According to Santam, South Africans should prepare themselves for a potential delay in vehicle repairs due to a shortage of vehicle parts. This follows numerous global events that have negatively impacted the auto industry, with repercussions also seen in South Africa.

The COVID-19 pandemic, along with the back orders for new vehicle models in South Africa, the war in Ukraine, the lockdown in China and Taiwan, and the floods that damaged vehicle manufacturing facilities in KwaZulu-Natal, have all contributed to the current challenges. Furthermore, the already limited logistics services have also experienced an increase of more than 500% over the last two years, exacerbating the situation.

At Voorpos Short-term Insurance Advisors we pride ourselves on offering excellent customer service and a seamless claims process, which is why we urge our clients to be aware of the resulting consequences.

Choose your car service and repair centre wisely, as Santam warns that the supply constraint will affect all vehicle types, car, LDV, and heavy vehicles, and all OEM brands.

When dealing with panel beaters and related service centres, ensure you get an accurate indication of the state and timing of the repair required BEFORE taking your car in. Also consider including car hire cover on your motor insurance policy. (Consult your broker in this regard)

While there remains a lot of volatility in the demand and supply across vehicle brands in South Africa, we would like to assure all Voorpos clients that our brokers and claims consultants are here to assist.

Please don’t hesitate to contact us in the event you need us.