Screan, a new vehicle inspection platform in South Africa, lets individuals book a “local mechanic or automotive industry professional” to inspect a used vehicle before buying it.
The “Screaner” personally meets with the seller of the car and inspects and test drives it on your behalf to ensure the vehicle is what it appeared to be online.
“The Screaner then compiles a comprehensive vehicle report, including 360° walk-around imagery of the vehicle, designed to help the buyer make an informed purchase decision,” said Screan founder Mike Schlebach.
How it works
Car buyers who want to make use of the new Screan platform must navigate to the company’s website, select “Book a Screan”, select the type of service they want, complete their particulars, and pay for the service.
Following this, the Screaner will contact the seller, make the viewing appointment, and personally inspect and test drive the vehicle.
Once the screan is booked, you’ll receive email updates every step of the way as well as a detailed buyer’s report within two hours of the vehicle inspection, said the company.
“Unfortunately, there are endless ways to get conned when purchasing a second-hand car, from ‘bait and switch’ scams to odometer tampering,” said Schlebach.
“In addition, unscrupulous sellers might conceal body or engine damage, which can be especially difficult to spot if you don’t know what to look for.”
To avoid an unsuspecting car buyer falling victim to these scammers, Screaners use their industry knowledge to spot potential damage that may be hidden to the untrained eye.
Ronald Nkonjwa, a Screaner covering the Gauteng area, said he’s helped at least two customers avoid falling prey to bait and switch scams.
Price
Pricing for the various screan services, according to the company’s website, are as follows:
- Car screan – R895
- Classic car screan – R995
- Non-commercial trailer screan – R795
- Leisure boat screan – R795
- Caravan screan – R795
The Screan platform operates countrywide.