Breakthrough in VSD database access

Richard Green, national director of the South African Motor Body Repairers’ Association, a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation, has been campaigning hard over the last four years for the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) to release more information to the market with regard to the status of written-off vehicles.

Without a register to refer to, there is no way of stopping these cars from finding themselves back into the system, only to be purchased by unsuspecting and poorly advised consumers.

This intense lobbying advocating for more transparency has finally paid off, with the insurance industry agreeing to accept the principle that the purchaser of a second-hand vehicle has the right to know if the vehicle they are considering purchasing has been in a serious collision and has been written off before.

According to Green, this will result in the VIN numbers of all previously insured written-off vehicles being published on an open website providing purchasers of second-hand vehicles and franchised dealers the opportunity to make informed decisions.

The SAIA VSD (vehicle salvage database) task team met in February in Johannesburg and agreed in principle to the following terms:
• All code 2, 3, 3A and 4 written-off vehicles will be published on the site.
• The description of the codes will align with the SAIA salvage code.
• ID numbers and geolocation will be used to identify any abuse of the site/information.
• The site will be funded by the task team participants to retain its independence and will not be used to generate revenue.
• A comprehensive communication programme will be developed to ensure all consumers are made aware of the site.

The SAIA Board meets on March 10 to sign off on the in-principle decisions and the VSD task team meets on March 11 to pursue the project.

Source: Cathy Finley PR