Gumtree South Africa has entered into an official affiliation with Motofinn Solutions as a safer, hassle-free way for car buyers and sellers to transact via the platform.

“Gumtree’s automotive section has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few years. Even if every other category on the site is excluded, the automotive section alone generates enough traffic to place it firmly among the top ten most frequented sites in the country,” says Jeff Osborne, Head of Gumtree Automotive.

“However, selling or buying one’s car (particularly when done privately) can be daunting. There is a fair amount of paperwork that has to be completed, vehicle inspections to ensure that the car is in good order and of course, there are large sums of money involved. It is extremely time-consuming for both parties.”

According to Osborne, Motofinn can assist with the facilitation of a sale between buyers and sellers.

“Essentially, the highly trained Motofinn team, together with DEKRA Automotive and TransUnion, will ensure that all parties enjoy a hassle free transaction while greatly minimizing the risks and effort for both.”

All Motofinn’s payments are secured by trusted financial advisory, Deloitte.

Interested buyers can submit an application online, via e-mail or fax. A Motofinn consultant will make contact and assist with all aspects of the sale, including assistance in arranging financing, collecting the necessary documents, performing a HPI check to confirm the vehicle ownership and finance interest. DEKRA will verify the vehicle condition and roadworthy test including full colour photographs.

Osborne says the service remains entirely optional to buyers and sellers, although the benefits are legion. “By using a reputable third party, there is no need to handle large amounts of cash or to trust your own expertise in assessing a vehicle. There is a professional service that assists you every step of the way, giving you the confidence to sell online.”

However, Osborne warns customers to be careful and only make use of officially endorsed 3rd party services when transacting on the site. “Do not trust every service that offers to facilitate a sale, especially if they require you to hand money over.”