Buying Frequently Asked Questions

• Q1. What is required to bid and/or buy?

  If you want to bid, you just need an eBay user name and password. If you don't have those already, register now. It's free.

• Q2. Is buying on eBay Motors safe?

  eBay Motors is committed to making your trading experience safe and fun. You can rely on eBay's advice and guidelines to help you make informed decisions with confidence and trust.

  As with any transaction, you should always use common sense. Please review the Buyer Checklist and eCommerce Safety Guide.

• Q3. What do I do if a seller offers to sell the vehicle to me outside of eBay?

  eBay prohibits email offers to buy or sell listed items outside of the eBay web site. Offers of this nature are a potential fraud risk for both buyers and sellers and should be avoided in all instances. If you would like to report a user who is attempting to sell an item outside of eBay, either through text in the item description or otherwise, please refer to the Sales Outside of eBay page. Be careful of buying a car outside of eBay as then you will not be covered by eBay's Vehicle Purchase Protection program.

• Q4. What if I have doubts or questions about an item I am looking at or bidding on?

  You never need to bid on or buy an item you're not sure about. If you have any doubts or questions, just ask the seller a question before you bid or use Buy It Now or Best Offer. Every listing page has two links to let you send a question to the seller. One is the seller's User ID itself. The other is at the end of the next line below the seller info. Click on either link to get a form that will send an email to the seller. Make sure you are comfortable with all aspects of the transaction before proceeding.

• Q5. Can I test drive the car before buying it?

  Most sellers will allow you to test drive the car either before you bid/buy or after you win. If it is not stated in the listing, contact the seller to check beforehand.

• Q6. Is my bid or buy binding? What happens if I change my mind?

  Remember, your bid is a legally binding offer to buy the vehicle at any price up to your maximum bid amount. If the seller accepts your bid, you are legally obligated to pay. Not paying may cause the seller to seek legal action and may affect your eBay membership. For details, check out eBay’s User Agreement.

• Q7. What happens if the car is not as described by the seller in the listing?

  When you see the vehicle if it is not as described by the seller in the listing then you may be under no obligation to complete the sale. You should notify eBay via the Item Significantly Not as Described form. If the seller refuses to refund your money and you have exhausted all other mediation methods, then you may still be protected by eBay's Vehicle Purchase Protection program.

• Q8. I have just bid and the listing says I am the high bidder but adds "Reserve not met" - what does this mean?

  Some sellers choose to list their vehicle with a reserve price that cannot be viewed by buyers. If "Reserve not met" is displayed then the sale of the vehicle is not completed at the end of the listing as the seller is not obliged to sell the item below the reserve price. Keep bidding until "Reserve met" is displayed, at which stage both buyer and seller are obliged to complete the sale.

• Q9. Do I have to pay for the car before I see it?

  Check the seller's terms and conditions to see if they require any deposit or complete payment in advance. Many vehicle sellers allow you to see the vehicle before paying. Make sure you ask all questions of the seller before bidding or buying.

• Q10. I can't find the car I am looking for, what can I do?

  Thousands of vehicles are listed on eBay Motors every week. Keep checking to see if the vehicle you are looking for has been listed. Alternatively, you can post a Want It Now ad to see if there are any sellers out there with that vehicle to sell. Learn more about Want It Now.

• Q11. I see cars listed for $1, are they for real? Will I really get a car for that price?

  Many vehicle sellers list their vehicles at a very low starting price such as $1 to increase interest in them. Most will also use a reserve so that they do not have to sell until the bidding reaches a minimum amount. It is unlikely that you will purchase a vehicle for $1. Make sure you get to know your seller by checking their feedback rating and contacting them with any questions you have before you bid on or purchase an item. Learn more >>

• Q12. I have found my perfect car but it is located in a different state, should I bid on it?

  eBay Motors offers vehicle buyers the ability to buy from across Australia, and internationally. You can get great deals interstate and can use shipping services to transport the vehicle, as evidenced by the approximately 50% of eBay Motors car sales which are transported more than 200 kilometres between buyer and seller. Learn more about shipping services.