Terms and Conditions

These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern all goods and services supplied by BestMech (“BestMech”, “we”, “us”, or “our”) to any customer (“you” or “the Customer”), whether a private consumer, company, or fleet operator.

BestMech is a mechanical workshop and service provider offering service and repairs for cars, bakkies and trucks; fleet maintenance; diagnostics; parts supply and related workshop services, as described on www.bestmech.co.za.

Legal name: Best Mech (Pty) Ltd

Registration number: 2025/896799/07

VAT number (if registered): Not VAT registered

Physical workshop address: 54 Prinsberg Avenue, Seekoeiwater AH, Witbank, 1035

Website / email: www.bestmech.co.za  |  admin@bestmech.co.za

These Terms apply to every quotation, job card, booking, online enquiry, walk-in, fleet account and parts sale. If you issue a purchase order with different terms, these Terms prevail unless we agree otherwise in writing.

•        “CPA” means the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008 and its regulations.

•        “Goods” means parts, consumables, fluids, tyres, batteries and any other items we supply.

•        “Services” means diagnosis, labour, servicing, repairs, maintenance, inspections, towing coordination, fleet work and related workshop work.

•        “Vehicle” means any motor vehicle, bakkie, truck, trailer or equipment left with us or on which we work.

•        “Job Card” means our written or electronic work authorisation / repair order.

•        “Quote” means a written or electronic estimate of price, which may be provisional.

•        “Business Customer” means a customer who is not a “consumer” as defined in the CPA (for example, a juristic person whose asset value or annual turnover equals or exceeds the CPA threshold).

You accept these Terms when you do any of the following:

•        sign or electronically accept a quotation, job card, booking form or account application;

•        instruct us verbally, by WhatsApp, email, website form or in person to inspect, quote, service or repair a Vehicle;

•        leave a Vehicle, keys or goods at our premises; or

•        pay a deposit or any part of an invoice.

If you are acting for a company or another person, you warrant that you are authorised to bind that customer.

4.1 Bookings

Bookings are subject to workshop capacity. A booking is not a guarantee of a same-day or fixed completion time unless we confirm a completion window in writing.

4.2 Inspection and diagnosis

We may need to inspect, test-drive, scan, strip or partially dismantle a Vehicle to diagnose a fault. Diagnostic time is chargeable even if you decline further repairs. We will take reasonable care but cannot guarantee that a fault will be identified on the first inspection, especially intermittent or electronic faults.

4.3 Authority

We will not commence chargeable repair work beyond agreed diagnosis without your authority (written, electronic, WhatsApp or signed job card), except where delay would create an immediate safety risk or further damage, in which case we will try to contact you first and record the reason.

4.4 Additional work

If we find extra work, worn parts or related faults, we will contact you for approval before proceeding, unless the extra cost is within a tolerance you have already authorised (for example “proceed up to R[X]”). Work you decline will be noted on the job card. We are not responsible for faults or failures in systems you instructed us not to repair.

Quotes are estimates based on information available at the time. They are valid for 14 days unless stated otherwise. Quotes may change if:

•        the Vehicle differs from the description given;

•        hidden damage, seized fasteners, corrosion, previous poor workmanship or contaminated fluids are found after strip-down;

•        parts prices or availability change; or

•        you request extra work.

Labour is charged at our prevailing rates (ordinary time, after-hours, call-out or mobile rates as applicable). Parts are charged at our selling price. Consumables, workshop materials, environmental disposal levies, diagnostics, scanning and programming may be itemised separately.

All prices are in South African Rand. If we are VAT-registered, VAT will be added where applicable and shown on the tax invoice.

We may use genuine / OEM, OEM-equivalent, quality aftermarket or reconditioned parts as agreed with you or as reasonably suitable for the job. If you insist on a specific brand, we will note that on the job card.

Parts ordered specifically for your job may be non-returnable. New unused stock parts may be returned only if unused, in original packaging, within 7 days, and subject to a handling fee of up to 15%, unless the CPA gives you a stronger right (for example, defective goods).

You remain responsible for the cost of parts already fitted or specially ordered if you cancel after we have incurred that cost, except where cancellation is because of our material breach or a CPA remedy that entitles you to cancel.

NOTICE OF RISK: If you supply your own parts, our liability for those parts and for failures caused by them is limited as set out below.

We may refuse to fit customer-supplied parts that appear unsafe, incorrect or of unknown origin. If we agree to fit them:

•        you warrant that the parts are suitable, genuine or of acceptable quality, and correctly specified;

•        no warranty is given by us on the customer-supplied part itself;

•        our workmanship warranty still applies to the labour of fitting, unless failure is caused by the part;

•        time spent diagnosing or rectifying a failed customer-supplied part is chargeable; and

•        we are not liable for manufacturer warranty issues that arise because a non-approved part was fitted, unless we recommended that part.

Unless we have approved a credit account in writing, payment is due in full before the Vehicle is released. We may require a deposit before ordering parts or starting major work (typically 50% or the full parts value).

Accepted payment methods: EFT, card (if available), or other methods we advertise. Cash handling, if accepted, is at our discretion. Proof of EFT must reflect as cleared funds in our account.

Account customers: invoices are payable within the agreed period (default 30 days from invoice date). We may suspend work or withhold Vehicles if an account is overdue.

Interest and collection: Overdue amounts may attract interest at the prescribed rate under the Prescribed Rate of Interest Act, or 2% per month, whichever we may lawfully charge, plus reasonable collection costs. This does not limit any rights you have under the National Credit Act if that Act applies.

NOTICE: We have a repairer’s lien. We may keep the Vehicle and any goods until all amounts owing for that job (and, where lawful, related outstanding amounts) are paid. Storage charges may apply to uncollected vehicles.

Once we notify you that the Vehicle is ready, you must collect it within 5 business days. After that we may charge storage of R150 per calendar day (or our then-current published rate).

If a Vehicle remains uncollected for 60 days after we have given written notice to the last address, email or phone number you gave us, we may take steps to recover our charges, including having the Vehicle valued and sold or otherwise disposed of in accordance with applicable law (including the CPA and, where relevant, the Customs and Excise Act or common-law lien processes). Any surplus after costs will be paid to you if we can reasonably identify you; any shortfall remains your debt.

We are not a long-term storage or parking facility. Vehicles left with us are at the Customer’s risk to the extent permitted by law (see clause 14).

Completion dates are estimates only. We will perform services within a reasonable time and will notify you of unavoidable delays (parts back-order, specialist machining, waiting on your approval, load-shedding, supplier failure, or force majeure). Delay does not entitle you to cancel unless the delay is unreasonable and you have first given us a reasonable opportunity to complete, except where the CPA gives you a specific right.

You authorise us and our insurers or subcontractors to test-drive or road-test the Vehicle as reasonably required. Please remove cash, laptops, firearms, documents and valuables before leaving the Vehicle. We are not responsible for personal belongings left in the Vehicle except to the extent loss is caused by our gross negligence or as the CPA otherwise requires.

Keep a spare key. If keys are lost by us through our negligence we will reasonably arrange replacement; you must co-operate with any insurer.

12.1 Quality of service (CPA section 54)

Where the CPA applies, you are entitled to timely performance, services of a quality that persons are generally entitled to expect, use of goods that are free of defects so far as they are required for the service, and return of the Vehicle in at least as good a condition as when it was delivered to us, subject to the work authorised and fair wear during diagnosis and testing.

12.2 Warranty on repaired goods (CPA section 57)

We warrant every new or reconditioned part we install during repair or maintenance, and the labour required to install it, for three (3) months from the date of installation, or any longer period we specify in writing. This is the statutory minimum under section 57 of the CPA and is not reduced by these Terms.

12.3 Implied warranty on goods supplied (CPA section 56)

Where the CPA applies, goods we sell carry the implied warranty of quality in section 56 for six (6) months from delivery, giving you the remedies of repair, replacement or refund at your election if the goods fail to satisfy the requirements of section 55, unless the failure was due to misuse, abuse or neglect after delivery, or ordinary wear and tear.

12.4 Workmanship

In addition, we stand behind our workmanship for three (3) months or 5 000 km, whichever occurs first, unless we specify a longer period on the invoice. Fleet or commercial arrangements may have different written warranty terms.

12.5 What warranties do not cover

•        ordinary wear and tear, consumables and scheduled service items;

•        misuse, racing, overload, lack of maintenance after collection, contaminated fuel, accident damage, or unauthorised further work;

•        faults you declined to repair, or related failures we warned you about;

•        customer-supplied parts (except our fitting labour, as in clause 7);

•        pre-existing or unrelated faults;

•        electronic modules, software, DPF/EGR/AdBlue systems or tuning where the Vehicle was previously modified, unless we accepted that scope in writing; and

•        consequential loss except as the law requires (see clause 14).

12.6 How to claim

Stop using the Vehicle if it is unsafe. Contact us promptly, bring the Vehicle back to our workshop (unless we agree otherwise), and produce the invoice / job card. We may inspect before approving a warranty repair. Warranty work is carried out at our workshop unless we authorise another facility.

Having work done at an independent workshop does not automatically void a manufacturer warranty. We will not obstruct your rights. We also cannot force an OEM or dealer to pay for work we perform during an in-warranty period. Keep your service history and invoices.

NOTICE OF LIMITATION OF LIABILITY AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK (CPA section 49): The following limits apply only to the extent permitted by South African law. They do not exclude liability for death or personal injury caused by our gross negligence, nor any liability that the CPA, the National Credit Act or other statute does not allow us to exclude.

You acknowledge that mechanical and diagnostic work involves inherent risk, including that a Vehicle may already have latent defects, previous poor repairs, corrosion or electronic faults that only become apparent after work starts.

To the extent permitted by law:

•        our total liability arising out of any job is limited to the amount you paid us for that job, or the reasonable cost of re-performing the defective part of the work, whichever is greater where the CPA requires a better remedy;

•        we are not liable for indirect or consequential loss (lost profits, downtime, hire cars, missed contracts, towing after you have driven a Vehicle we advised was unsafe) except where such exclusion is unlawful;

•        where you are a Business Customer and the CPA does not apply, you indemnify us against claims by third parties arising from your instructions, customer-supplied parts, or your failure to collect or maintain the Vehicle, except to the extent caused by our gross negligence;

•        Vehicles, parts and belongings on our premises are at your risk except for loss or damage caused by our negligence or that of our employees acting in the course of their work, and except as otherwise required by law. You should ensure your own comprehensive insurance remains in force while the Vehicle is with us.

Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any consumer right that cannot legally be excluded.

If we reasonably consider a Vehicle is unroadworthy or unsafe, we may refuse to release it until you acknowledge the risk in writing, and we may report it where the law requires. Driving a Vehicle against our written advice is at your own risk.

Used oil, filters, batteries, tyres and other hazardous waste will be disposed of in line with environmental law. Related levies may appear on the invoice.

We may use specialist subcontractors (machining, auto-electrical, injection, towing, glass, calibration). We remain responsible to you for work we arrange as part of our service, subject to these Terms and the CPA.

Fleet work may be governed by a separate service level or account agreement. If there is a conflict, the signed fleet/account agreement prevails over these Terms for commercial terms (rates, SLA, invoicing), but health-and-safety, quality and statutory consumer provisions still apply to the extent the law requires.

The person who drops off or authorises work on a fleet Vehicle warrants that they have the fleet owner’s authority. The fleet owner remains liable for payment.

You may cancel authorised work before it is completed. You must pay for diagnosis, labour already performed, non-returnable parts and reasonable restocking or restoral costs. If we cancel because we cannot obtain parts or complete the work to a safe standard, you pay only for work and parts actually supplied that you choose to keep, and we will reassemble the Vehicle to a safe, reasonably driveable condition where practicable or agree an alternative with you.

We process personal information (name, contact details, identity or company numbers, vehicle identifiers, job history, payment details) to quote, perform work, invoice, collect debts, meet legal duties and improve our service. We will handle information in line with the Protection of Personal Information Act 4 of 2013. We may share information with insurers, financiers, parts suppliers, subcontractors, tracing agents and regulators where necessary for the job or the law. You may request access or correction by emailing us.

CCTV and workshop cameras may operate on site for security and quality. Recordings are used for those purposes and lawful investigations.

You agree that we may send quotes, job updates, invoices and these Terms by email, SMS or WhatsApp to the numbers and addresses you give us. A message sent to that contact is deemed received on the day it is sent, unless the contrary is proved. Please keep your details up to date.

We may take photographs of the Vehicle and faults for the job record. We will not use identifiable images of your Vehicle for advertising without your consent.

Please raise problems with us first so we can inspect and put them right. If we cannot resolve a CPA consumer dispute, you may approach the Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (MIOSA), the National Consumer Commission, or a consumer court / competent court.

These Terms are governed by the law of the Republic of South Africa. Subject to your right to use statutory consumer forums, the courts of Gauteng (or the division where our workshop is situated) have jurisdiction.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version in force when you authorise a particular job applies to that job. The current version will be available at the workshop and/or on www.bestmech.co.za.

•        If any clause is unenforceable, it is severed and the rest remains in force.

•        A failure to enforce a right is not a waiver.

•        These Terms plus the accepted quote and job card are the entire agreement for that job, except any signed fleet/account agreement.

•        You may not cede your rights without our consent. We may cede or subcontract as reasonably required to perform the work.

•        Headings are for convenience only.

•        References to statutes include amendments and replacements.