Travellers warned of congestion

[DWPTA]

The usual story of being safe, but what got me is the fact that you have to have a letter from lender permitting you to drive accross border, same with companies.

Wonder how many people knew about this....

Vehicles financed by South African banks would need letters from the lender authorising the taking of the vehicle abroad, while those owned by a company would need a similar letter on the company's letterhead.

Travellers warned of congestion

 

[Moederloos]

No chance of congestion if you travel to Zim.

 

[bigicy]

It's just making harder for us honest citizens to travel.

They let the stolen cars go over the border without any problems...

 

[DWPTA]

Now that's my other question. If your car is fully paid up, what do you do then? What documents do you need to provide to border control?

 

[ToxicBunny]

For me the issue is wtf cares....

The car is yours, if you're gonna sell it once you're over the border, you still owe the bank for the value of the loan.. so nobody loses out except you..

 

[sleeper]

Just to let you guys know that it is quite a straight forward call to your lender and asking them to fax you a letter. They will want to know where you going to and between which dates. That's it - a 5 min call and you are sorted.

I've been to Moz. a couple of times and not once has anyone asked to see this letter. Honestly, I don't know why you need it, I just used to get it because I'd really hate to be on my way to my holiday destination only to get stuck at the border due to a little issue like this.

If your car is paid up, I'd guess that you'd probably just wanna carry a certified photo copy of the registration doco's with you. That is what my friend did with his car, I don't know if it is a requirement, but like I said no-one ever seem to ask for these documents.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I must honestly check this out if it is a requirement to leave the country in your own car...

Because I've NEVER Heard of this before, gone through border posts in a car I was still paying off...

sleeper : who is your lender btw?... because I can just see that someone like Wesbank would turn this into something that is considerably more of a mission than it needs to be.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Its also nice that the BCOCC (morons that control our borders) have decided now would be a good time NOT to have a website up and running...

 

[Hosehead]

Last year they had a nifty sms service when you just keyed in the respective border post and it gave you by reply the opening time of requested border and the estimated wait time. Wonder if they have it this year?

 

[Syndyre]

I must honestly check this out if it is a requirement to leave the country in your own car...

Because I've NEVER Heard of this before, gone through border posts in a car I was still paying off...

sleeper : who is your lender btw?... because I can just see that someone like Wesbank would turn this into something that is considerably more of a mission than it needs to be.

I've heard of it before, not sure how often they actually check it though.

 

[ToxicBunny]

See for me the big thing regarding this "documentation" is, where in the law is it required that you have such a letter.

Its all well and good that the BCOCC decide we may need such a letter, just to irritate the normal traveller.... BUT if its not required by law, then they must take a flying jump off the nearest cliff.

 

[Syndyre]

See for me the big thing regarding this "documentation" is, where in the law is it required that you have such a letter.

Its all well and good that the BCOCC decide we may need such a letter, just to irritate the normal traveller.... BUT if its not required by law, then they must take a flying jump off the nearest cliff.

I'm guessing the logic is that until your car's paid off the bank still effectively owns it, or at least it serves as security for your loan, so you need their permission to take it out the country.

 

[ToxicBunny]

I can kind of see the logic in this, I'm not necessarily against it per se... I'm just against these useless monkey's passing declerations like this that have less than no backing in the law...

And I can also see companies like Wesbank making this infinitely more difficult than it needs to be. I mean doing something that is part of their job like me settling my car was a mission for them, and has ended up in me pulling all my investments out of FirstRand since I refuse to do business with such incompetent people... (and yes thats totally off topic, but i'm still fuming about it)

 

[sleeper]

I must honestly check this out if it is a requirement to leave the country in your own car...

Because I've NEVER Heard of this before, gone through border posts in a car I was still paying off...

sleeper : who is your lender btw?... because I can just see that someone like Wesbank would turn this into something that is considerably more of a mission than it needs to be.

Hi,

I bought my car via Bankfin - but no, honestly - they don't make a big fuss about it. You call, they fax. My wife's UNO back in the day was financed by Wesbank and they also didn't give her any grief - I think it is as someone said - it's basically just getting permission to take something that is not owned by you out of the country. Check with your insurance as well - I think most places cover you anywhere in Southern Africa, but just make sure.

I was freaked out enough by the crazy border - just wanted to ensure that I had all the paperwork that may be required. But, like I said, no one has ever asked to see it before - and, I've been over the border to Moz a couple of times. I remember once reading a notice at the border post stating that you need to show a letter of consent if your car is financed in order to proceed, but it seems this is more a guideline than an actual rule that gets enforced.

Cheers

 

[ToxicBunny]

See, now this I have an issue with.. TECHNICALLY I own the car... The bank is just holding the papers as surety on the loan....

And back in the day, Wesbank were probably decent... now they're useless and incompetent on a whole completely new level.