South African app helps people identify problem cars before they buy them
Capetonian Eugene Zoghby launched an app to address a common problem in the South African automotive retail market: the many used vehicles sold with hidden historical damage and other issues.
Zoghby’s background is primarily in operations and transport management, where he spent many years working in the logistics and transport industry.
“I’ve also bought and sold vehicles over the years, which gave me firsthand experience of how difficult and fragmented the automotive buying and selling process can be in South Africa,” he said.
Among the issues he observed was how inaccessible many dealership-grade tools and vehicle data services were to ordinary consumers and smaller dealers.
Car buyers are effectively forced to go through a dealership to have at least a measure of assurance that the vehicle they are buying won’t become a financial nightmare.
Zoghby’s platform — AutoFinders — combines a vehicle marketplace with practical automotive tools that help people make safer and more informed decisions when buying or selling vehicles.
“AutoFinders was created with a simple but important goal: to give South Africans access to the same level of vehicle data and insights that dealerships, insurers, and financial institutions rely on,” he said.
The platform provides both consumers and businesses with access to:
- TransUnion and TruTrade vehicle trade and retail valuations, including M&M codes and full vehicle specifications
- Accident history reports based on insurance claim data linked to VIN
- Vehicle history checks
- VIN and registration lookups
Zoghby said these tools were available to both private individuals and businesses. “AutoFinders is a unique bridge between the business-to-consumer and business-to-business markets,” Zoghby said.
AutoFinders helps private sellers and buyers with accurate pricing and vehicle insights, avoiding being underpaid, overpaying, or unknowingly purchasing risky vehicles.
For businesses like dealerships, insurers, and software platforms, AutoFinders provides scalable, API-accessible data solutions with reliable vehicle information at competitive pricing.
Zoghby said private sellers were equipped with proper valuation tools and data confidence, while dealers got more informed listings, and buyers could make decisions based on transparent, verified information.
Not a “traditional” software developer
Zoghby said his broader vision and his personal dream were to build a true one-stop platform for motoring services, eliminating the need to shop around across multiple websites and providers.
“I also want AutoFinders to remain affordable and accessible for everyone, from private sellers and everyday buyers to dealerships and automotive businesses,” he said.
“A major focus for us is giving ordinary users access to tools and information that were traditionally expensive or only available to larger industry players.”
Zoghby said development on AutoFinders took several years, with major focus and full-time development intensifying over the last 18 to 24 months.
Zoghby said he was not a “traditional” software developer by trade, but spent the last few years deeply involved in planning, designing, and building the platform using modern AI-assisted development tools.
He also collaborated with technical partners and suppliers. “It has been a massive learning curve and passion project that evolved into a full business,” he said.
Zoghby said the marketplace has seen encouraging traction. “We are currently approaching 1,000 registered users and around 60 marketplace listings shortly after launch,” he said.
Among the major features currently in development is a vehicle finance pre-approval system in partnership with a large finance house.
“The idea behind this is to help consumers understand upfront what type of vehicle they realistically qualify for before spending time visiting multiple dealerships,” Zoghby said.
“Many buyers only discover later in the process that a vehicle may be too old or fall outside financing criteria.”
The pre-approval process aimed to give buyers more confidence and transparency by allowing them to enter a dealership already knowing their estimated approval position and purchasing range.
“If the customer is happy with the vehicle, the dealership can then proceed with the finance house through the normal process,” Zoghby said.
AutoFinders is available on the Apple App Store, Google Play Store, and via browser at AutoFinders.co.za.
Additional features and partnerships currently in the works include VIN-based mileage tracking, AI-assisted fraud detection, and dealer-focused tools to improve transparency and trust in the market.
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