Terms of Service

1. Acceptance of Terms

By creating an account, placing a bid, listing a vehicle, or otherwise using the Platform, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agree to be bound by these Terms, our Privacy Policy, and our Refund Policy. We reserve the right to update these Terms at any time. Continued use of the Platform after changes constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

2. Eligibility

You must be at least 18 years of age and legally capable of entering into contracts under Algerian law. By registering, you represent that all information you provide is accurate and complete.

3. Account Registration

To buy vehicles on Soumni, you need a verified account. Registration requires your email address, a password, and basic profile information (full name). You may also sign in with your Google account. No identity document is required for buyers.

To sell vehicles, you must additionally complete identity verification by uploading a valid national ID. Your ID photo is used solely for verification and is permanently deleted after review — only a cryptographic hash is retained for duplicate prevention. Your seller status is activated once an administrator approves your identity.

You are responsible for maintaining the confidentiality of your account credentials. Notify us immediately of any unauthorized use of your account.

4. Auction Rules

All bids are binding commitments to purchase the vehicle at the bid amount. Once placed, bids cannot be retracted. You must have sufficient funds in your wallet to cover the required deposit before placing a bid.

Auctions include anti-sniping protection: if a bid is placed in the final moments of an auction, the auction deadline is automatically extended to ensure fair competition.

Sellers may set a reserve price. If bidding does not reach the reserve, the vehicle is not sold. Reserve prices are never disclosed to bidders — the Platform only indicates whether the reserve has been met.

The auto-bid feature allows you to set a maximum bid amount. The system places bids on your behalf up to your maximum. Your maximum amount is never revealed to other bidders.

Selected vehicles may be available for immediate purchase at a fixed Buy Now price, bypassing the auction process.

5. Payment & Wallet

The Soumni wallet is used exclusively for registration fees and auction deposit holds. It is not used for car purchase payments.

Car purchases are completed through direct bank transfer between buyer and seller, in compliance with Algerian law. The Platform does not process, hold, or transfer car purchase funds.

When you register for an auction, a deposit is held in your wallet. If you win and complete the deal, the deposit fate is determined by the applicable deposit tier (full refund, partial retention, or full retention as platform fee). If you do not win, your deposit is released in full.

You may fund your wallet via bank transfer or cash payment at a partner agency. Each deposit is verified by a moderator before being credited to your wallet.

6. Deal Process

After winning an auction, the deal progresses through tracked stages: auction won, buyer contacts seller, bank transfer sent, payment received, car handed over, ownership transferred, and deal closed. Each stage has configurable deadlines with automatic reminders.

Buyer and seller identities are kept anonymous throughout the platform. Personal information is only exchanged in person at the administrator-coordinated handoff when documents are sealed and payment is completed.

A commission is applied to the sale price at tiered rates configured by the Platform. The commission is collected by the administrator at the physical handoff during document sealing.

7. Subscriptions

Soumni offers subscription tiers with different features and listing limits. Free accounts can browse and bid. Paid plans (Silver, Gold, Dealer) unlock additional features including selling capabilities, increased bid limits, and priority support.

You may cancel your subscription at any time. Cancellation takes effect at the end of the current billing cycle — you retain access to paid features until then. No partial refunds are issued for unused portions of a billing cycle.

8. Prohibited Conduct

You agree not to: engage in shill bidding or any form of bid manipulation; create fake or misleading vehicle listings; share personal contact information (phone numbers, emails, social media) through platform messaging; use the Platform for any illegal purpose; attempt to circumvent platform fees or commissions; interfere with the proper functioning of the Platform; or create multiple accounts to circumvent restrictions.

9. Vehicle Listings

Sellers are responsible for the accuracy of their vehicle listings. All vehicles must undergo a professional inspection before being listed. The Platform does not guarantee the condition, quality, or legality of listed vehicles beyond the inspection report. Buyers should conduct their own due diligence.

10. Intellectual Property

All content on the Platform — including text, graphics, logos, and software — is the property of Soumni or its licensors and is protected by Algerian and international intellectual property laws. You may not reproduce, distribute, or create derivative works from Platform content without prior written permission.

11. Limitation of Liability

Soumni acts as a marketplace connecting buyers and sellers. We are not a party to any vehicle sale transaction. To the maximum extent permitted by Algerian law, Soumni shall not be liable for: the condition, legality, or ownership of any vehicle; disputes between buyers and sellers; losses arising from bank transfers or off-platform payments; or any indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from use of the Platform.

12. Termination

We may suspend or terminate your account at any time for violations of these Terms, fraudulent activity, or at our discretion. Upon termination, you must settle any outstanding obligations (pending payments, active deals). You may request account deletion through the Platform settings, subject to the conditions described in our Privacy Policy.

13. Governing Law

These Terms are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria. Any disputes arising from these Terms or your use of the Platform shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Algiers.

14. Changes to Terms

We reserve the right to modify these Terms at any time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated revision date. We will notify registered users of material changes through in-app notifications. Your continued use of the Platform after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

15. Contact

For questions about these Terms, contact us at support@soumni.com.