Selling Your Car on Gumtree vs Carsales vs Facebook Marketplace
Comparing the Top 3 Vehicle Selling Platforms
November 10, 2024
Choosing the right platform, like Gumtree, Carsales, or Marketplace, is crucial for selling your car quickly and effectively. This guide outlines their pros, cons, and listing tips.
Gumtree: The Local Marketplace
Gumtree is one of Australia’s most widely used online marketplaces, known for its simple interface and strong local focus. While many people use it to buy and sell second-hand goods, it’s also a popular choice for selling cars—especially affordable ones. The platform offers low-cost ad options and makes it easy to connect with local buyers, making it a budget-friendly choice for quick sales.
Gumtree is best suited for selling cheaper vehicles or clearing out older models without spending much on advertising. That said, you’ll likely deal with a high volume of enquiries, and not all of them will be serious. It’s common to receive messages from buyers who are just browsing or fishing for bargains.
To get the most out of Gumtree, make sure your ad includes clear, well-lit photos, a fair asking price, and be ready to respond quickly to enquiries. Prompt communication and transparency go a long way toward finding a genuine buyer.
Carsales: The Go-To Car Sales Platform
Carsales is Australia’s largest vehicle-only marketplace, built specifically for buying and selling cars. With its strong reputation, wide reach, and advanced search tools, it’s a go-to platform for private sellers looking to attract serious buyers. The site offers a “Sell My Car” service, which uses pricing data and algorithms to give sellers a quick estimate based on their vehicle’s details.
The platform is especially effective for selling mid-to-high-value vehicles. Listings are detailed and tailored to buyers actively searching for specific models, which helps sellers connect with people who are more likely to pay a fair price. While Carsales does charge listing fees—particularly for premium options—and requires a fair amount of information upfront, the trade-off is access to a more targeted, serious audience.
If your car is in good condition and priced fairly, Carsales can help you maximise your sale value by putting it in front of motivated buyers who know what they’re looking for.
Facebook Marketplace: Don't Get Me Started
Facebook Marketplace has become one of the most active places to sell a car privately in Australia, especially for vehicles under $10,000. It's free to list, easy to use, and taps into a massive local audience. For cheap, older cars that need to move quickly, it can work surprisingly well — if you’ve got the patience.
But here's the catch: you’ll spend more time dealing with people than selling your car. Expect endless “Is this still available?” messages, lowball offers, and people who say they’ll come look — then never show up. The platform lacks serious buyer filters, so you're casting a wide net that brings in everyone from genuine buyers to total time-wasters.
If you're trying to offload a cheap car and don’t mind messaging back and forth with half the suburb, Facebook Marketplace will do the job. But for anything over $10k, or if you value your time, you're probably better off using a more targeted platform — or selling directly to someone who doesn't struggle making decisions.
Selling to Used Car Buyers: The Hassle-Free Option
Used car buying services offer a quick and hassle-free way to sell your vehicle. They provide instant quotes, manage the paperwork, and often purchase cars “as-is,” even if they’re damaged or need repairs. While their offers are typically lower than retail prices, the convenience and speed can make it worthwhile—especially for older vehicles or those with high kilometres.
If you’re looking to avoid the back-and-forth of private selling, this is a straightforward option. Just compare a few offers to ensure you’re getting a fair price, and choose a trusted buyer like Sell Any Car Fast for a smooth, stress-free sale.
Final Thoughts
If speed and convenience are your main priorities, selling to used car buyers is the simple choice. If getting the highest sale price is more important to you, consider taking a bit more time. You might want to list on platforms like Gumtree, Carsales, or CarsGuide.
