Frequently asked questions
Still stuck? Contact support.
Getting started
What is MVT?+
Motor Vehicle Trade (MVT) is a South African automotive marketplace where every seller is identity-verified. Buyers can browse cars, parts, services, dealerships and tuning shops with confidence; sellers pay in credits — no monthly subscriptions.
Do I need an account to browse?+
No. Browsing listings is open to everyone. You need an account (free) to save listings, message sellers, post reviews, or — if you're a seller — list your own items.
Are buyers verified too?+
Buyers sign in via Auth0 but don't go through document verification. The verification gate is for sellers, so the trust signal sits on the people offering goods/services.
Verification
Why do sellers need to verify?+
Verification is what makes MVT different from the open classifieds. Identity-checked sellers carry a green ✓ Verified badge on every listing — if anything goes wrong, accountability has a real address attached to it.
How long does verification take?+
Typically 24–48 hours after you submit clear documents. You'll get an email the moment a moderator approves or rejects.
What if my verification is rejected?+
The reviewer leaves a note explaining what was wrong (most often a blurred or expired document). The note appears at the top of your Verification page; replace the affected document and resubmit — it's free.
Can I upgrade from Basic to Premium verification?+
Yes. On the Verification page, scroll to the bottom and click 'Upgrade to a Business account'. Your ID/selfie/proof-of-address are kept; you'll be asked to add a company registration certificate, director's ID, and (optionally) a VAT certificate.
Credits & payments
How do credits work?+
Credits are the in-platform currency for posting listings, featuring them, refreshing them, and unlocking buyer leads. Top up via PayFast — bundles start at R 99. There are no subscriptions.
What does each action cost?+
Costs are admin-configurable and shown live on the Credits page. As a guide: posting a vehicle listing 10 credits, parts/service 5, featuring for 7 days 20, refreshing 3, unlocking a buyer lead 8.
What if my PayFast payment didn't credit my wallet?+
ITN (PayFast's webhook) usually arrives within seconds. If your wallet hasn't updated, the Credits page will surface the stuck payment automatically after two minutes. Anything over 15 minutes, contact support and we'll force-credit it manually.
Where do I find my invoice?+
Every completed purchase shows an 'Invoice' link in the Transaction history table on the Credits page. The invoice opens print-ready — use your browser's Save-as-PDF for a copy.
Listings
Why is my listing pending?+
All new listings go through admin moderation. Typical turnaround is under 24 hours. You'll get an email when it's live.
Why was my listing rejected?+
The moderator's reviewer note will appear on the listing row in your dashboard. Edit the listing to address the issue and re-submit — re-submission is free and credits aren't double-charged.
What does 'Feature' do?+
Featuring a listing pins it to the top of its category and the home featured grid for 7 days. Costs an extra 20 credits on top of the listing fee. You can also boost an existing listing at any time.
Buyer leads & messaging
How do buyer leads work?+
When a buyer submits an inquiry on your listing, you can reply free for the first three messages. Beyond that the lead 'locks' — you unlock it for 8 credits which reveals the buyer's contact details and removes the message limit. One unlock per buyer covers all their inquiries to you across listings.
Do buyers know when I unlock them?+
Yes — they get a transparency email naming you and the listing. After that you can contact them off-platform (call, WhatsApp, email) if you prefer; the buyer was told up-front that unlocking enables this. It's part of MVT's trust pitch.
I'm a buyer — can I see the lock?+
No. The credit-and-lock mechanic is seller-side only. From your messages inbox the conversation just shows whether the seller has replied yet.
Trust & safety
How do I report a listing or user?+
On any listing or seller profile, click the small 🚩 link. Pick a reason and (optionally) add detail; an admin reviews flagged content within 24 hours.
I think I'm dealing with a scam — what now?+
Don't pay outside MVT. Email trust@motorvehicletrade.co.za immediately with the listing URL and any messages. We'll lock the conversation and investigate.
Didn't find your answer?
Drop us an email and we'll respond within one business day.
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