First-of-its-kind car value booster launched in South Africa – With a catch

Discovery Insure has launched its new “Vitality Car Rating” (VCR) programme that could boost the resale value of a vehicle by up to 15%.

A first of its kind for South Africa, the system leverages 13 years and 20 billion kilometres of Discovery Insure data, including underwriting, accident and repair, and driving behaviour data, to accurately assess a vehicle’s condition based on how it has been driven.

It thus not only reflects the true state of a vehicle when it’s sold to a new buyer, but also rewards drivers who prioritise responsible driving over the lifetime of a vehicle.

“Historically, buying a second-hand vehicle has come with some degree of risk. Reputable dealerships perform the required tests and inspections, like issuing a roadworthy report, but it’s impossible to factor how a vehicle was driven into the sale price – up to now,” said Robert Attwell, Discovery Insure CEO.

“Applying advanced actuarial analysis to this extensive database has allowed us to gain new insights into the true condition of a vehicle, creating a fair and reliable rating mechanism that benefits everyone involved.”

The caveat, however, is that the higher value is only guaranteed when consumers sell their rides to select Weelee and Motus Select dealerships.

How it works

VCR incorporates Discovery Insure data from underwriting and accident and repair claims submitted to the company over the last 13 years.

Driver behaviour data is then accessed through Vitality Drive, a driver behaviour and rewards programme that uses telematics to measure how and where a vehicle is driven.

Discovery Insure analyses this data to give each vehicle a score out of 1,000 based on driver behaviours and historical vehicle repairs which impact the risk of future mechanical breakdown.

The Vitality Car Score considers three factors about a vehicle’s condition and how it’s been driven comprising its accident history, the driver’s manners, and the type of mileage on the clock – for instance, whether the vehicle was been frequently driven in stop-start traffic or on the open road.

Based on the overall score, a vehicle gets a rating out of five – with top marks translating into a 15% higher resale at certain Weelee and Motus Select dealers.

When a qualifying client wants to sell a vehicle, they can contact Discovery Insure to request their VCR certificate and enjoy a corresponding resale value boost.