Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about buying a new car for less with Car4Less.
About Car4Less
What is Car4Less?+
Car4Less is a patented South African model for buying any new car for less every month. Every car shows its Car4Less price, below the manufacturer's retail price, as the drawcard. Our main focus is the Programme Car — brand-new, at the Car4Less price plus the Payment Saver Plan, set out in a separate offer to purchase for your approval. Both are financed exclusively through the Car4Less finance application. Meet the plan's requirements — posting and sharing approved Car4Less content, joining the prescribed groups and completing your verified Shop & Save shopping — and you may receive an ex gratia cash-back of up to R3 000 a month, subject to the plan's terms and Car4Less's final determination.
Is Car4Less a dealership?+
No. Car4Less is an independent buying channel. Your car is supplied and delivered through the authorised national franchise dealer network — fully registered, with the manufacturer's full warranty and service plans — but you buy it through Car4Less: at its Car4Less price or, our main focus, as a Programme Car with the Payment Saver Plan.
Who is behind Car4Less?+
Car4Less was founded by Edward Thwaits, a motor industry veteran who owned and operated multiple new-car franchise businesses across South Africa. The model is protected by a government-gazetted provisional patent.
Which cars are available?+
Every new passenger vehicle officially sold in South Africa — over 1 318 cars across 332 models across 59 brands, from entry-level hatchbacks to bakkies, SUVs and luxury cars, each with full specifications and its Car4Less price for every variant. Every one is also available as a Programme Car with the Payment Saver Plan.
Programme Cars, cash & finance
What is a Programme Car?+
A Programme Car is how Car4Less supplies a new car with the Payment Saver Plan, and it is our main focus: brand-new, at the Car4Less price plus the plan, set out in a separate offer to purchase for your approval, and financed exclusively through the Car4Less online finance application. Meet the plan's requirements and you may receive an ex gratia cash-back of up to R3 000 a month into your Mastercard rewards card, which effectively reduces your monthly vehicle cost by up to R3 000 — a lower effective monthly cost than normal vehicle financing, subject to the plan's terms and Car4Less's determination.
Can I buy a car from Car4Less for cash?+
No. Cash purchases are not permitted — at the Car4Less price or as a Programme Car. The Programme Car and the Payment Saver Plan are structured around bank finance arranged through Car4Less — the plan's cost is added to the Car4Less price, shown in your offer to purchase and paid through your monthly instalment — and every car is financed through the Car4Less finance application.
Can I use my own bank or private finance?+
No. Private finance is not accepted, for the Car4Less price and the Programme Car alike. Finance is arranged exclusively through the Car4Less online finance application, which Car4Less submits to the major banks — WesBank, Absa, MFC and Standard Bank. You then sign a standard finance agreement with the approving bank and pay your instalment by debit order, as usual.
Which banks do you submit finance applications to?+
WesBank, Absa, MFC and Standard Bank. Car4Less submits your application through the Car4Less finance application; each bank makes its own credit and affordability assessment, and the finance agreement is concluded between you and the approving bank.
Do you still sell discounted cars?+
Yes. Every car on the site shows its Car4Less price, below the manufacturer's retail price, as the drawcard. It is financed only through the Car4Less finance application — cash purchases are not permitted and private finance is not accepted. You may buy at the Car4Less price without the plan, but Car4Less will explain the Payment Saver Plan to you, because it is our main focus. Prefer to pay less every month? Choose the Programme Car: the Car4Less price plus the plan, set out in a separate offer to purchase for your approval.
When is my car delivered?+
Once finance is approved and stock is available, delivery is arranged through the authorised national franchise dealer network. Your car arrives fully registered, with the manufacturer's full warranty and service or maintenance plan.
Pricing
What price do you show on the site?+
The Car4Less price for every model and variant — below the manufacturer's retail price, with the retail price struck through — as the drawcard. The Programme Car price is the Car4Less price plus the Payment Saver Plan. It is not shown on the site: it is set out in a separate offer to purchase that Car4Less sends you for approval.
So where is the saving?+
First, every car shows its Car4Less price, below the manufacturer's retail price. Second — and this is our main focus — the Programme Car with the Payment Saver Plan: meet the plan's requirements and you may receive an ex gratia cash-back of up to R3 000 a month, which effectively reduces your monthly vehicle cost by up to R3 000, subject to the plan's terms and Car4Less's final determination. Both are financed only through the Car4Less finance application.
Is the Payment Saver Plan a discount?+
No — it is separate from the drawcard discount. The Car4Less price is the discount, shown on every car. The Programme Car is the Car4Less price plus the Payment Saver Plan, set out in a separate offer to purchase for your approval, and its value is the potential monthly cash-back of up to R3 000, ex gratia and subject to the plan's terms. Over a full finance term, what you could potentially receive back far exceeds the cost of the plan.
How current is the pricing on the site?+
Prices shown are estimates based on the latest available manufacturer pricing and are not binding. Car4Less confirms the exact, current price in writing before you order: the Car4Less price, or for a Programme Car, the Car4Less price plus the Payment Saver Plan, set out in a separate offer to purchase for your approval.
What does POA mean?+
Price on application — for a small number of vehicles the manufacturer doesn't publish a standard retail price. Enquire on WhatsApp and a consultant will confirm current pricing for you.
Post & Share — the Payment Saver Plan
What is the Payment Saver Plan?+
It's the Car4Less Post & Share rewards plan, attached to every Programme Car, and our main focus. A new-car buyer who meets its qualifying requirements in full — posting and sharing approved Car4Less content, joining the prescribed groups and completing the Shop & Save shopping requirement — may receive an ex gratia cash-back of up to R3 000 a month, subject to the plan's terms and Car4Less's final determination. That effectively lowers the monthly cost of their car.
Do I have to sell a car to get the cash-back?+
No. You don't have to produce, demonstrate or be credited with a vehicle sale from your posts, shares or shopping to be considered for the cash-back. You need to meet the plan's qualifying requirements in full; the cash-back then remains subject to the plan's terms and Car4Less's final determination.
What do I actually have to do?+
Three things, in full. First, post approved Car4Less content — three approved posts a day on each platform — Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn — every day of the week. Every post is approved by Car4Less before it is released, and only approved posts that you actually publish count towards the requirement. Second, join and remain in the prescribed groups. Third, complete your verified Shop & Save shopping at participating partners. The requirements are all-or-nothing: the prescribed participation must be completed in full.
Who approves my posts and why?+
Car4Less does. Every post is submitted to Car4Less for approval before it is published (by email, for now), and only approved content is released — so that nothing defamatory, incorrect or misleading goes out under the Car4Less name. Only approved, published posts count towards the requirement.
I don't have social media accounts. Can I still take part?+
Yes. No social media accounts yet? The Car4Less call centre will help you open them on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube and LinkedIn and get posting.
How is the cash-back paid?+
Any cash-back Car4Less pays goes into your Mastercard rewards card, issued and administered by a regulated financial services provider. It effectively reduces your monthly vehicle cost; your instalment itself continues to be paid by debit order to the bank in the usual way.
Is the cash-back itself guaranteed?+
The funding provision is guaranteed by Car4Less's performance guarantee — a contingency policy Car4Less holds with its underwriters, according to its policy terms. Your cash-back itself is conditional on your participation and discretionary: Car4Less makes the final ex gratia decision. An ex gratia payment is a voluntary payment by Car4Less, not a contractual or legal obligation, so the cash-back is never automatic, no participant is promised R3 000 in any month, and there is no recourse. The policy is Car4Less's own: you pay no premium, are not a party to it and have no claim under it — the Payment Saver Plan is most definitely not a policy.
Am I buying an insurance policy?+
No. The Payment Saver Plan is most definitely not a policy. You buy no policy, hold no policy and pay no premium — it is a non-insurance product. Car4Less's performance guarantee policy is a contingency policy between Car4Less and its underwriters — Car4Less pays a single premium for the overall risk, you are not a party to it, and it is exercised only if Car4Less chooses to.
What does the plan cost, and does it change my car finance?+
There is a cost associated with the plan, determined by Car4Less for each deal; it is added to the Car4Less price and shown in your offer to purchase. Your car is financed by one of the major banks through the Car4Less finance application, and you pay your standard monthly instalment by debit order to the bank as usual — the plan does not change your finance agreement with the bank.
Is the plan worth more than it costs?+
Potentially, yes. Over a full finance term, what you could potentially receive back far exceeds the cost of the plan — provided you meet the requirements in full, and always subject to the plan's terms and Car4Less's final determination. Only the funding provision is guaranteed; any cash-back is conditional on your participation, discretionary and paid ex gratia.
Is there a written agreement, and are there rules about what I post?+
Yes. Every participating new-car buyer signs a written Payment Saver Plan agreement with Car4Less that sets out the requirements, benefits and conditions in full. Participants may not publish defamatory, deliberately misleading or maliciously negative content about Car4Less, its people, products or services; a deliberate breach disqualifies you from further Payment Saver Plan benefits for the remainder of your vehicle agreement. Genuine, positive content about your own experience is encouraged.
Shop & Save — the verified-shopping requirement
What is Shop & Save?+
Shop & Save is the verified-shopping requirement of the Payment Saver Plan. You complete prescribed everyday shopping at participating partners — Checkers, Pick n Pay, Dis-Chem and Shoprite — and upload your till slips for verification, as part of qualifying for the plan's potential cash-back. It is governed by the plan terms and the Terms & Conditions.
Do I pay less at the till?+
No — you pay the normal retail price at the till. You then upload your official till slip to your Car4Less profile, and qualifying purchases are verified against the plan rules so they count towards your participation.
Is Shop & Save part of the Payment Saver Plan?+
Yes. Post & Share and Shop & Save are two parts of one plan. Shop & Save does not carry a second, separate R3 000 — the plan's benefit is the single ex gratia cash-back of up to R3 000 a month, paid into your Mastercard rewards card, subject to its terms and Car4Less's determination.
Buying & delivery
How are the cars delivered?+
Brand-new cars are delivered nationally through the authorised franchise dealer network once finance is approved and stock is available — fully registered, with full manufacturer warranties, and ready to drive.
Do the cars come with a warranty?+
Yes — every vehicle comes with the manufacturer's full warranty and the service or maintenance plan exactly as you'd get buying directly from a dealer.
Are these new or used cars?+
Brand-new vehicles only, sourced and delivered through the national dealer network. Not pre-owned.
How do I start?+
Browse the showroom, pick your car and apply for finance through the Car4Less finance application — the only way to buy a Programme Car. Prefer to talk first? WhatsApp a Car4Less consultant, who will guide you through the application, approval and delivery.
The franchise opportunity
Can I own a Car4Less franchise?+
Yes — Car4Less offers exclusive-rights business agencies nationally. You operate your own Car4Less business, generating income from new-car sales driven by your team's marketing activity, with training and call-centre support provided.
Are there royalties?+
No. The Car4Less model is structured as a business agency rather than a traditional franchise — there are no ongoing royalties. Your income comes from the sales your agency generates.
Where do I find out more?+
Visit the Own a Franchise page or enquire on WhatsApp and the team will share the full opportunity details, proposal documents and agreement with you.