Listing Standards
Last updated: October 2026
Motori.co.za exists to make buying and selling cars simpler, safer, and faster. That only works if every listing on the platform is accurate, honest, and professionally presented. These standards apply to every listing submitted by private sellers and dealerships. By submitting a listing, you agree to these standards.
We reserve the right to reject, withhold, or remove any listing that does not meet these requirements. This decision is final and does not require explanation, though we will usually tell you what needs fixing.
1. Photographs
Photographs are the single most important part of your listing. A buyer decides whether to click, WhatsApp, or scroll past based entirely on your first photo. Poor photos cost you money and cost us credibility.
Requirements
Minimum 6 photographs per listing. Vehicles listed with fewer than 6 photos will not be approved. We recommend 10–15 photos covering every angle.
Required angles:
Front three-quarter view (this will be your main photo)
Rear three-quarter view
Direct front
Direct rear
Both sides (full profile)
Interior — dashboard and front seats
Interior — rear seats
Odometer reading (clearly legible)
Engine bay
Any damage, scratches, dents, or rust (see section on honesty below)
Quality Standards
Resolution: Photographs must be a minimum of 1200 pixels on the longest side. Phone cameras from the last five years are more than capable of this. Do not send us screenshots of photos, WhatsApp-compressed images, or photos downloaded from another website.
Focus: Photographs must be sharp. If we cannot read the number plate or the odometer without zooming, the photo is not acceptable. Blurry photos will result in rejection.
Lighting: Photograph the vehicle in daylight, ideally in the morning or late afternoon. Avoid harsh midday sun that blows out the paintwork. Avoid photographing in the rain, at night, in underground parking, or under yellow sodium lights. Do not use flash — it flattens the image and makes the car look worse.
Background: The background must be clean and uncluttered. Acceptable backgrounds include:
A plain wall
A clean driveway with no other vehicles or objects in frame
An open parking area with nothing distracting behind the car
A showroom
Unacceptable backgrounds include:
Cluttered driveways with bins, garden equipment, toys, or building materials visible
Busy streets with traffic or pedestrians
Parking lots full of other cars
Photos taken in front of a messy house, garage, or yard
Any background that includes another person, especially children
If your background is cluttered, move the car. It takes five minutes and dramatically improves your chances of selling.
Cleanliness: The car must be washed and, where possible, vacuumed before photographing. Dirty cars do not sell. This applies to the interior as well as the exterior. Remove personal items from the cabin, boot, and dashboard. Remove any stickers, air fresheners, or clutter that distracts from the vehicle.
No watermarks, logos, or text overlays. Do not add your name, phone number, dealership logo, or any text to the photos. Do not use filters, heavy editing, or AI-generated backgrounds. Photos must represent the car as it actually is.
No stock photos. Every photo must be of the actual vehicle being sold. Using manufacturer press images, photos of a similar car, or images downloaded from the internet is grounds for immediate removal and permanent ban.
2. Honesty and Disclosure
Your listing must be an honest representation of the vehicle. Misrepresentation is the fastest way to get removed from Motori and, in serious cases, reported to the relevant authorities.
You must disclose:
Accident history. If the vehicle has been in a reported accident, say so.
Structural damage. Any chassis, frame, or structural repair must be disclosed.
Mechanical faults. If the engine, gearbox, turbo, clutch, or any major component has a known fault, disclose it.
Odometer discrepancies. If the mileage is not verifiable, or if the odometer has been replaced or tampered with, disclose it.
Outstanding finance. If there is money owed on the vehicle, state this clearly so buyers understand the transfer process.
Code 3, rebuilt, or write-off status. Any vehicle not registered as a normal “Code 1” must be clearly labelled.
Import status. If the vehicle is an import, state where it came from and when.
Any damage visible in photos. If there is a dent, scratch, cracked bumper, or rust patch, photograph it clearly and mention it in the description. Do not hide damage by photographing around it or using angles that conceal it.
We would rather have an honest listing with visible damage than a dishonest listing that leads to a dispute, a refund demand, or a legal complaint.
3. Description
Your description must be accurate, complete, and written in plain language.
Requirements
Minimum 100 words. A single line like “Car for sale, good condition, call me” is not acceptable.
Must include:
Make, model, variant, and year
Mileage (in kilometres)
Transmission (manual or automatic)
Fuel type
Service history (full, partial, or none — be honest)
Any recent work done (new tyres, new battery, recent service, etc.)
Reason for selling (optional, but builds trust)
Any faults or issues (see honesty section)
Writing standards:
Use full sentences. Do not write in all caps.
Do not use excessive punctuation (!!!, ???, ***).
Do not use slang that buyers outside your area will not understand.
No emojis in the listing body.
No contact details in the description — use the WhatsApp button provided.
No prices in the description other than the asking price in the price field.
Do not include:
Claims you cannot prove (“best car in South Africa,” “one of a kind”)
False urgency (“must sell today,” “first come first served” as a pressure tactic)
Any suggestion that a deposit is required before viewing
Any request for payment via eWallet, cash send, or any method other than a bank transfer between the buyer and seller at the point of sale
Any mention of financing you are not registered to provide
4. Prohibited Listings
The following will be removed immediately and may result in a permanent ban:
Vehicles that are not legally yours to sell, or that are still under finance without disclosure
Vehicles with outstanding police clearance issues or unresolved liens
Stolen vehicles or vehicles with tampered VIN numbers
Vehicles that have been written off and rebuilt without disclosure
Listings using photos taken from another seller’s listing
Listings using AI-generated images or images that do not represent the actual vehicle
Any listing that appears to be a scam, a bait-and-switch, or an attempt to collect deposits for a vehicle that does not exist
Any listing that includes discriminatory language or hate speech
Any listing that is not actually a car, bakkie, SUV, or commercial vehicle for sale
We do not require a reason to remove a listing. If we believe a listing poses a risk to buyers or to the reputation of the platform, it comes down.
5. Verification
We review every listing before it is published. If your listing is flagged either by our team or by a buyer we may request documentation to confirm credibility before the listing stays live or is reinstated.
This may include, but is not limited to:
A valid South African ID or passport
Proof of ownership of the vehicle (registration document in your name), or where you are selling on behalf of someone else, a signed mandate
A working phone number that we can verify
A bank account in your name (for dealers, in the business name)
Failure to provide requested documentation within 72 hours may result in the listing being removed. Repeated flags on the same account may result in suspension.
6. Dealer Listings
Dealerships are held to the same standards as private sellers, with the following additions:
All vehicles must be physically on your floorplan or available for immediate viewing at a stated address
Prices must be the actual selling price — no “POA,” no bait pricing, no hidden fees
If a vehicle has been sold, it must be removed from Motori within 7 days
Repeated failures to remove sold vehicles may result in suspension of your dealer account
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7. What Happens If Your Listing Is Rejected
If your listing does not meet these standards, we will notify you with the reason. You may correct the issue and resubmit.
If a listing is rejected more than twice for the same issue, we reserve the right to suspend your account.
If a listing is rejected for dishonesty, fraud, or a prohibited item, we reserve the right to ban your account permanently without refund or notice.
8. Our Rights
Motori.co.za reserves the right to:
Reject, withhold, edit, or remove any listing at any time for any reason
Suspend or terminate any account that breaches these standards
Report suspected fraud or illegal activity to the South African Police Service and any relevant authority
Update these standards at any time. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance of the updated standards.
These standards exist to protect buyers, sellers, and the platform. They are not negotiable.
9. Contact
If you have a question about whether your listing meets these standards, contact us before uploading. We would rather help you get it right the first time than reject it after the fact.
Email: sales@motori.co.za
Website: motori.co.za
By listing on Motori.co.za, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these standards.