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Seller Recommended Checklist

eBay's Seller Checklist has been designed to help you keep track of the steps involved when selling your car on eBay. We recommend that read through these suggestions before listing your vehicle.

Of course, this is only a recommended checklist, but we hope it is helpful.


Register Payment Options Vehicle Details Adding Photos Listing



Register on eBay Before you can sell a car (or in fact anything on eBay), you'll need to register. But don't worry, it's easy and it's free. All you need to do is provide us with simple information such as your name, your email address, and the country you live in. Then you're ready to get started.

Have you considered using escrow to sell your vehicle?
An escrow service acts as a trusted, neutral third party that helps to make the transaction safe and secure for both the buyer and the seller. eBay recommends Escrow Australia for online cars & motor bikes escrow services. Escrow Australia will verify the payment made by the buyer and send it off to you after the buyer has inspected the car or motor bike and given his or her approval. For higher priced items, such as cars and motor bikes, bidders maybe more likely to bid if you offer an escrow service because such a services adds a further degree of trust to the transaction. Be clear in your description if you accept escrow, and if so, who pays for the fees.

Have you decided on the payment options you will accept and the transportation terms?
Decide what kind of payment you will accept and be clear in your listing. For more information on payment options, click here.
You will also need to state the transportation terms, such as whether you are prepared to freight internationally or interstate and who will pay for transport. If freighting the item, you should encourage the buyer to insure it.

Before listing your vehicle on eBay, check that you have:
  1. The Certificate of Registration
  2. A Roadworthiness certificate ("pink" or "white" slip)
  3. All the keys (including the spares)
  4. Service book, owner's manual and log book
As a seller, you can choose the type of auction that gets the results, and the price you want.

If you don't want to sell below a certain price you can either:
  • Set your starting bid at the minimum price you are willing to accept
  • Or use a Reserve Price Auction. A Reserve Price Auction lets you set the reserve price to the minimum amount you are willing to accept while allowing you to set your starting price lower. You are not obligated to sell the item unless the high bidder meets or exceeds the reserve price. (Note: Reserve Price Auctions are available only in select vehicle categories.)
Have you considered including pictures in your listing? Have you taken the photo (and scanned it, if it is not a digital photo)?
Every experienced eBay seller knows that you get more bids and higher prices when you use pictures.

Check out Adding Pictures for how-to tips. If you need more help, try the helpful advice posted by other eBay members on the Images/HTML board

Have you considered boosting bidding by increasing the visibility of your listing through using options and features on eBay

  • Make your item standout by listing it in bold for only $2. Items in bold are 27% more likely to sell.
  • Use Featured Plus! if you want to appear in your category's Featured Item section and in bidder's search results. Plus, your item may be selected at random for display in another area - your category index page Featured Items section. Remember: Featured Plus! listings are 58% more likely to sell and the fee is only $9.95.
  • Emphasise your listing with an eye-catching yellow coloured band with our Highlight feature for only $3. Once you have answered yes to all of the above questions you are ready to create your eBay listing.
To create your eBay Listing: Click here
When you list your item, be sure to select the region where the item is located. By selecting the region, bidders will see your item on search, browse and regional pages. Consider listing locally to make it easier for buyers to test drive and inspect your vehicle.

Here are a couple of tips to ensure a successful listing:
Respond to all inquiries promptly and courteously
Remember, this is a potential buyer and you want the sale.
Take the time to write in complete sentences, with a greeting and a closing when you send an email.

Check out the buyer's feedback rating:
The number next to a bidder's User ID is that bidder's feedback rating. This rating is a summary of the comments other members have made about this bidder. Click on that number to see the actual comments. If you feel uncomfortable about your transaction, sometimes a quick phone call is a great way to resolve misunderstandings. Remember, many people don't read their email every day. A call may also be the quickest way to reach your buyer. To request a bidders cgi0 information please, click here.

You can edit your listing: if there's mistake or you've forgotten to add something
If no one has bid on the item, you can revise the title or description, add or change an image, or change the category in which the item is listed. Look at the "Update item" section or your listing to revise it.
At any time during the listing, even if your item has received bids, you can add text and pictures to your item description. You can also change the category in which your item is listed.

Keep your listing going
  • Many eBay bidders wait until the very last minute to place a bid.
  • That means you may be missing out on additional bids if you end your auction early.
  • You'll also miss having your item on the Ending Today page listing-for the final 24 hours only-and the Going, Going, Gone page listing for the final 3 hours!
For further selling tips checkout our Seller's Guide.

Your listing has closed and there is a winning bidder - Take a moment to celebrate.

Contact the highest bidder
You should contact the highest bidder no later than 7 days after the auction has ended. You can request the high bidder contact information by clicking here.

Sort out the details with buyer (timing, payment etc)
At the time of finalising the deal, you should provide the buyer with the vehicles details.
Receive payment
Make sure you provide the buyer with a receipt
Leave Feedback for the Buyer

For more information about selling a car in your state, click below:

ACT www.act.gov.au/NewServices/motorvehicles
NSW www.rta.nsw.gov.au
NT www.nt.gov.au/dtw/aboutus/branches/transport/roadtransport/
QLD www.transport.qld.gov.au
SA www.transport.sa.gov.au
TAS www.transport.tas.gov.au
VIC www.vicroads.vic.gov.au
WA www.transport.wa.gov.au