Based on recent customer reviews, SMD is drawing sustained criticism across its Boksburg, Durban, Bloemfontein, Ballito and Cape Town branches. Buyers of salvage and auction vehicles repeatedly report missing registration paperwork, undelivered deposit and towing refunds, vehicles stripped or unaccounted for in the yard, and mechanical faults on cars advertised as drive away. Phone lines, the call centre, emails to head office and the website are described as unresponsive. A small minority praise individual consultants who communicated clearly and processed a refund quickly.
TrustIndex
2.4
NPS Score
-84
Recommended: Unlikely
Nov '25 - Oct '26
Frequently Asked Questions About SMD
What do customers say about SMD?
Based on recent customer reviews, SMD is drawing sustained criticism across its Boksburg, Durban, Bloemfontein, Ballito and Cape Town branches. Buyers of salvage and auction vehicles repeatedly report missing registration paperwork, undelivered deposit and towing refunds, vehicles stripped or unaccounted for in the yard, and mechanical faults on cars advertised as drive away. Phone lines, the call centre, emails to head office and the website are described as unresponsive. A small minority praise individual consultants who communicated clearly and processed a refund quickly.
Is SMD trustworthy?
SMD has a TrustIndex of 2.4 out of 10 on Hellopeter, based on 12 reviews in the last 12 months. They reply to 18% of negative reviews, typically within 2 hours 14 min. Hellopeter has tracked SMD across 343 total reviews. How is the TrustIndex calculated? →
Recent reviews (12)
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Used this business recently? Share your experience to help others decide.
Share Your Experience1 reviews | Active since Dec 2021
SMD under maintenance??? return my deposit
Since SMD has been offline in 2025 with claims that the website is down for maintenance. I have not been able to get a response for my R5 000,00 deposit. This is very unprofessional to presumably close a company division without alerting the clients that their deposits were not returned. Is there any way to get a representative to assist. This boils down to *****ulence by not notifying us and not returning money held.
1 reviews | Active since Dec 2021
SMD under maintenance??? return my deposit
Since SMD has been offline in 2025 with claims that the website is down for maintenance. I have not been able to get a response for my R5 000,00 deposit. This is very unprofessional to presumably close a company division without alerting the clients that their deposits were not returned. Is there any way to get a representative to assist. This boils down to *****ulence by not notifying us and not returning money held.
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2026
Hi am not happy at all SMD bloem asked me to pay R1500 for the towing of my car and I did that then they turn around and ask for another R300 for cancelation fee because they gave me a wrong amount it was meant to be R3000 for towing
Hi am not happy at all SMD bloem asked me to pay R1500 for the towing of my car and I did that then they turn around and ask for another R300 for cancelation fee because they gave me a wrong amount it was meant to be R3000 for towing. I paid the R300 to get the R1500 refund. I still haven't received it. I just want to sell my car
1 reviews | Active since Aug 2026
Hi am not happy at all SMD bloem asked me to pay R1500 for the towing of my car and I did that then they turn around and ask for another R300 for cancelation fee because they gave me a wrong amount it was meant to be R3000 for towing
Hi am not happy at all SMD bloem asked me to pay R1500 for the towing of my car and I did that then they turn around and ask for another R300 for cancelation fee because they gave me a wrong amount it was meant to be R3000 for towing. I paid the R300 to get the R1500 refund. I still haven't received it. I just want to sell my car
1 reviews | Active since May 2016
Bad service.
I have been calling SDM in order to make a refund request, sent emails and no one is responding. Their website has been down for almost 2 months now. It's frustrating to get hold of them.
1 reviews | Active since May 2016
Bad service.
I have been calling SDM in order to make a refund request, sent emails and no one is responding. Their website has been down for almost 2 months now. It's frustrating to get hold of them.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2016
Difficult to get deposit back.
I have been struggling for more then a month to get my deposit back of R5000 from SMD.
1 reviews | Active since Jul 2016
Difficult to get deposit back.
I have been struggling for more then a month to get my deposit back of R5000 from SMD.
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
Smd does not refund deposits
We made a deposit of R5000 in November to be able to buy a vehicle. We requested a refund on the 6 of February and to date have not received anything. I have sent repeated emails which all have been ignored. I have logged 2 complaints on email which have also been ignored. It's very frustrating working with a business that has no customer service
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2026
Smd does not refund deposits
We made a deposit of R5000 in November to be able to buy a vehicle. We requested a refund on the 6 of February and to date have not received anything. I have sent repeated emails which all have been ignored. I have logged 2 complaints on email which have also been ignored. It's very frustrating working with a business that has no customer service
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2020
Today I went to Cape Town SMD only to be met by security telling me that SMD has closed down all its branches in South African
Today I went to Cape Town SMD only to be met by security telling me that SMD has closed down all its branches in South African. The new owners acquired the business 2 years ago but couldn’t run it properly that’s why today they have closed business. Their website is already down showing no cars available for purchase. The problem is that they didn’t communicate with their customers whom they still owe their deposits, refunds and some of us car paperwork.
1 reviews | Active since Mar 2020
Today I went to Cape Town SMD only to be met by security telling me that SMD has closed down all its branches in South African
Today I went to Cape Town SMD only to be met by security telling me that SMD has closed down all its branches in South African. The new owners acquired the business 2 years ago but couldn’t run it properly that’s why today they have closed business. Their website is already down showing no cars available for purchase. The problem is that they didn’t communicate with their customers whom they still owe their deposits, refunds and some of us car paperwork.
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2025
I refer to the sale of my accident-damaged vehicle (also previously ****** and recovered) via your online portal. All required paperwork, including the NATIS document, copies of my ID, and the sale agreement/contract, was completed on 19 February 2026, an
********* process and still not paid after 2 weeks but they still have my vehicle
1 reviews | Active since Oct 2025
I refer to the sale of my accident-damaged vehicle (also previously ****** and recovered) via your online portal. All required paperwork, including the NATIS document, copies of my ID, and the sale agreement/contract, was completed on 19 February 2026, an
********* process and still not paid after 2 weeks but they still have my vehicle