These Terms of Service ("Terms") constitute a legally binding agreement between you ("User", "you", or "your") and Lotus Auto Tanzania ("Lotus Auto", "we", "us", or "our"), operating the website located at www.lotus.co.tz (the "Platform").
By accessing, browsing, registering on, or using any part of our Platform, you acknowledge that you have read these Terms, understood them, and agree to be bound by them. These Terms apply to all visitors, registered users, buyers, sellers, and any other person who interacts with the Platform.
If you are using the Platform on behalf of a business or organisation — including an insurance company — you confirm that you have the authority to bind that entity to these Terms.
For clarity throughout these Terms, the following definitions apply:
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Platform | The website www.lotus.co.tz and all associated services, features, and content. |
| User / Account Holder | Any individual or organisation with a registered account on the Platform. |
| Buyer | A User who browses, bids on, or purchases vehicles or spare parts. |
| Seller / Insurance Partner | A licensed insurance company or other approved entity listing vehicles on the Platform. |
| Vehicle | Any salvage, accident-damaged, or write-off vehicle listed on the Platform. |
| Listing | A vehicle or spare part posted for sale or auction on the Platform. |
| Auction | A time-limited competitive bidding process for a specific vehicle Listing. |
| Bid | A formal offer to purchase a vehicle at a specified price during an Auction. |
| Reserve Price | The minimum price a Seller will accept. May or may not be disclosed publicly. |
| Salvage Vehicle | A vehicle declared a write-off, damaged, or total loss by an insurance company. |
Lotus Auto provides an online marketplace connecting buyers with insurance companies and other sellers of salvage and accident-damaged vehicles in Tanzania. Our services include:
- Online listings of salvage and accident-damaged vehicles with photos, damage assessments, and pricing
- A live auction platform for competitive bidding on vehicles
- A spare parts marketplace for used, new, and refurbished parts
- A "Sell My Car" service enabling individuals to obtain offers on their damaged vehicles
- Insurance company dashboards for tracking sales, commissions, and inventory
- Customer account management including order history and saved vehicles
Lotus Auto acts as a marketplace facilitator. We are not the owner or seller of most vehicles listed on our Platform unless explicitly stated. The contractual relationship for the purchase of a vehicle is between the Buyer and the Seller.
To access certain features — including placing bids, saving vehicles, or tracking orders — you must create a Lotus Auto account. When registering, you agree to:
- Provide accurate, complete, and current information about yourself
- Keep your password confidential and not share it with any third party
- Notify us immediately of any unauthorised access to your account
- Be responsible for all activity that occurs under your account
- Use only one personal account — creating multiple accounts is prohibited
Lotus Auto reserves the right to suspend or terminate any account that we believe has been used fraudulently, in violation of these Terms, or in a manner harmful to other users or to our reputation.
All vehicles listed on Lotus Auto are sold as-is in their described condition unless otherwise explicitly stated. Buyers should understand and accept the following before purchasing:
- All vehicles are salvage, accident-damaged, or write-off vehicles sourced from insurance companies
- Damage grades (Minor / Moderate / Severe / Total Loss) are estimates — actual damage may vary
- Photos and descriptions are provided for reference only and may not capture all damage
- Vehicles are not covered by manufacturer warranties unless explicitly stated
- Buyers are strongly encouraged to conduct a physical inspection before purchasing
- Lotus Auto accepts no liability for mechanical issues discovered after purchase
Once a vehicle has been paid for and collected, all sales are final. No returns or refunds will be offered unless the vehicle was materially misrepresented in its listing, which must be reported within 24 hours of collection.
Lotus Auto operates live vehicle auctions. All users participating in auctions agree to the following rules without exception:
- All bids are legally binding offers to purchase and cannot be retracted once placed
- Each bid must exceed the current highest bid by a minimum of TSh 50,000
- The highest bidder at the close of an auction wins the vehicle, subject to reserve price conditions
- If a reserve price is set and not met, Lotus Auto reserves the right to decline the sale
- Winners are notified within 2 hours of auction close and must confirm within 24 hours
- Full payment must be received within 48 hours of winning notification
- Failure to pay forfeits the win and may result in account suspension
- The vehicle must be collected within 5 business days of payment confirmation
- Bidding on behalf of another person without their knowledge is strictly prohibited
- Lotus Auto reserves the right to cancel any auction or bid at its sole discretion
Individuals may submit vehicles for purchase via our "Sell My Car" service. By submitting a vehicle for sale, you confirm that:
- You are the legal owner of the vehicle or have the authority to sell it
- The vehicle information you provide is accurate and complete
- The vehicle is free from undisclosed liens, finance agreements, or legal encumbrances
- You have the right to transfer ownership of the vehicle
- Any offer made by Lotus Auto is non-binding until a formal written agreement is signed
- Lotus Auto is not obligated to purchase any vehicle submitted through the "Sell My Car" service
Lotus Auto reserves the right to conduct its own vehicle inspection and verification before making or honouring any offer. We may decline to purchase any vehicle without providing a reason.
Our spare parts marketplace lists used, refurbished, and occasionally new parts sourced from salvage vehicles. Buyers of spare parts acknowledge that:
- Parts are described accurately to the best of our ability, but minor discrepancies may occur
- Used and refurbished parts are sold as-is with no warranty unless explicitly stated
- Compatibility information is provided as guidance only — buyers are responsible for verifying fitment
- Lotus Auto is not liable for damage caused by improper installation or incompatible fitment
- Returns for spare parts may be accepted within 7 days if the part is materially different from its description, subject to inspection
Lotus Auto accepts the following payment methods for vehicle and parts purchases:
| Method | Details | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| M-Pesa | Vodacom Tanzania mobile money | Instant confirmation |
| Bank Transfer | Direct deposit to our verified account | 1–2 business days |
| Cash | In-person at our premises only | Same day |
- All prices displayed include VAT at the applicable Tanzanian rate unless stated otherwise
- Vehicle ownership does not transfer until full payment has been received and confirmed
- Lotus Auto does not offer credit, financing, or payment plans unless explicitly agreed in writing
- Any payment dispute must be reported within 48 hours of the transaction
- Lotus Auto uses reasonable security measures to protect payment information but cannot guarantee absolute security
Insurance companies and other institutional sellers partnering with Lotus Auto ("Insurance Partners") agree to additional obligations:
- All vehicles submitted must be legally owned by the insurance company or assigned to them following a valid insurance claim
- Vehicle descriptions, damage reports, and documentation provided must be accurate and complete
- Insurance Partners are responsible for ensuring clear title transfer to buyers
- Commission rates are agreed separately in the Partner Agreement and may vary
- Insurance Partners agree not to circumvent the Platform by conducting direct sales with Platform-introduced buyers outside of Lotus Auto
- Performance data visible in the Insurance Partner dashboard is for internal use only and must not be shared publicly
Lotus Auto reserves the right to terminate an Insurance Partner agreement immediately in cases of fraud, misrepresentation, or consistent breach of these terms.
The following activities are strictly prohibited on the Lotus Auto Platform:
- Posting false, misleading, or fraudulent vehicle listings or descriptions
- Shill bidding, bid manipulation, or any form of auction fraud
- Impersonating another person, business, or Lotus Auto staff
- Creating multiple accounts to circumvent bans or restrictions
- Attempting to gain unauthorised access to any part of the Platform or other users' accounts
- Using automated bots, scrapers, or other tools to extract data from the Platform without consent
- Uploading malicious code, viruses, or any content designed to disrupt or damage the Platform
- Harassment, abuse, or threatening behaviour directed at other users or Lotus Auto staff
- Using the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of Tanzanian law
- Circumventing the Platform to complete transactions off-platform with introduced parties
- Reproducing, distributing, or commercially exploiting Platform content without written permission
Violations of these prohibitions may result in immediate account termination, legal action, and reporting to relevant Tanzanian authorities.
All content on the Lotus Auto Platform — including but not limited to text, images, logos, design, code, and the "Lotus Auto" brand name — is owned by or licensed to Lotus Auto Tanzania and is protected by Tanzanian intellectual property law.
You may not reproduce, modify, distribute, or publicly display any Platform content without express written permission from Lotus Auto. Linking to our Platform for non-commercial purposes is permitted provided the context is appropriate and not misleading.
By submitting photos, descriptions, or other content to our Platform (such as through the "Sell My Car" form), you grant Lotus Auto a non-exclusive, royalty-free licence to use that content for Platform purposes, including marketing and vehicle listings.
Your use of the Platform is also governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference. Key points include:
- We collect personal information necessary to operate the Platform and process transactions
- We do not sell your personal data to third parties
- We use cookies and analytics tools to improve the Platform experience
- You have the right to request access to, correction of, or deletion of your personal data
- Data may be shared with insurance partners only to the extent necessary to complete transactions
Please review our full Privacy Policy for complete details on how we collect, use, and protect your information.
The Lotus Auto Platform and its services are provided "as is" and "as available" without warranties of any kind, either express or implied. To the fullest extent permitted by Tanzanian law, Lotus Auto disclaims all warranties including:
- Warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, or non-infringement
- Warranties that the Platform will be uninterrupted, error-free, or free from viruses
- Warranties regarding the accuracy or completeness of vehicle listings, descriptions, or damage assessments
- Warranties regarding the fitness, roadworthiness, or mechanical condition of any vehicle
To the maximum extent permitted by applicable Tanzanian law, Lotus Auto, its directors, employees, and agents shall not be liable for any:
- Indirect, incidental, special, consequential, or punitive damages
- Loss of profits, revenue, data, goodwill, or business opportunities
- Damages arising from vehicle defects, mechanical failures, or accidents after purchase
- Losses arising from unauthorised access to your account
- Damages arising from reliance on inaccurate vehicle descriptions or assessments
- Service interruptions, technical failures, or data loss
In circumstances where liability cannot be fully excluded, our total liability to you shall not exceed the amount you paid to Lotus Auto in the transaction giving rise to the claim, or TSh 500,000, whichever is lower.
These Terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United Republic of Tanzania. Any disputes arising out of or in connection with these Terms shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Tanzania.
Before initiating any legal proceedings, we encourage users to contact us directly to resolve disputes amicably. Most issues can be resolved quickly through our support team at info@lotus.co.tz.
Lotus Auto reserves the right to update or modify these Terms at any time. When we make significant changes, we will:
- Update the "Last Updated" date at the top of this page
- Post a notice on the Platform homepage for at least 14 days
- Where possible, send a notification to registered users via email
Your continued use of the Platform after any changes take effect constitutes your acceptance of the updated Terms. If you do not agree with the updated Terms, you must stop using the Platform and may request account deletion.
If you have any questions, concerns, or complaints regarding these Terms of Service, please contact us through any of the following channels:
| Channel | Details |
|---|---|
| info@lotus.co.tz | |
| Phone | +255 795 601 666 |
| +255795601666 | |
| Address | Dar es Salaam, Tanzania |
| Contact Form | www.lotus.co.tz/contact.php |
We aim to respond to all legal and compliance enquiries within 5 business days.