04/09/2026
DIESEL AT R30 A LITRE: IS YOUR BAKKIE STILL WORTH IT?
For many South Africans, a diesel bakkie has never been just a vehicle. It is the family car, holiday car, workhorse and weekend companion rolled into one. For some owners it genuinely earns its keep. For others, however, the bakkie that once made perfect sense is becoming an increasingly expensive way of doing the school run, commuting to work and getting through everyday life.
That calculation became considerably more uncomfortable this week. In an article published by motoring journalist Ray Leathern, the cost of filling a typical diesel double cab provides a particularly stark illustration of what has happened during 2026. His calculations show that inland 50ppm diesel has risen from R18.52 a litre in January to R30.05 following the latest September increase. For an 80-litre tank, that changes a fill from R1,481.60 to R2,404. That is R922.40 more for exactly the same tank of fuel.
For somebody filling once a week, the difference is potentially thousands of rand a month compared with the beginning of the year. Of course, actual fuel expenditure depends on kilometres travelled, consumption and how frequently the vehicle needs filling, but the broader point is difficult to ignore. The cost equation around owning a diesel bakkie has changed remarkably quickly.
WHEN DOES A DIESEL BAKKIE STOP MAKING FINANCIAL SENSE?
When we talk about vehicle affordability, we tend to concentrate on the monthly repayment. It is understandable. That is the number staring back at us from the bank statement every month. But the real cost of owning a vehicle has always been considerably broader than its instalment.
Fuel, insurance, tyres, servicing and maintenance all form part of the equation. A vehicle that was perfectly affordable when you bought it can therefore become considerably less economical to own without anything changing on the finance agreement itself.
That does not mean every diesel bakkie owner should immediately consider selling. If you tow regularly, carry loads, travel long distances or use the vehicle to generate income, its capabilities may easily justify the additional running cost. But there is another group of owners who may increasingly find themselves asking a more uncomfortable question: do I still need this much vehicle?
It is a particularly relevant question for somebody driving a diesel bakkie predominantly as everyday transport. If the load bin is seldom used, the towing capacity is rarely required and most journeys involve one or two occupants, changing to a smaller petrol vehicle, crossover or more economical SUV may no longer feel like downsizing in the traditional sense. It may simply be a reassessment of what you actually need from your vehicle.
THERE MAY BE MORE THAN ONE ROUTE INTO YOUR NEXT VEHICLE
This is where Finance Warehouse can play a different role from the traditional assumption that vehicle finance begins only once somebody has already found a car on a dealer floor.
For customers considering a change, Finance Warehouse can help look at the entire finance position around the transaction, while vehicle sourcing and trade-in solutions through our network, including Auto Investments, can help customers investigate suitable replacement options.
For some customers, that may mean trading a diesel bakkie for a smaller petrol SUV or crossover. For another, it could mean moving from a premium vehicle into something less expensive to own. Someone else may discover that changing vehicles is not actually the best financial decision at all.
There may also be alternatives to selling or trading the vehicle. Depending on the existing finance agreement, settlement value, asset value and the customer's circumstances, Finance Warehouse can investigate whether refinancing or restructuring the existing deal could provide a more suitable monthly finance structure. In qualifying circumstances, there may also be an opportunity to release equity from an existing vehicle or asset.
That last possibility matters. A good financial solution should not begin with the assumption that a transaction has to happen. It should begin by establishing what the customer is trying to achieve and then looking at the options available.
For someone feeling the impact of today's vehicle running costs, the answer might be a different vehicle. It might be a different finance structure. Or it might simply be understanding the numbers well enough to make an informed decision.
WOULD YOU CHOOSE THE SAME VEHICLE AGAIN TODAY?
That is perhaps the most useful question to come out of the latest diesel price increase.
Ray Leathern's analysis puts the change into particularly clear perspective. An inland motorist filling an 80-litre diesel tank is now paying more than R900 extra for that tank compared with January.
For a South African who bought a diesel bakkie because they genuinely need one, that may simply be an unavoidable increase in the cost of motoring. But for somebody who bought one because they liked it, wanted the space or could comfortably afford it at the time, there is nothing wrong with asking whether the numbers still add up.
Changing vehicles should not be a panic response to a fuel price increase. But neither should we keep financing and running a vehicle out of habit when our needs, our budgets and the cost of motoring have changed.
Perhaps the smartest question isn't whether you can still afford your vehicle. It is whether you would choose the same vehicle again at today's cost of ownership.
If that question has you reconsidering your current vehicle, speak to Celeste Steenberg at Finance Warehouse. Whether you're considering changing vehicles, looking for a suitable replacement or simply want to understand whether your existing finance could be structured differently, she can help you explore the options.
Celeste Steenberg | 082 374 5078
Finance Warehouse | Creative Finance Solutions | Authorised FSP 34936
