Vehicle Purchase Protection

Please Note: As of 11:59:59 PM November 22nd, 2009 (AEDST) the Vehicle Purchase Protection (VPP) program will no longer be offered on eBay.com.au. Vehicles purchased after this date will not be covered by VPP.

Why are we ending the program?

Over the last year the number of claims to this program has decreased as more buyers take a proactive approach to safely buying a car or truck. Due to this decrease it is not economically viable to continue the program for the relatively few number of claims that are received.

What does this mean to me?

After 11:59:59 PM November 22^nd, 2009 (AEDST), any vehicle purchased on eBay.com.au will no longer have coverage from VPP. After that time, you will need to ensure that you take certain basic precautions when purchasing. We highly encourage anyone that is buying a vehicle to follow at least 3 simple steps to be proactive in purchasing safely.

1. Go inspect the vehicle. A car or truck is a large purchase, and you owe it to yourself to make sure everything is as described and it is the vehicle you want to buy. If you don’t have the time, or the car or truck is too far away, it is worth it to get an inspection service to check out the vehicle.
2. Buy a Vehicle History Check. Spending $20 to $40 now can save you worry later. Buying a check gets you a description of the vehicle type, a vehicle valuation, checks against encumbrance, and confirms if the vehicle was stolen, or if the vehicle has been written off. eBay recommends Veda Auto Reports, but there are other providers. All you need is the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) which you can input here to buy a vehicle history check from Veda.
3. Never pay with Western Union or Moneygram for anything on eBay, and never hand over money until you or someone you trust has seen the vehicle. Western Union and Moneygram are ways of sending money via wire transfer and are payment methods regularly used by online scammers. They typically ask buyers to make payments using Western Union or a similar money transfer service because they are hard to trace. Avoiding these payment methods can help avoid scammers. Similarly, waiting until you have seen your new vehicle before handing over the money will protect you from many of the common online car scams.

Does PayPal buyer protection apply?

No, PayPal offers buyer protection for many items on eBay, but does not currently cover cars and trucks. Please refer to the Buyer Protection page for more details.

I bought a car before 11:59:59 PM on November 22nd. Does this mean that I’m now unable to claim?

No. All eligible vehicles purchased before 11:59:59 PM November 22^nd, 2009 (AEDST) meeting the criteria for the VPP program are still eligible to claim as normal. Please see our claims procedure page for details on how to start a claim.

What is this? Why am I seeing it on listings?

The VPP icon pictured is present on Search Result Pages and View Item Pages. If it is present on a listing, than anyone purchasing the vehicle in that listing may be eligible for up to $20,000 of protection until Nov 23, 2009 when the transaction takes place on the eBay platform.

You will see it on all Auction and Buy It Now listings that qualify, as well as Classified listings that have the Best Offer functionality. Please note that for Classifieds the VPP coverage is only applicable if the buyer completes the Best Offer transaction through the eBay Motors site.

It is a simple way to quickly tell if a listing may be eligible for VPP, to help you (as a buyer) make a more informed decision. We still strongly recommend that you make sure you are covered by reading below.

Make Sure You're Covered

5 things you must do to qualify for vehicle purchase protection on purchases before Nov 23, 2009.

Do NOT pay with Western Union or MoneyGram Fraudulent sellers often insist on payment using Western Union or MoneyGram and will make many excuses to make you use these payment methods. Never pay with Western Union or MoneyGram. It's a breach of eBay's payment options policy and you won't be covered by Vehicle Purchase Protection. If a seller insists on using these methods of payment we advise you not to proceed with the purchase.

The car must be in Australia If the car is located overseas and the seller promises to ship it to you, it won't be covered by Vehicle Purchase Protection. We advise you not to proceed with the purchase. Cars located within Australia but in another state can be covered if all other eligibility criteria are met. The car must have been listed on the Australian eBay website (ebay.com.au).

The seller must be in Australia Fraudulent sellers are often located in foreign countries and they will tell you they've recently moved overseas or are on holiday. If the seller is not physically located in Australia the car isn't eligible for Vehicle Purchase Protection. We advise you not to proceed with the purchase.

The seller must have a good eBay record The seller must be a member of eBay who has not been suspended and they must have a feedback score of zero or above. If the seller has a feedback score less than zero your purchase won't be covered by Vehicle Purchase Protection. Also, if the seller or the listing gets suspended by eBay we advise you not to proceed with the purchase.

Additional terms and conditions The four above items are the key eligibility criteria for Vehicle Purchase Protection. However there are other terms and conditions and additional eligibility criteria .You should also read the full policy document.

Protection against fraud and misrepresentation

The Vehicle Purchase Protection program is an insurance policy that may protect you on purchases before Nov 23, 2009 in specified circumstances against fraud, breach of warranty and misrepresentation, including the following situations:

• Paying for a car but not receiving it, providing you do not use Western Union or MoneyGram to make payment.
• Fraud or misrepresentations in the seller's listing as to the seller's ownership of, or title to the car
• Undisclosed third party charges or encumbrances affecting the car
• Receiving a different make or model of car than was described
• Not receiving or not being able to register the certificate of title for the car (other than as a result of unroadworthiness).
• If your deposit is not returned and the transaction is not completed
• Undisclosed damage to the car, providing the cost of repairing the damage exceeds $1,000

Vehicle Purchase Protection is provided by a major insurance company at no extra cost to members. There's no additional sign-up, opt-in, or registration necessary for either the buyer or seller. However, buyers have to agree to the terms and conditions if they wish to make a claim under the insurance policy.

*Terms and Conditions apply.
Vehicle Purchase Protection only applies to the purchase of an eligible vehicle by an eligible buyer. The purchase of the eligible vehicle must be completed online via an Auction or Buy It Now listing. Vehicle Purchase Protection may also apply to Classified Ad listings where the transaction has been made online using the Best Offer feature. We recommend you read the Terms and Conditions and the full policy document.

Amended policy terms apply to eligible vehicles listed for sale after 30 July 2007. Please refer to the summary of key policy changes. If you have a problem with the purchase of a vehicle, or want to make a claim, please read the Vehicle Purchase Protection claims procedure.

Need More Help?

• If you suspect a seller is trying to commit fraud please report the seller to eBay.
• If you have a problem with the purchase of a vehicle, or want to make a claim, please read our claims procedure.
• If you have doubts about a listing or questions about buying, fellow eBay members are a great information resource. Post your question on the Motors discussion board.

*This is a general overview of the policy only and may contain general advice. We recommend that you read the policy wording so that you have a full understanding of the policy terms, conditions, excesses and exclusions before you decide whether this insurance suits your needs. Marsh Pty Ltd (ABN 86 004 651 512/ AFSL 238983) arranges the insurance and is not the insurer. In the event of a claim Marsh Pty Ltd act on behalf of the insurer and not for you. eBay International AG are appointed as an authorised representative AR No. 304962 of Marsh Pty Ltd 08/0057