Should you get your car AA tested?

By Stuart Johnston 

The short answer to this question is “No”.  And the reason for that is that the old, much-respected AA Technical Report doesn’t exist any more, at least under that name.

The good news is that an equivalent service is these days offered by DEKRA, in association with the AA (The Automobile Association of South Africa).

This change in name came about  after  DEKRA, a long-established German-based company, expanded its operation into South Africa in 2008. After a period of negotiations, DEKRA took over the operation of what were then known as the AA Test and Drive facilities, which for many years undertook vehicle testing in this country.

There are now over 40 DEKRA-franchised centres around the country, in all six provinces.

DEKRA has been around  for over 90 years

DEKRA started as a company doing safety checks on cars way back in 1925, and since then has become the foremost vehicle testing authority in Germany and much of Europe.

DEKRA stands for Deutsche Kraftfahrzeug-Überwachungs-Vereine (German Motor Vehicle Inspection Association).  Apart from its expansion into South Africa it has also established testing centres in New Zealand and China, to name but a few regions. DEKRA employs over 35 000 people worldwide.

DEKRA tests used by finance houses to approve finance

The DEKRA test is valuable to car owners, as well as people who want to buy or sell cars. Its testing procedure, and the documentation related to these tests,  is used as a standard by many of the major finance houses, when it comes to approving finance for a used vehicle.

DEKRA also conducts roadworthy tests which are recognised as valid by NATIS, for issuing of vehicle licenses.

Dekra operates these testing centres in association with the AA, and AA members are entitled to a 15 % discount on any DEKRA tests.

The testing procedures are explained in much more detail in our recent article on DEKRA tests. For more information, click here for “Should you get your car DEKRA Tested?”