Sawa Cars

How it works

Six steps to buy. Six steps to sell. No payment on either side of the screen.

Sawa sits between the two of you for the whole transaction: we inspect the car, we publish the listing, we arrange the handover, and we process the ownership transfer with you at the center.

Browse certified carsSell your car

For buyers

Buying a car

From the moment you request a car to the day your guarantee window closes.

Requesting a car costs nothing and commits you to nothing. It reserves the vehicle and takes it off the marketplace while we confirm with the seller.

  1. 01

    Browse certified cars

    Every listing carries its full inspection report.

  2. 02

    Request the car

    One tap, no payment — it leaves the marketplace.

  3. 03

    We confirm on WhatsApp

    A handover time at the center that suits you.

  4. 04

    Handover at the center

    Check it against its report, then pay in person.

  5. 05

    7 days to be sure

    Full refund if it doesn’t match its report.

Refund conditions

Exactly when you get your money back

These are the same terms the app shows before you confirm a request. Nothing is held back for the small print.

  • Before handover

    Cancel any time — free, no questions asked

  • Days 1–7 after handover

    Full refund if the car does not match its inspection report

  • Reconditioning fee

    Deducted on change-of-mind returns (cleaning + re-inspection)

  • Over 300 km driven

    Per-km usage charge applies to the refund

  • After 7 days

    Sale is final — warranty claims go through Support

The window starts at handover

Seven days, counted from the day the car is handed to you at an Sawa center — not from the day you requested it.

A return is judged against the published inspection report. If the car does not match what we certified, the refund is full and the fault is ours to carry with the seller.

Read the full guarantee terms

What the 150 points cover — and don't

Covered, item by item

  • Engine & drivetrain
  • Brakes & steering
  • Body & exterior
  • Interior & comfort
  • Electronics & safety
  • Tyres & wheels
  • Documentation — registration, service history, RRA duty

Not covered

  • Wear that develops after handover
  • Consumables — fuel, wiper blades, bulbs — once you drive off
  • Damage from use, accident or neglect after the 7-day window
  • Faults the report already flagged and you accepted

On the day

What to bring to a handover

Handovers take place at one of our three Kigali centers. Bring these four things and it takes about an hour.

  • Your national ID

    We check it against the reservation before anything is signed. The seller does the same on their side.

  • Proof of insurance

    Third-party cover is required before the car leaves the center. Bring a policy, or arrive early and our team helps you arrange one on the spot.

  • Your payment

    Handed over in person at the center, in the form you agreed with our team. There is no payment feature in the app or on this website.

  • A second opinion, if you want one

    Bring whoever you like. You can check the car against its published 150-point report before any money moves.

For sellers

Selling a car

You never post a listing yourself. You submit the car, we inspect it, and we publish it under our name.

What it costs

A certification fee covers the inspection, the professional photography and the listing. A small success commission applies only when the handover completes. Buyers pay nothing, ever.

Start a submission
  1. 1

    Verify your identity

    A one-time ID check. It is what keeps every Sawa listing real — and it takes about two minutes.

  2. 2

    Submit your car

    Tell us the make, model, mileage and your asking price. We suggest a range from real comparable sales.

  3. 3

    Book your inspection

    Pick a center and a slot. Bring the car and your service records.

  4. 4

    We inspect and photograph

    Our mechanics run the 150-point check; our photographers shoot the standard 36 angles.

  5. 5

    Your listing goes live

    We publish it with the full report attached. You keep control of the price.

  6. 6

    Handover and payment

    We arrange the meeting, verify the buyer, and process the RRA transfer at the center.

How it works · Sawa Cars