Has your car ever been stolen and then recovered? If it has, you may be familiar with vehicle status classification codes and their meaning. Most people are unaware of these codes and how they affect how a car is legally understood.
In today's blog, we discuss everything you need to know about vehicle status classification codes and why stolen and recovered vehicles are classified differently. Additionally, we will explore how Cartrack can help in the event your car is stolen or hijacked.
Let’s find out.
As a vehicle owner, it is important to know the status of your vehicle. This can be useful information when in the process of purchasing a car. Additionally, vehicle status classification codes are important systems that determine whether a vehicle is safe and roadworthy, here is what defines each vehicle status classification code.
With that said, the code for a stolen and recovered car depends on a number of factors, let’s discuss them below.
Vehicle status classification codes function as a label that communicates a vehicle's history. Stolen vehicles have to undergo certain changes in classification once they have been recovered. Let’s break them down according to the South African Insurance Association:
Code 2
A stolen and recovered vehicle is code 2 if there is no major damage to the vehicle. These vehicles have had at least one owner. They have been registered previously and are considered roadworthy. Additionally, they have been resold by private owners, dealerships or traded in.
Code 3
A stolen and recovered vehicle is a code 3 if it has been partially stripped or has accident damage. These vehicles have been written off by insurance companies due to severe accident damage. It’s important to note that these vehicles can be rebuilt and deemed roadworthy after they’ve been inspected and cleared by authorities. As a result, these vehicles may have a reduced resale value due to their history.
Code 4
A stolen and recovered vehicle is a code 4 if it has been burnt out or totally stripped without salvageable parts. These vehicles have been declared unfit for driving due to significant accident damage.
These codes are used to document a vehicle’s history for legal and insurance purposes. Additionally, it protects buyers and dealerships from buying a vehicle that is fraudulently presented as roadworthy. It also helps law enforcement identify if a car has been involved in a crime and if it is fit to be on the road.
In a case where a stolen or hijacked vehicle is recovered, it is not handed over to the owner immediately. Instead, it goes through an assessment process before it can be released back to its owner. Firstly, the recovered vehicle is taken to a South African Police impound or an insurance assessment centre, where it is assessed and assigned a status classification code.
A vehicle status classification code is a label given to a vehicle which explains the vehicle’s history, each code provides insights into whether it is new or used, has been written off, rebuilt, or scrapped.
With the advancement in technology, you no longer have to go into a licensing office to check a vehicle's history. A VIN-Lookup website can help you do that from the comfort of your home. VIN-Lookup is an online tool where consumers can check a vehicle's history using a vehicle's VIN. The data on the vehicle is drawn from the insurance industry’s vehicle salvage database (VSB).
Alternatively, if you want to get more information on a vehicle, it is advisable to speak to an official at the licensing department. This is a quick and easy way to check a vehicle's history.
Knowing the vehicle status classification code of your stolen car is essential when dealing with either law enforcement or insurance agencies. This code is issued by the licensing authorities in conjunction with the vehicle assessors once a stolen and recovered vehicle has been deemed unroadworthy. There is a procedure to be followed to get the code assigned.
A stolen and recovered vehicle is taken to a police impound facility or an insurance assessment centre. Here, an inspector will check if there was tampering on the chassis number or other alterations on the vehicle. If the vehicle is found to be heavily damaged or there's evidence of tampering, the vehicle would then need significant repairs before the process continues. Once the repairs are done the vehicle is classified as code 3.
This information is saved on the South African Insurance Association (SAIA) database to keep a record of the status. Once this is done, the vehicle can be re-established and brought back into the market if there are no legal or insurance restrictions. However, it should be mentioned that owners may have issues when trying to resell these vehicles due to tampering or if repairs are not done to an acceptable standard.
If your stolen or hijacked vehicle was recovered and sent to an assessment centre, the next question may be, what next? Once your vehicle is recovered after being stolen, it goes through a few steps at the location where it has been impounded. Here it is properly assessed and released. To make reclaiming your vehicle a stress-free process, let’s guide you through each step:
Start with gathering the necessary information and documents about your case.
Case Information to Present
The case information is all the documents and information that you have received regarding your stolen and recovered vehicle. This includes information from the police and Impound where your vehicle was taken for assessment.
Personal Information to Present
The personal information is the identification documents you need to present that prove you are the rightful owner.
Additional Information to Gather
This is the information on the police investigation of the crime your vehicle was involved in. This is the information you would gather from the investigation officer.
You will then need to go to the impound to meet with the official dealing with your case. Once there, confirm that the impound official has the disposal order available so that your vehicle can be released. You will then provide all the necessary documents and have a chance to identify your vehicle.
Once the process is complete, you will be handed a disposal order letter to release your vehicle. Finally, you must go through a police clearance by the SAPS Vehicle Identification and Safeguarding (VIS) unit that states your car is not linked to ongoing criminal cases or that the VIN has not been tampered with.
Being a victim of a vehicle crime and having to go through getting a vehicle reclassified as a code 3 can be a draining process. Vehicle owners are encouraged to take a proactive approach to their vehicle's safety by installing a tracking device from a reputable vehicle tracking company such as Cartrack.
Cartrack, South Africa’s leader in stolen vehicle recovery, world-class vehicle tracking and recovery technology to provide motorists with peace of mind. In addition to that, there are highly trained ground crew members who can assist during the recovery process. Here’s how Cartrack features benefit vehicle owners:
Your vehicle is one of the most important assets in your life. Have South Africa’s leader in vehicle recovery with an over 90% recovery on your side. Using GPS and GSM technology to track your vehicle and a highly trained ground response team, the recovery process is done swiftly and efficiently.
The Cartrack mobile app provides you with a comprehensive view of your vehicle. You have the ability to view your vehicle's live location, and past trips, monitor your driving behaviour and much more.
Alert notifications are sent to you should there be tampering on your battery or when it is disconnected. This early warning system is an added layer of protection that helps you take corrective action against unauthorised tampering on your vehicle.
Educating yourself on your vehicle's status classification code can save you money, time, and a lot of unnecessary stress. It doesn't matter if you’re selling your vehicle or dealing with an insurance claim, this information is still extremely useful.
With Cartrack’s advanced tracking solutions and over 90% stolen vehicle recovery rate, you can be assured that your vehicle is secure. Safeguard your car and ensure that you are prepared for the unexpected. Increase the chances of your car being recovered and gain peace of mind.
Contact us to find out more.
Wondering what the vehicle status classification code for stolen and recovered car is? Explore the codes and how they impact the buying and selling of your vehicle.
