What happens to your tracker when your car is sold or crashed

When selling a car fitted with a tracking device you will have one of two options – a change of ownership or a de-installation and re-installation (de-re).

Say you got into a serious accident and the vehicle is in for extensive repairs or even written off. In this case, you’ll have the same choices as above, though the process will be slightly different.

Trackers have become a necessity in modern-day life as vehicle theft and hijackings in South Africa reach alarming levels.

The innovative gadget permanently broadcasts your car’s location to a control centre, allowing an owner to follow and find the vehicle if it is ever stolen or hijacked. It is also discretely hidden somewhere in the bodywork to make it extremely difficult for criminals to find and remove.

These devices are so useful in recovering thieved vehicles that some insurers even require their clients to fit two or more trackers should they drive a particularly high-risk model.

While a handy anti-theft tool, vehicle owners must also take into account that a tracker forms part of the deal when they sell their ride or get into an accident.

As such, it’s important to be aware of your options should you be in a similar situation.

Selling a car with a tracker

Vehicle telematics company Catrack provided three possible scenarios for owners who are selling a car equipped with a tracking device.

Scenario 1: You’re getting a new car after selling your current one

When upgrading your wheels you can opt to transfer the tracking device to the new car, all you need to do is notify your service provider. In the case of Cartrack, the company requires its clients to warn them of the impending sale at least five days before it takes place.

“We’ll send you an email with the form you need to fill in, and then a technician will be sent to remove the device from the old car and transfer it to the new one — this is what we call a De-Re,” said Cartrack.

Alternatively, the person buying your vehicle can keep the device and the ownership details will be updated accordingly by the service provider, and the new owner will continue with your contract from where you left off.

Scenario 2: You inform us after you’ve sold the car

If you have already sold your car to someone you can easily get hold of, and he/she agrees to the device being removed from that car to your new one, then the process is the same as in the above scenario.

“Should the person not agree then we will hard lock the device, then give you a new one for your next car,” said Cartrack.

It should also be noted that the latter option is usually accompanied by an additional fee.

Scenario 3: You’re not getting a new car anytime soon after this

‍If you sell your car, you are not getting a new one, and the buyer is not interested in keeping your tracking unit, you can cancel the contract. Once again, Cartrack asks its clients to notify it at least 20 working days in advance.

However, if you’re on a rental contract, you’ll generally have to pay the remaining balance or a cancellation fee depending on which is cheaper.

“The vehicle tracking device does not have to be removed but if that’s what you prefer then we will remove it free of charge at one of our service centres,” said Cartrack.

“Alternatively, we can send a technician to remove it for you in the comfort of your home, at an additional cost.”

Crashing a car with a tracker

In the unfortunate event that you were involved in a car accident and your vehicle sustained serious damages, you’ll have to notify your service provider who will send someone over to assess the damages.

“Some units come out unharmed, and others need to be repaired, but in some cases, the damage to the vehicle is so bad that the tracking unit is unretrievable,” said Cartrack.

“By sending a technician, we will know if we should give you a new device or repair the old one and place it in your new vehicle.”

Once again, there are two possible scenarios involving the tracker.

Scenario 1: Your vehicle is under extensive repairs

In the case of Catrack, if your vehicle was involved in an accident and has been at the repair store for months, the tracker will lose battery power.

“Normally when this happens we get a signal of the battery going low and call to ask what’s happening,” said Cartrack.

“Once you inform us of the situation we will then put the device on ‘maintenance mode’, and after the repairs, you’ll need to call us to send a technician and check for any faults.”

Scenario 2: Your vehicle is written off

If your vehicle is declared a write-off and there is no replacement vehicle, it will treated as a cancellation and you will have to settle the outstanding balance on your contract.

However, if there is a replacement, your service provider will conduct the de-re process.

Cartrack further recommends that if you were in a minor fender bender and are unsure about whether the tracking device is still functional, it’s best to contact your provider who will send a technician to check.