To say I’m a Gumtree fan is a bit of an understatement – let’s just say I’m on the app at least twice a day looking for awesome finds.
Growing up with not a lot of money I’ve always been a massive second hand fan, so when Gumtree launched in 2007 in Australia I was quick to sign up and over the years I’ve seen it grow from a website to an app and I love it even more.
When I was approached by Gumtree in regards to sharing some tips and tricks to buying a car on the site I instantly said yes. How awesome to be able to search for a car online, check it out, then pay with cash or peer to peer payments with Paypal!
With such an awesome variety of cars on Gumtree – from the perfect first car to high end lambos, it can be a little daunting, so check out these easy tips for buying a car on the site.
- When buying a car, always conduct the necessary checks such as a REVs check and an NRMA inspection. Common sense is important too – if a car sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- Do your research: Dedicate time to researching what’s out there and the average price of similar vehicles.
- Ask questions: When first contacting the seller, don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions about the condition of the car, how long they’ve had it and why they’re selling it. It’s easy to contact a seller via the Gumtree My Messages feature.
- Negotiate: Don’t be afraid to negotiate a price you think is fair but don’t offer an unrealistic amount.
- Meet in person: A transaction should always be made face-to-face, with an in-person payment made once the goods have been seen or the service completed. For car purchases, it pays to meet the seller at a mechanic’s, so they can check over the vehicle. Never send or wire money to somebody you don’t know. For personal ease and safety, arrange to meet in a public place and take a friend or family member with you.
Gumtree encourages their community to report any concerning or suspicious ads by using the ‘Report Ad’ function, which is clearly displayed on every ad published on the website.
So when looking for your next car why not hop on Gumtree, follow the tips and remember research and ask lots of questions before making your final decision.
Happy shopping!
by Arrnott Olssen
Editor Rogue Homme
