Your assumptions
R

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%
0%50%

10% is a starting example, not a market forecast. Change it to compare possibilities.

5 years
1 year10 years

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Your illustrationBased on your assumptions

Possible value in 5 years

R 147 62359.0% of today’s value

Possible reduction in value

R 102 377Over the same period
Vehicle valueValue lost
Illustrative vehicle value and cumulative depreciationStarting at R 250 000, the illustrative value becomes R 147 623 after 5 years at 10% annual depreciation. The annual breakdown below contains the same figures.0%25%50%75%100%TodayYr 1Yr 2Yr 3Yr 4Yr 5

Year 5 R 147 623 valueR 102 377 lost

This is an educational illustration, not a verified valuation, quotation or warranty payout. Actual vehicle values will vary.

See the annual breakdown and calculation
Illustrative values using a constant 10% annual depreciation assumption
YearVehicle valueValue lost
TodayR 250 000R 0
Year 1R 225 000R 25 000
Year 2R 202 500R 47 500
Year 3R 182 250R 67 750
Year 4R 164 025R 85 975
Year 5R 147 623R 102 377

Each year’s value is the previous year’s value reduced by your chosen percentage. Formula: starting value × (1 − annual rate ÷ 100)years. Finance, fees, maintenance and inflation are not included. Displayed amounts are rounded.

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Val’Utility Insights

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Guides for the road ahead.

Browse the guides below and start with the questions that matter to you.

Black Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe with a fictional ValUtility GP plate in a Sandton-style Johannesburg setting at sunset.
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Understand retail, trade, market and finance settlement values, and why each number answers a different vehicle-value question.

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Why a financed vehicle can create a shortfall after a serious loss

Learn why a financed vehicle may leave a shortfall after theft, non-recovery or write-off when the settlement balance exceeds the recognised vehicle value.

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Why vehicle verification matters before warranty protection is activated

See why licence-disc details, VIN, model information, mileage, documents and customer information should be verified before warranty activation.

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How digital onboarding can be convenient and privacy-aware

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What causes a car to lose value in South Africa?

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Understand what a vehicle write-off means, how repair economics and safety considerations are assessed, and what administrative steps may follow.

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How service history affects your car's resale value

Learn why service records influence buyer confidence, how to organise them and why missing history can reduce a vehicle's resale appeal.

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How accident history affects your car's resale value

Understand how accident severity, structural damage, repair quality, safety-system work and documentation can influence vehicle value.

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Vehicle ownership costs8 min read

How petrol prices affect the real cost of owning a car in South Africa

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Important note

Blog articles provide general public information and marketing context. Any selected Val'utility warranty option, benefit structure, eligibility, exclusions and obligations are governed by the final terms you review and accept.

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