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.

No identity document is required to publish a direct-sale listing — any active, email-verified account may list, subject to the free-tier limits. Identity verification is required only to sell in the Inspected or auction tiers: you upload a valid national ID, which is used solely for verification and is permanently deleted after review — only a cryptographic hash is retained to prevent duplicate accounts. Verified-seller status is activated once an administrator approves your identity. Sellers on direct-sale listings are NOT identity-verified by Soumni.

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 Inspected-tier vehicles may be available for immediate purchase at a fixed Buy Now price, bypassing the auction. Buy Now requires an active paid subscription; a registration fee is charged and a deposit is held when you commit. Payment must be completed within 72 hours of purchase — failure to pay within that window results in forfeiture of the deposit.

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 — live or open — two amounts leave your available balance: a registration fee of 500 DA, which is charged immediately and is non-refundable whatever the outcome, and a refundable deposit that is held (not spent) for the duration of the auction. If you do not win, the deposit is released in full when the auction ends; the registration fee is not returned. If you win and complete the deal, the deposit's fate is determined by the deposit tier applicable to that auction (full refund, partial retention, or full retention as a platform fee), which is displayed before you register. No registration fee or deposit applies to direct-sale listings — browsing and making offers is free.

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.

In auction and Inspected-tier deals, buyer and seller identities remain anonymous on the Platform, and personal information is exchanged in person at the administrator-coordinated handoff when documents are sealed and payment is completed. Direct-sale listings work differently — see section 6b.

Soumni charges no commission on direct-sale listings; the price is settled entirely between buyer and seller. On Inspected-tier and auction sales, a commission is applied to the sale price at tiered rates set by the Platform and disclosed before you commit, and is collected by the administrator at the physical handoff during document sealing.

6b. Offers on Direct-Sale Listings

On direct-sale listings, negotiation happens exclusively through structured offers — an amount, with no free-text messaging. A buyer may place, update or withdraw an offer at any time while it is pending. An offer is not a binding commitment to purchase and the seller is under no obligation to accept any offer. When the seller accepts an offer, that offer's buyer and the seller each receive the other's name and phone number, all other offers on that listing are automatically declined, and the two parties arrange the sale directly between themselves. Soumni is not a party to that sale, does not coordinate a handoff, does not hold or transfer any payment, and charges no commission on direct-sale listings.

7. Subscriptions

Listing a car for direct sale is free and requires no subscription — free accounts may hold up to 3 active listings at a time. Subscription tiers (Silver, Gold, Dealer) apply to the Inspected and auction tiers, and unlock higher listing allowances, access to Buy Now purchasing, 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, listing descriptions, or the Owner Vehicle Report; 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. Vehicles in the Inspected and auction tiers undergo a professional inspection before publication. Direct-sale listings are NOT inspected by Soumni: the description, photos and Owner Vehicle Report are declared by the seller alone and are not verified by us. The Platform does not guarantee the condition, quality or legality of any listed vehicle; for Inspected vehicles our responsibility does not extend beyond the inspection report, and for direct-sale listings we make no representation as to condition whatsoever. Buyers should inspect the vehicle in person and conduct their own due diligence before paying anything.

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 by contacting support@soumni.com, 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.