Finance Guides for South Africans
Written from inside the industry — 18+ years across dealership F&I, vehicle finance consulting and client-facing finance in South Africa. Every guide links to a free calculator so you can run your own numbers.
Balloon Payments in South Africa: How They Really Work
What a balloon payment is, why dealers push them, what they actually cost over a 72-month term, and the three ways out at the end — explained by a vehicle finance consultant.
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What You Need to Qualify for Vehicle Finance in South Africa
Documents, income thresholds, credit profile and the affordability assessment banks run before approving car finance — explained by someone who processes these applications.
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Prime, Repo and Your Repayments: How SA Interest Rates Work
How the SARB repo rate sets the prime lending rate, what the May 2026 hike to 10.5% means for your instalments, and how prime-linked credit agreements reprice.
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Fixed vs Prime-Linked Interest Rates: Which Should You Choose?
How fixed and prime-linked rates work on South African vehicle finance and home loans, what the fixed-rate premium costs, and an honest framework for choosing.
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Trading In a Car You Still Owe Money On
How settlement letters, trade-in values and negative equity work when you upgrade before your vehicle finance is paid off — and how to avoid rolling debt into the next deal.
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The True Cost of Buying Your First Home in South Africa
Beyond the bond repayment: transfer duty, attorney fees, deeds office costs, deposits, First Home Finance subsidies and the monthly costs first-time buyers forget to budget.
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How to Improve Your Credit Score Before Applying for Finance
A practical 90-day plan to strengthen your South African credit profile before a vehicle or home loan application — what banks actually look at, free credit reports, and the myths to ignore.
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Credit Life Insurance: What It Covers and What It May Cost
How credit life insurance works on South African loans — NCA premium caps, retrenchment cover, and your legal right to substitute your own policy instead of the bank's.
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