Used-car running costs: a South African buyer’s checklist
The asking price gets your attention. The running costs decide how the car fits into everyday life. Collect a few specific quotes before you commit.
By Pocket Rand · Published and sources checked 19 October 2026 · 5 minute read
1. Work out your fuel budget
Estimate a normal month’s kilometres, including work, school runs and weekend trips. Use fuel consumption that is realistic for your driving and the pump price you actually pay. Short trips, traffic and load can make your experience different from a brochure figure.
Monthly fuel cost = kilometres ÷ 100 × litres per 100 km × price per litre. At an illustrative 1,500 km, 6.5 L/100 km and R23/L, that is 97.5 litres and R2,242.50 a month. R23 is an example input, not a claim about today’s South African fuel price.
2. Get an insurance quote before buying
Ask for a quotation for the specific vehicle and your actual circumstances. Review the excess, cover basis, exclusions and conditions. An inexpensive premium can still leave a cash requirement after a claim. Use the quote rather than a friend’s premium.
Keep a separate amount available for an excess or an uninsured event. Our monthly insurance input is the premium, not a promise that every loss is covered. A financed vehicle may have contractual insurance requirements; check the agreement.
3. Separate servicing, repairs and tyres
Ask for the service history, next service date or kilometre interval, and a written estimate of work likely to be needed. An independent inspection can help identify issues you cannot judge on a short test drive. Check what any remaining service plan, maintenance plan or warranty actually includes.
Enter annual maintenance and tyre budgets separately in Pocket Rand. Dividing them by 12 creates a monthly provision; it does not mean the garage lets you pay monthly. If a major service or a full set of tyres is due soon, you need the cash earlier.
For tyres, quote the correct size and include fitting and related work. Keep a repair buffer for surprises. A budget based only on a scheduled service is a weak estimate for a car with uncertain history.
4. Include licence costs, the purchase and the exit
Use the relevant licence-renewal amount and confirm any transfer, registration or dealer charges separately. Costs such as parking, tolls, car washes, tracker subscriptions and inspection fees are not separate calculator fields; add them to your own budget. Avoid counting something twice if an insurance or service quote already includes it.
Finally, choose an ownership period and realistic resale assumption. Resale is uncertain; compare a lower value as well. Depreciation affects the ownership cost even though it is not a monthly debit order. If financing, include the deposit, instalments, balloon plan and potential settlement at sale.
The AA highlights fuel, insurance, maintenance and tyre costs as part of the buying decision. The point of the checklist is to turn those categories into figures for the particular car in front of you, rather than rely on a generic average.
Let’s put numbers to it.
Illustration: 1,500 km/month at 6.5 L/100 km and R23/L; R900/month insurance; R6,000/year maintenance; R2,400/year tyres; R720/year licence. The second column tests higher consumption, insurance and upkeep for the same purchase price.
| Monthly provision | Example budget | Higher running costs |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel | R 2 242,50 | R 2 932,50 |
| Insurance | R 900 | R 1 200 |
| Maintenance + tyres + licence | R 760 | R 1 160 |
| Total running costs | R 3 902,50 | R 5 292,50 |
Running costs only: this table excludes the purchase price, depreciation and finance. Open the comparison to see full ownership costs. All values are illustrations, not local market averages or promises of future expenses.
Try these numbers in the calculator →Before you buy
- Get insurance, servicing and tyre quotes for the exact vehicle.
- Budget for bills due soon as well as the monthly provision.
- Test higher fuel and repair costs before committing.
Sources & how we worked it out
These sources support the background explanations. They are not sponsors or endorsements. The worked examples are Pocket Rand illustrations, calculated with our published model. No lender or independent financial adviser has reviewed this guide.
- AA South Africa: do your homework before buying
- AA South Africa: the cost of keeping a vehicle on the road
For general planning, not personal financial advice or a lender quotation. Use your own written quotes and agreement. Found an error? Tell us what needs correcting.