Vehicle Finance Pre-Delivery Review Checklist South Africa
A Shariah-conscious vehicle finance review should happen before delivery, registration and irreversible fees. The buyer needs one file showing the vehicle, supplier, financing structure, total cost, ownership sequence, insurance or Takaful and the consequences of defects, cancellation and settlement.
This checklist is general information, not credit, legal, tax or Shariah advice. Review the complete quotation and signed documents with authorised professionals.
1. Verify the vehicle and dealer
Record VIN, model, year, mileage, condition, extras, dealer details and cash price. For a used vehicle, keep inspection, service and accident-history evidence available from lawful sources.
2. Identify the financing structure
State whether the arrangement is Murabaha, Ijarah, instalment sale or another structure. Summarise who buys the vehicle, who owns it during each stage and which contracts create the customer’s payments.
3. Reconcile purchase price and profit
Show supplier price, provider cost, disclosed profit, deposit, total sale or rental payments and any balloon. Ensure the numbers reconcile to the quotation.
4. List every fee and add-on
Separate initiation, administration, licence, registration, delivery, tracking, warranty, maintenance plan, insurance or Takaful and optional products. Mark what is compulsory and what can be declined.
5. Confirm pre-delivery ownership
Keep the supplier invoice and provider acquisition evidence required by the structure. If the customer acts as agent, record the agency steps and capacity in which each document is signed.
6. Inspect before acceptance
Record defects, missing items and promised repairs on a signed delivery document. Do not rely on verbal assurances. Confirm when risk passes and who must claim against the supplier.
7. Review insurance or Takaful
Record required cover, contribution, excess, beneficiary or loss-payee terms and treatment of theft or total loss. Ask what balance may remain after a claim.
8. Test early settlement
Request worked examples, including remaining price or rentals, fees and any rebate. Record quote validity and release of ownership or security.
9. Test arrears and repossession
Identify notices, cure periods, collection costs, repossession, sale of the vehicle and treatment of any shortfall or surplus. Confirm applicable National Credit Act rights.
10. Review accident and repair duties
State approved repairers, maintenance requirements, modification limits and evidence needed to preserve warranties and cover. Distinguish ordinary use costs from ownership-related risks under the structure.
11. Confirm Shariah evidence
Retain product approval, named Shariah adviser or board, contracts and explanation of ownership, profit or rent, insurance, late payment and settlement.
12. Authorise delivery only after reconciliation
Before signing acceptance, confirm that the vehicle, price, fees, payment schedule, ownership documents and cover match the approved decision file.
Official starting points
Practical outcome: the buyer should be able to reconcile the exact vehicle, ownership sequence, total cost and exit risks before accepting delivery.Keep a signed comparison page
Record the cash alternative, proposed finance structure, deposit, total scheduled payments, optional products and settlement assumptions on one page. Note why the chosen structure fits the household budget and adopted Shariah approach. Attach the final dealer and provider quotations so that later changes are visible.
