New Discovery Insure product could impact the resale value of cars in South Africa

Discovery Insure is set to change the second-hand car market in South Africa with its new Vitality Car Rating, which plans to make vehicle valuation more accurate and reward responsible driving.

In a statement, Discovery said this new initiative is expected to boost resale values by up to 15%.

For years, buying a pre-owned vehicle has carried inherent risks.

While dealerships conduct standard checks, such as roadworthy inspections, these evaluations fail to consider how a vehicle was driven throughout its lifetime.

Discovery Insure’s Vitality Car Rating addresses this gap by assessing over 20 billion kilometres of driving data collected over 13 years.

This extensive analysis, incorporating telematics-based driver behaviour insights along with underwriting, accident, and repair claims data, provides an accurate assessment of a vehicle’s condition.

According to Robert Attwell, CEO of Discovery Insure, good drivers tend to take better care of their cars, resulting in fewer breakdowns and reduced wear and tear.

However, traditional valuation models do not account for these factors, often leading to undervaluation.

“A vehicle’s market value is usually based on its physical condition, mileage, and service history, but not on how it was driven. With the Vitality Car Rating, we are changing that,” Attwell said.

Vitality Car Rating works through Discovery Insure’s Vitality Drive programme, which employs telematics technology to track driving behaviour, accident history, and mileage type—whether the vehicle has been frequently subjected to stop-start city traffic or driven predominantly on open roads.

Based on these insights, each vehicle receives a score out of 1,000, which translates into a five-star rating system.

A car with a five-star rating can benefit from a resale value boost of up to 15%.

When a qualifying client wishes to sell their vehicle, they can request a Vitality Car Rating certificate from Discovery Insure, which provides an objective assessment of the car’s condition.

This certificate serves as a valuable tool for both sellers and buyers, offering a level of assurance rarely seen in the used car market.

Discovery Insure has partnered with Weelee and Motus Select to integrate the Vitality Car Rating into their existing vehicle assessment processes.

These partnerships are set to improve the used car sales experience by providing sellers and buyers with more reliable data.

Weelee CEO Anton de Souza believes the initiative is a game-changer.

“For years, sellers have struggled to demonstrate their car’s true condition and value.

“With the Vitality Car Rating, Weelee now has access to objective data captured over the life of the vehicle, unlike the current industry norm of point-in-time vehicle assessments and proxies such as service history.

“This is a massive win for South African drivers,” De Souza said.

Motus Select is equally optimistic about the impact of the rating system.

Suraiya Naidoo, Motus Executive of Retail Digital Operations, Marketing and Fleet, describes the initiative as a step toward greater convenience and fairness in vehicle transactions.

“As we launch the Discovery Vitality Car Rating, we are incredibly excited to see how this innovation will benefit our mutual customers, creating a convenient, rewarding experience as they drive off in their next car.

“Together, we’re offering a journey—one that’s built on trust, fairness, and a commitment to making every step easier for the customer,” Naidoo said.

By introducing the Vitality Car Rating, Discovery Insure is trying to improve vehicle valuation and reinforce its Shared-Value philosophy, where positive behaviours such as responsible driving and regular vehicle maintenance are rewarded.

This approach benefits all stakeholders, from car owners and buyers to dealerships and the broader second-hand market.