Government · Complaint & ombud
Motor Ombudsman Contact Details
All complaint & ombud routesCheck this is the right body
The Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa, usually shortened to MIOSA, is on 010 590 8378 or at info@miosa.co.za. It resolves disputes between consumers and the motor industry, covering vehicle sales, repairs, servicing and warranties, and it is free to use. Complaints are lodged through the online Assistance Request Form published on the MIOSA site. Office hours are Monday to Thursday 08:30 to 16:30, and Friday 08:30 to 16:00.
How to contact MIOSA
- Contact number: 010 590 8378
- Email enquiries: info@miosa.co.za
- Complaints are lodged through the online Assistance Request Form published on the MIOSA site
- Office hours: Monday to Thursday 08:30 to 16:30, and Friday 08:30 to 16:00
Note the Friday close. MIOSA shuts half an hour earlier on a Friday than on other weekdays, which is easy to miss when a deadline falls at the end of a week.
Lodge the complaint through the online form rather than by phone. The office works from a written record, and the form captures the vehicle, the supplier and the sequence of events in the structure the assessors use.
What MIOSA does, and how to prepare a complaint
- Dispute resolution between consumers and motor industry suppliers, at no cost to the consumer
- Coverage of new and used vehicle sales, repairs, servicing, and warranty disputes
- Published case studies, an industry code of conduct, and guidance under the Consumer Protection Act
- A separate registration route for companies in the industry that participate in the scheme
Approach the supplier first. An ombud scheme expects the dealer or workshop to have been given a fair opportunity to resolve the matter, and the first question asked will be what the supplier said in response.
Keep the job card, the invoice and any written communication. A motor dispute usually turns on what was authorised versus what was done, and the job card is the document that records it.
Contact is by telephone, email and the online form; MIOSA does not present itself as a walk-in office. MIOSA publishes annual reports, financial statements and newsletters on its own site.
Which ombud handles the complaint
- If the complaint is about motor finance or vehicle insurance rather than the vehicle itself, the National Financial Ombud on 0860 800 900 or info@nfosa.co.za is the right body
- If it concerns credit bureau information, a credit provider, a debt counsellor or a payment distribution agent, the Credit Ombud on 0861 662 837 or ombud@creditombud.org.za applies
- General consumer goods and services complaints outside the motor sector go to the Consumer Goods and Services Ombud
- MIOSA publishes these sister schemes on its own contact page, which is a useful indication of where a misdirected complaint will be sent
Getting the scheme right at the outset saves weeks. A dispute over a vehicle finance settlement figure is a financial services matter, while a dispute over a gearbox repair is a motor industry matter, even though both concern the same car.
Frequently asked questions
What is the motor vehicle ombudsman contact number?
The Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa (MIOSA) is on 010 590 8378, or at info@miosa.co.za for enquiries.
How do I lodge a complaint with MIOSA?
Through the online Assistance Request Form on the MIOSA site, which captures the vehicle, the supplier and the sequence of events. Approach the dealer or workshop first and keep the job card, the invoice and any written communication.
What are MIOSA’s office hours?
Monday to Thursday 08:30 to 16:30 and Friday 08:30 to 16:00. The Friday close is half an hour earlier than the other weekdays.
Is MIOSA free to use?
Yes. MIOSA resolves disputes between consumers and motor industry suppliers at no cost to the consumer.
Sources
- Motor Industry Ombudsman of South Africa contact page, miosa.co.za, read 3 September 2026