Buyers get new tool to spot accident-damaged vehicles

There has been a partial breakthrough in the drive to improve transparency around accident-damaged vehicles and prevent consumers and dealers from unknowingly buying written-off vehicles at inflated prices.

- Roy Cokayne

Digital solutions services company Kredo Mobility recently signed a landmark agreement granting it access to 26 years of accident and salvage data from one of South Africa's largest vehicle auction houses.

The company's founder and CEO, Kriben Reddy, said this dataset accounts for about 30% to 35% of the market and includes not only details of the damage, location and date, but also images of the vehicle at the time of the incident.

"It is not a silver bullet, but it is a significant step forward," said Reddy.

"When you can see what a car looks like after an accident, you are no longer guessing. It gives dealers and buyers a real chance to judge the damage."

"If someone wants to buy the car anyway, that is their choice. But nobody should have to make that decision in the dark."

Reddy said Kredo Mobility had entered into a commercial agreement with the vehicle auction house and is paying for this salvage data.