Couriering Car Parts in South Africa: Costs, Tips & Safe Delivery
Courier Guy, RAM, Aramex — rough cost bands, packing panels and glass, and tracking that protects you.
The biggest fear in long-distance parts buying isn't the seller — it's the courier. A pristine headlight in Joburg can land in Cape Town as a bag of plastic if it's packed badly or shipped on the wrong service. Here's how to ship and receive car parts properly across South Africa.
Courier damage is 90% packing, 10% bad luck. Pack like the box will be dropped from a bakkie tail.
Choosing a courier
- The Courier Guy — workhorse for small/medium boxes (under 30kg). Countrywide depots, easy drop-off, decent tracking, fair pricing.
- RAM Hand-to-Hand — premium service for fragile or high-value items. Better claims handling, slightly higher cost.
- Aramex Same-Day / Overnight — strong for time-sensitive small items in metros.
- Dedicated motor freight — engines, gearboxes, full body shells. Get quotes from MotorVaps, Transtainer or local heavy-haulers.
Approximate cost bands (door-to-door, 2026)
| Item type | Typical weight | Cost band | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sensor / small electronic | < 2kg | R90–R140 | |
| Alternator / starter / pads | 2–8kg | R130–R250 | |
| Headlight assembly | 3–6kg (fragile) | R220–R420 | |
| Door / bonnet / boot lid | 15–40kg | R650–R1,400 | |
| Windscreen / large glass | 20–35kg | R900–R1,800 | |
| Complete engine | 120–250kg | R1,800–R4,500 |
OnePart checkout pulls live rates so buyers see real costs before paying. Sellers don't lose money on under-quoted shipping.
Packing right (the seller's job)
- Wrap glass and lights individually in 3+ layers of bubble wrap. Fill voids with packing peanuts or crumpled newsprint — empty space = damage.
- Double-box anything fragile. Inner box snug around the part, outer box with 5cm of cushioning all round.
- Drain fluids. Engines, gearboxes, power steering pumps must be drained before despatch — courier policies require it.
- Cap and bag. Tape every port and electrical connector. Bag the whole part to keep grease off the box.
- Photograph everything packed. Inside, outside, sealed, label. This is your evidence in a claim.
What OnePart's protection covers
Buyer payment is held in escrow until delivery is confirmed. If the courier loses or damages the parcel, the funds stay frozen while the claim is processed — buyers aren't out of pocket and sellers have a clear evidence trail. We recommend declaring full value and adding the courier's insurance on anything over R1,000.