Fuel prices have hit a record high and, despite finance minister Enoch Godongwana extending the reduction on the general fuel levy, your bank balance continues to plummet as you refuel. You’ve tried all the hot tips to save petrol: you drive smoothly, avoid idling your car, use the aircon less (and sweat more), remove unnecessary cargo and make sure your wheels are aligned, and yet these measures make little difference.
Remember when the petrol price was just over R12 in the initial months of lockdown? The price has almost doubled since then! But complaining is never going to change the situation. You need practical solutions that will impact your bottom line. Perhaps you need to sell your car?
We’re putting ‘sell your car’ on the radar by collating 4 options that are likely to make a real difference to bring you more bang for your buck in the long run:
#1 Opt to downsize
That off-road 4×4 machine you’re using to get from A to B is glugging petrol like a teenager tucking in at a Christmas dinner party. She’s trusty on the rugged terrain (when you get out to the Kruger Park twice a year) but not so trusty for taking the kids to netball and soccer practise or running to the shop for bread and milk.
Perhaps a small, run-around car would do the job just fine for a smaller price at the petrol station?
Selling your spacious Toyota Fortuner for a zooty Fiat 500 will not only give you a reason to smile at the fuel stop but help you save on maintenance costs, fit into those tight parking spaces with ease and give you a better conscience when it comes to saving the planet.
#2 Opt to sell one of your cars
You and your partner have just clinked the glasses in celebration of purchasing a new home during lockdown (thanks to a lower interest rate at the time). Plus, it has a spacious double garage for your two cars. But now the repo rate has gone up and paying off your bond is impacting your monthly budget. Add to that the fuel price increases and you wonder how you will keep up with all the new expenses!
Why not sell one of your cars and opt to share a ride or buy a scooter or bicycle? This will help you save money in the long term and prevent the bank from auctioning off your dream home.
#3 Opt to buy a fuel-efficient car
Fact: not all cars are created equal. While each car has its pros and cons, in today’s economic climate it’s best to drive the car with the smallest day-to-day running costs.
Your Nissan Patrol may have an impressive 4,8-litre inline 6-cylinder petrol engine; your Land Rover Range Rover 5.0L V8 may be supercharged; or your Toyota Land Cruiser with V-8 381hp engine and an 8-speed automatic transmission may get you over rugged terrain, but they are all mega gas guzzlers. And what about your initially affordable and luxurious Haval which has become so thirsty? It makes you wish you could fill it up on coke (which is now half the price of 93 petrol in Gauteng!).
Rather, opt to sell your car and instead purchase a fuel-efficient SUV like the Renault Duster, a double-cab like the Ford Ranger, or a budget hatchback like the Toyota Aygo.
#4 Opt to carpool or use public transport
When was the last time you investigated a lift-sharing or public transport alternative? In the post-lockdown climate where fewer people need to be in the office every day, your car may be gathering more dust in the garage while you receive massive monthly insurance debit orders.
E-hailing services such as Bolt and Uber offer a penny-wise alternative if you need a quick ride. Public transport options such as buses (like the metro buses or the Rea Vaya buses in Cape Town or Jozi), trains (the Gautrain if you are in Joburg) and taxis offer a far cheaper option for longer distances. Perhaps a colleague lives nearby and you can opt to carpool with them to the office?
Besides South Africa being a tad behind in the global public transport trend, these viable alternatives offer students and business professionals extra time to study or close a deal as you work on the go.
Opt to sell your car to a reputable online marketplace
Whatever option you decide on, the rising fuel costs make selling your car a tempting and legitimate solution to your fuel woes.
Before you head out to make a quick buck on an untrustworthy online platform or individual dealer, ask yourself two questions?
# 1 Is this platform giving me the best cash price?
#2 Is the process safe, quick and easy?
Consider a trustworthy online marketplace (like Weelee) and see why thousands of South Africans are opting to sell their cars through their hassle-free process.
