Tips for buying a second hand car
The safety of our community is our number one priority. When buying a pre-owned car or another type of vehicle, there are a few essential things that you need to know.
Some may be specific to the state where you purchase the vehicle and local laws can vary, so we encourage you to stay up-to-date with the latest changes in your area.
Tip #1: Practise safe trading
When buying a high value item like a car or ute, we recommend checking Gumtree user ratings and visiting our Help Section before trading. There you will find tips on how to have a safe and successful experience and how to be vigilant when using any online marketplace.
We recommend that you always inspect the vehicle before agreeing to a sale, and make sure you do a test drive. Take a friend or a family member with you, but if this is not possible, arrange to meet in a public place.
Ensure that you and your companion are COVID safe and adhere to any restrictions that may apply to your location as you conduct trading. Check any local government health requirements and our safety guidelines before completing face-to-face trading through Gumtree.
Tip #2: Make sure the vehicle is safe
Conduct any necessary checks, such as a search of the Personal Properties Securities Register or PPSR (previously REVs) and a Mobile Vehicle Inspection (similar services are available in other states), which consists of a series of thorough visual checks conducted by a qualified mechanic to report on the condition of the vehicle. If you’re buying from a private seller, we recommend that a PPSR check be conducted before purchase.
In particular, we recommend anyone buying a second hand vehicle from a private seller in Queensland, or a second hand vehicle that has been registered in that state, to check the PPSR register, as it should disclose if the vehicle is a repairable write-off.
Tip #3: Use a secure payment method
As the average price of a vehicle is traditionally higher than most of the other categories, we recommend connecting your Gumtree account to your PayPal account to help with digital transactions or contacting your bank for safe money transfer options.
Common sense is important too – if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Tip #4: If you see something, report it
We have a report and take-down process, and encourage users to report any suspicious listings believed to be unlawful via the ‘Report Ad’ function or contact our Customer Service team via the Gumtree Support page, so that we can help keep the community safe for everyone.
