The increasing number of car owners in South Africa can be directly attributed to the desire of convenience and in some cases, luxury. However, the increasing number of vehicles has attracted criminals, and the nation has experienced a spike in hijacking. Keep reading and find out if you are at risk of hijacking or car theft and several low-risk cars in South Africa as alternatives.

According to police statistics, 16,325 vehicle hijackings were reported between April and March 2019. Hijackings increased by 14.5% in 2017 from 2016; that is a 2115 increase in hijacking cases reported in the country. Every 32 minutes, a hijacking occurs, leading to 45 cars being hijacked daily on average. Victims are targeted in open areas with easy escape routes where their personal belongings are taken away from them, including their vehicles. The top car brands South Africa are Toyota Aygo, Volkswagen Golf 7, Honda Civic, Volkswagen Polo, Volkswagen Polo and Toyota Avanza. How risk prone are these top tier vehicles?

Most hijacked cars in South Africa

Wondering which cars are hijacked most in South Africa? The car tracking company, Ctrack, released a list of high risk vehicles in South Africa that are the top targets for hijackers and car thieves. The most targeted cars are;

1. Volkswagen Polo
2. Citroen
3. Audi
4. Chevrolet
5. Ford
6. Kia
7. BMW
8. Renault
9. Toyota
10. Hyundai

Based on the released statistics, the Volksawgen Polo is the most targeted passenger vehicle, the Toyota Fortuner is the most hijacked Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV) and Nissan is the most targeted manufacturer.

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Most stolen cars in South Africa

Most vehicle theft is based on cars' popularity and age. Popularity comes into play when the thieves have to sell the car in parts as soon as possible; therefore, if you see a multitude of people with your exact car model, then you most definitely have a problem on your hands. Car thieves assess the age of your car with the assumption that older car models are less likely to have alarms or any security systems set in place to prevent theft. According to statistical analysis, it has been noted that your car is more likely to be stolen if you have a gear lock or a steering wheel lock as compared to vehicles without the locks. The assumption made here is that if you have the said locks, you most likely have something valuable in your vehicle. The following is a list of most stolen cars, RSA;

1. Toyota Hiace
2. Toyota Hilux
3. Mits Colt
4. Nissan 1400
5. Toyota Venture
6. Nissan Hardbody
7. Isuzu KB280
8. Toyota Corolla
9. Isuzu KB250
10. Volkswagen Citi Golf

In 2008, 1119 cases of theft were filed for the Toyota Hiace, followed by 507 cases for the Nissan 1400 and 497 cases filed for the theft of the Toyota Hilux.

Low risk cars in South Africa

If you desire to be a car owner and are worried about being a target, we know you are probably wondering which cars are least stolen and what are the least hijacked cars in South Africa. Look no further because we have got you covered, no worries. The following is a list of the least hijacked cars;

1. Tata
2. Honda
3. Datsun
4. Nissan
5. Volvo
6. Opel
7. Citroen

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Least stolen cars in South Africa

Even though popular vehicle brands are easy to sell and spare parts easy to find, it goes without saying that you, as a car owner, are less likely to be a victim of car theft and hijacking if your automobile is considered unpopular. The following is a list of the least stolen cars in South Africa and are considered to be rather good in terms of performance;

1. Peugeot (308 model)
2. Alfa Romeo (Giulietta)
3. Volvo (V40)
4. Mitsubishi (Outlander)
5. Honda (Civic)
6. Nissan Infiniti (Q50)
7. Subaru (Outback)
8. Toyota Lexus (IS)
9. Citroen (C4 Picasso)

Low maintenance cars

You cannot fully discuss cars without mentioning the cost of car maintenance. Car owners can admit that although vehicles are super convenient, when the minor problems begin to occur a huge dent will be made in your wallet especially if you ignore the tell-tell signs and it develops into a major car issue. You therefore need to ask yourself what is the cheapest car to maintain in South Africa. Here is a list of the cheapest cars to service for you;

1. Datsun Go
2. Nissan Micra
3. Peugeot 208
4. Renault Sandero
5. Toyota Corolla Quest
6. Toyota Corolla Prestige
7. Mazda3
8. Toyota Fortuner
9. Hyundai Tucson
10. Nissan NP 200

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Hijacking hot-spots in South Africa

The number of car hijackings has increased, and it is definitely a cause for worry. Stay alert and keep safe when driving. Here is a list of the worst hijacking spots in South Africa;

Johannesburg hijacking spots

1. Pretoria Road, CR Swart
2. Jan Smuts Avenue, Johannesburg
3. Elgin Road and Pretoria Road, Johannesburg
4. Nelson Mandela Bridge
5. Saratoga Road, Johannesburg
6. Linksfield Road, N3
7. Wolmarans Road, Johannesburg
8. Houghton Drive, M1
9. Booysens Road, M1
10. Abel road, Johannesburg

Cape Town hijacking spots

1. Military Road and Prince George Drive, Cape Town
2. R300, N1 Cape Town
3. Station Road, Cape Town
4. St Stephens Road, Cape Town
5. Vanguard Drive, Cape Town
6. Klipfontein Road, Cape Town
7. Prestwich Road, Ebenhezer, Cape Town
8. Alice Street and Voortrekker Road, Cape Town

Tshwane hijacking spots

1. Es’kia Mphahlele Drive
2. Lynwood Drive and Solomon Mahlangu Drive
3. Stormvoel Road Traffic Lights
4. R55
5. Nelson Mandela Drive
6. Delfi Avenue and Garsfontein Road
7. Watermeyer Street Traffic Lights
8. Simon Vermooten Road and Lynnwood Road
9. Paul Kruger Street
10. Burnett Street

Durban hijacking spots

1. AN Centre, 16 Chestnut Crescent, Mariannhill
2. Dr Pixley Kaseme Street
3. Botanic Gardens Road, Musgrave
4. Sherwood
5. Umlazi
6. CNR Julius Nyerere Street and Anton Lembede Street, Greyville
7. Alpine Road
8. Police Station Road, Isipingo
9. Deodar Avenue, Umbilo
10. Justice Street, Chatsworth

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Top vehicle tracking companies

The devices tracking companies offer are the same across the board; a Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) transponder which is connected to the cars electrical system, which registers to a service network every time your vehicle is on the move. This is how your car can be tracked. With that being said, it is important to asses the actual services offered by the numerous tracking companies and the packages they offer as opposed to the device since it is the standard. Below, we list vehicle tracking companies in South Africa;

1. Ctrack
2. Matrix
3. Tracker
4. Beame
5. Altech Netstar

We urge all vehicle owners to stay alert when driving especially in the high risk zones with high risk vehicles. Your safety matters and therefore take into consideration the low risk cars in South Africa. When faced with an ordeal as terrifying as hijacking by armed robbers, put yourself first and preserve your life. Make an effort to report all theft and hijacking cases to the law enforcement.