New car crash database in South Africa – What the accident codes mean

• Code 2 – Pre-owned/Used
• Code 3 – Re-built
• Code 3A – Spare parts only
• Code 4 – Scrap/Permanently demolished

This September, the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) launched its new VIN-Lookup website that allows consumers to check if a used car was crashed and repaired before they buy it.

Currently, the website is in phase one of its three-phase rollout, therefore, it only displays accident-damaged vehicles that have been classified as Code 3, Code 3A, and Code 4 by their respective insurers.

It’s important to mention that the platform also doesn’t show each and every vehicle that has been in a crash, only those that are insured by members of the SAIA which fortunately includes most major insurers in South Africa.

The second phase of VIN-Lookup will consider the inclusion of Code 2 (written-off) vehicles and is scheduled to be available by the end of 2023, while no details about the final phase have been announced just yet.

With this in mind, it’s worth knowing what these salvage codes mean when you are looking at potentially buying a pre-owned car:

Code 2 – Pre-owned/Used

According to the SAIA, a Code 2 designation means a particular car has had one or more previous owners, but that it has not been in a serious enough accident to be classified as a Code 3 or above.

A car will have a “used” status after registering it as “liable for licensing” (not dealer stock) in three instances:

• If such motor vehicle was previously registered as being liable for licensing and the status of the motor vehicle was recorded as “new” or “used”
• If such motor vehicle was deregistered as being stolen and the status of the motor vehicle was recorded as “new” or “used” prior to such de-registration (Regulation 13 (5))
• If such motor vehicle was de-registered as being exempt from registration and such exemption was withdrawn or no longer applies, and the status of the motor vehicle was recorded as “new” or “used” prior to such de-registration (Regulation 13 (5))

“The registration of motor vehicles as dealer stock (exempted from licensing) does not change the status of the motor vehicle,” said the SAIA.

Code 3 – Re-built

Code 3 motor vehicles were involved in an accident and subsequently declared unfit for use.

Such motor vehicles may be rebuilt, however, they will forever reflect a Code 3 allocation and undergo the stringent procedures as set out in Regulation 13(4) of the Code of Motor Salvage.

According to Regulation 13 (4), a motor vehicle will have the status of “built-up” after registering the motor vehicle as “liable for licencing” in four circumstances:

• If such motor vehicle was previously deregistered as permanently unfit for use
• If such motor vehicle was previously registered as “built-up”
• If such motor vehicle is being registered for the first time, and it has been manufactured, built, modified, or imported by an unregistered manufacturer, builder, or importer (MIB) and a certification of roadworthiness was not issued to it
• If such motor vehicle is being registered for the first time, and it has been manufactured, built, modified, or imported by a registered MIB which was registered subject to the condition that the motor vehicle will have a status of “built-up”

“Regulation 13 is clear when a motor vehicle will have a status of “built-up” after re-registration, but it does not determine when a motor vehicle must be deregistered as ‘permanently unfit for use’. The Act and the Regulations do not define this term and leave this decision to the title holder (e.g. bank),” said the SAIA.

“If the motor vehicle was previously deregistered as permanently unfit for use, it will have a status of “built-up” (so-called status 3) after it is re-registered.”

VINLookup screenshot of a Code 3A vehicle

Code 3A – Spare parts only

Code 3A vehicles will have the status of permanently unfit for use/not to be re-registered.

They won’t be permanently demolished, however, as some parts will still be usable for repairs and replacements in other vehicles of the same kind.

Code 4 – Scrap/Permanently demolished

Scrap cars or those that are classified to be “permanently demolished” are vehicles that are no longer fit for the road nor for spare parts.

“Whether they have been damaged beyond repair or have reached the end of their life, there is nothing worth saving,” said the SAIA.

These vehicles will be deregistered as Permanently Demolished in terms of Regulation 55 and will be taken off the market and out of circulation.

This means that the chassis will be compacted, compressed, melted, destroyed, or damaged to such an extent that the vehicle concerned cannot be made roadworthy again and the chassis cannot be used to build another vehicle.

“Thus, a motor vehicle is ‘permanently demolished’ if it is not physically possible to repair the motor vehicle to a state where it can be made roadworthy,” said the SAIA.

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