ABOUT USED CARS NI / F.A.Q.

How can I advertise/add my car to Used Cars NI?

To advertise a car on the site, please follow the simple steps below:

Click on the "sell your car" link at the top of the home page.
Select the vehicle type you are selling.
Register your personal details by adding your email address, creating a password, and entering your name, telephone number and address in the relevant fields.
To list your vehicle privately (without name or address details - just telephone number), please check the box at the bottom of the page before proceeding to Step 2.
Enter your vehicle details by choosing the make and model etc from the drop-down boxes (NOTE THAT THE MAKE/MODEL CANNOT BE CHANGED AT A LATER STAGE ALTHOUGH OTHER DETAILS, PRICE ETC, CAN BE).
When entering price or mileage details, use only numbers - no commas or full stops, as this will cause errors in the listing.
To upload a photo, click "browse" and double-click the image you would like to use from the files you have saved on your computer.
To add more than one image, continue to click "browse" until you have uploaded all images that you would like to be shown on your ad.
Enter any additional details (ie. MOT'd and taxed for 11 months, one lady owner, full service history) in the "description" field.
Choose any additional features the vehicle has from the check boxes, and click "Step 3" to save and move on to payment.
Select the credit/debit card that you are using for payment, and enter the card details.
If the billing name or address for the card is different from the one that you had entered previously, please amend these details now to ensure that payment is authorised.
Once all details are correct, click "MAKE PAYMENT"
When payment has been successful, a link to your vehicle on the site will be displayed.

If you have any problems, please do not hesitate to contact our team on 02890 324065 or email support@usedcarsni.com with your query and we will be happy to help.

How can I make changes/add photos to my advert?

To amend the details of any cars that you have on the site, please follow the steps below:

Login to your account by clicking on the "login" link on the top right of the home page, and entering the email address and password supplied when you placed your ad/registered.
Once you have logged in you will be in the “car list” section of your account. Here you will see any cars that are on the site.
Should you wish to remove any of the cars, simply check the box on the far right hand side of the vehicle that you wish to remove and click the “unpublish selected items” link at the bottom of the page. This will save the vehicle/vehicles you have removed in your “Not Published” section, should you need to re-list.
To change the details of any car that you have on the site, click the “view/edit details” option on your car list next to the vehicle you want to change and make any amendments. Be sure to click “save changes" at the bottom of the page once you are finished.

If you have any problems, please do not hesitate to contact our team on 02890 324065 or email support@usedcarsni.com with your query and we will be happy to help.

How can I make my advert more effective?

With over 20,000 vehicles on the site at any one time, it is important to make sure your ad stands out and is clicked on by as many people as possible to generate sales enquiries. Follow the tips below to make sure that your listing is as effective as it can possibly be.
Make sure that you supply valid telephone numbers:
One of the most frequent calls we get, here at Used Cars NI HQ, is to let us know that the telephone number supplied by a seller is not valid. People are much more likely to pick up the telephone and call than send an email through the site. It is best to supply a landline number and a mobile phone number to make sure that you don't miss any of those all-important sales calls. Most people in the market to buy a new car will make a purchase within 5 days of first enquiry, so if you can't take a call, try your best to respond to any messages left as soon as possible.
Upload a photo:
You don't have to upload a photo of your car, however people are much more likely to click into your listing if you do. The ads which generate the best reponses are usually those accompanied by 3 or 4 good quality photographs. Find somewhere bright to take the picture, or use some additional lighting, and take photos of the car from various angles. It is also a good idea to take a picture of the interior of the car.
Make sure your car is at the right price:
It isn't very often that most people sell their car, and therefore sometimes we have unrealistic ideas of what it is worth. It is a good idea to use the site to search for cars similar to the one that you are selling, compare prices, and choose a price somewhere in the same region that you would be happy to accept. It is worth bearing in mind that similar cars being sold by a dealer as opposed to a private seller will always be priced slightly higher, as they are normally sold with a warranty that a private seller wouldn't provide. All cars are listed on the site in ascending price order, with unpriced cars at the very end of the list.
Describe your vehicle in as much detail as possible:
If there are features that your car has that makes it stand out from others, or seem like better value - let everyone know! If your car has a full service history, been recently MOT'd or Taxed, low mileage for its age, had one owner from new, or has the latest sound system installed, make sure to include this in the "description" box.

Why can I not find my car on the site?

If you are unable to find the vehicle that you have listed on the site, there are a few things that you should check:

Login to your account, and in the "car list" click on "view/edit details" of the vehicle that you are trying to find.
Check that you have not entered any full stops or commas in the price or mileage field.
Make sure that all of the car details are correct, ie. that when you loaded the car onto the system, that you did not select petrol instead of diesel, or automatic instead of manual.
Make sure that at the bottom of the page, that the "tick to publish on main site" box is checked.
If the details are all correct, go back to the Used Cars NI home page and beneath the "search" button, click the "clear all fields" link, this will make sure that there is nothing entered in any of the fields by mistake, and try your search again.
Check that your 28 days advertising has not expired. We will automatically send you an email when your ad expires, which contains a link to readvertise for a further 4 weeks. Click on this link and your listing will be restored, all you need to do is go through the payment process.

If you have tried this and still cannot find your vehicle, call us on 02890 324065, or email us at support@usedcarsni.com and a member of our team will be happy to help.

I have received a suspicious email enquiry - how can I spot a fraudster?

Please note the following signs of possible fraud:
1. Enquiries from outside the island of Ireland. Treat these with caution as it is not normally economically viable to do this, unless in special cases for unusual makes and models.
2. The buyer does not want to view the car. In some cases if a buyer is moving to Northern Ireland or if they are a verifiable trade buyer, there maybe a genuine reason for this, but most people will want to view the car.
3. You are asked to ship the car overseas.
4. The buyer asks for items that are already clear and pres ent on the advertisement for you car such as "Updated pictures" or "Selling price".
5.You are offered a cheque for more than the amount the car is advertised. This is a very clear sign of a fraud attempt. Under no circumstances enter into any arrangement where you are sent a cheque for double the amount or similar.
Remember to NEVER give your bank details, home address or any other personal details to someone you don't trust. Make sure the buyer is genuine, and try to make contact via landline.
This information is for advice only and you are entitled to take any action you choose. Used Cars NI Ltd can take no responsibility for any transactions between buyers and sellers of vehicles on the Used Cars NI website.

I am a Trade Seller - how can I set up a dealer account?

There are special rates and services available for trade sellers, listing any more than 5 cars on the site at any one time. Please call us on 02890 324065 to talk about this in more detail, and we can have your account set up within the hour.

What do the stats in my profile/monthly email mean?

If you have a car advertised on the site, you will receive a stats email at the end of the month. These stats will give you information on the level of interest that your ad has generated, and will be shown for the month, overall, and also on a daily basis.

View Map

Provided that you supplied a valid postcode when you registered on the site, anyone looking at your car has the option of clicking a link to see a map view of your location. This figure shows the number of times this has been done.

Search Pages

This is the number of times that your vehicle has appeared on a search results list page. For example, if the car you are selling meets the search criteria of a user on the site, this is the number of times it has been displayed.

Detail Pages

This is the number of times that a user on the site has actually clicked onto your ad specifically to view it in more detail.

Emails

This is the number of email enquiries you have received via Used Cars NI during the selected period.

I have not received email enquiries, however my stats show that I should have...

All email enquiries generated via Used Cars NI are forwarded automatically to the address you supplied when you registered, and some email servers will identify them as SPAM or JUNK.
You should check your junk mail folder, and if the emails are here, be sure to add the sender to your "safe" list.
If you can't find them, there is no need to worry. A copy of every enquiry sent to you via the site is kept in your account - simply log in, and go to the "Enquiries" link on the menu on the left:

I am having problems with the car that I have recently bought... what should I do?

As a buyer, you have different rights depending on whether you purchased the vehicle from a private seller or a dealer.
When you buy privately, the law says that you have fewer rights should something go wrong. The principle of 'caveat emptor' or 'buyer beware' operates. You have no legal right to expect the goods to be of a satisfactory quality (although cars, legally, must be roadworthy, whether bought privately or not). You are entitled, however, to expect the car to be correctly described. So, if the seller had claimed that it was in 'excellent condition' for example, then you might be able to argue misrepresentation.
It is always a good idea to take a knowledgeable friend or mechanic with you when you buy a car privately, and you must accept that although you might get a good price buying privately, there are attendant risks, also.
When you buy from a car dealer, you will have some protection under the Road Traffic, Consumer Credit, and Sales and Supply of Goods Acts. Taken together, this means that the goods should be as described, roadworthy, of satisfactory quality and fit for the purpose intended, taking into consideration the age and price paid for the car.
Please find attached some leaflets from Trading Standards that offer lots of helpful advice on purchasing a used car, and what to do if things go wrong.

Fraudulent Sellers/Buyers

At Used Cars NI it is in our best interest to help serve our customers. We provide thousands of vehicle listings every week and we are proud to say that the majority of our users have very satisfying experiences.
We are constantly monitoring our advertisements and eliminating fraudulent postings and scams on a regular basis. However, some of them are not completely evident and thus may result in fraudulent ads posted on our site.
Buyers and sellers should be vigilant in conducting their own research whenever they choose to purchase or sell a vehicle.

How to Protect Yourself from Fraud

It is important to remember that when buying or selling a vehicle, one should be wary of:

Buyer/Seller refuses to talk via telephone
Low prices make the deal seem too good to be true
High-value cheque in exchange for the vehicle
Out of country sellers
Elaborate and dramatized stories about the seller or buyer
Personal information being asked
Shipping orders and other arrangement propositions (financial, etc.)

Used Cars NI connects buyers and sellers in search of a vehicle. Used Cars NI does not guarantee the security of any transactions, nor will it endorse any sales or purchases. It does not provide any form of financing or type of money payment contracts with its buyers or sellers.

Tips to Avoid Common Frauds

Usage of an online escrow service

An escrow is a secured online site used to complete transactions
Most online escrow sites are FRAUDULENT
For more information, conduct an Internet search on "fake escrow" or "escrow fraud"
If you must do business with a distant seller, insist on using a legitimate service, such as www.escrow.com

Partial payment asked upfront

Seller says that they trust you with the partial payment and that you must send it before they ship the vehicle
They may also say they have already shipped the vehicle so you must send them the necessary money

Claims that only e-mail is available

Many fraudulent sellers only want to be contacted by e-mail
The buyer/seller says that a meeting is impossible, often explains extreme circumstances and elaborate stories as to why a meeting can not be arranged
Many fraudulent sellers will post a phone number that does not even work

High-value cashier's cheque from a distant buyer

Distant buyer sends you an email offering to buy your item for a price exceeding its value
A cashier's cheque is offered for your sale item, as a deposit on your vehicle or vehicle parts
Banks will often cash these fake cheques and they hold you responsible once the cheque fails to clear
Scam often involves a third party (shipping agent, business associate owing buyer money, etc.)

How to Buy a Used Vehicle Safely

You've finally found the vehicle of your dreams on our site, now how do you go about buying it safely?

Contact the customer directly by the phone number listed on our site. If it does not work, do not go about solely through e-mail. Most cases of fraud are e-mail based.
Make sure to arrange a meeting with the seller so that you may see the listed vehicle. If the seller refuses to allow you to inspect the vehicle, stop the deal : it is probably a case of fraud.
Take the car for a test drive. Make sure everything is in working order before committing to the vehicle.
Never share personal information (banking information, passwords, credit card numbers, etc.) and do not transfer money via wire funds (Western Union, Money Gram, etc.).
Enjoy your new vehicle once everything has been completed!

How to Sell a Used Vehicle Safely

You have settled on a price and have designed and written an attractive ad for your vehicle. Now, who do you choose to sell to?
Be honest with your buyer if your vehicle has any issues, make sure to meet the customer and provide them with answers to any questions they may have. If a customer contacts you willing to buy your car without having seen it or asking any questions, it is highly likely that he\she is a fraudulent buyer.
Make sure the prospective buyer has a valid driver's license, especially if he\she is going to be taking your car for a test drive.
Never share personal information (banking information, passwords, credit card numbers, etc.) and do not transfer money via wire funds (Western Union, Money Gram, etc.).
Once having selected a buyer, make sure you collect the payment by a certified cheque or cash, do not accept a personal cheque.

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