Why Done Deal dominates
Done Deal gets more Irish used car traffic than any other platform. If you're selling privately in Ireland, this is where your buyer is. Cars.ie and AutoTrader are worth listing on too, but Done Deal should be your primary platform.
Writing a listing that converts
The title — the most important line
Done Deal buyers search by keyword. Your title needs to include everything a buyer searches for:
Example: 2019 VW Golf 1.6 TDI Comfortline — 62,000km — Full Service History
Avoid vague titles like "VW Golf for sale" — they rank lower and attract fewer clicks.
Keywords that get clicks
Include these in your description if they apply — buyers specifically search for them:
- Full service history / FSH
- NCT until [month/year]
- Apple CarPlay / Android Auto
- Heated seats / Heated steering wheel
- Reverse camera / Parking sensors
- Leather seats
- One owner / Two owners
- Low mileage
- Timing belt replaced [date]
- New tyres / Recent brakes
The description structure that works
- Opening line: Year, make, model, mileage, condition summary
- Service history: Where serviced, how often, last service date and mileage
- NCT: Valid until [date]
- Recent work: Any recent expenditure — tyres, brakes, belt, etc.
- Full spec list: Every feature, bullet by bullet
- Condition notes: Any cosmetic imperfections — honest and specific
- Viewing: Location, availability, cash/bank transfer only
Photos that sell cars
Bad photos lose sales. Good photos close them. Take at least 12.
Exterior shots (6)
Front, rear, driver side, passenger side, front 3/4, rear 3/4. Clean car, daylight, neutral background.
Interior shots (4)
Dashboard (ignition on), front seats, rear seats, boot open and empty.
Engine bay (1)
Clean engine bay signals maintained car. Shows you're not hiding anything.
Paperwork (1)
NCT cert and service book cover — proves what you're claiming.
Pricing on Done Deal
Done Deal buyers are experienced. They've looked at dozens of cars before calling you. If your price is wrong, they'll scroll past.
- Search your exact car on Done Deal before listing — look at the spread of prices
- Price in the middle-to-upper range if your car has full history and low mileage
- Round numbers (€9,000, €12,500) perform similarly to odd numbers — don't overthink it
- Set your price 3–5% above your minimum — buyers will always try to negotiate
Boosting your listing
Done Deal offers paid boosts to increase visibility. They're generally worth it for higher-value cars (€8,000+). A €5–10 boost on a €15,000 car that sells €500 faster is a good return.
Refresh your listing every 5–7 days if you haven't sold — freshness affects ranking in search results.
Handling messages and calls
- Reply to genuine enquiries within a few hours — serious buyers move fast
- Filter time-wasters early: "Are you looking to buy outright, or do you need finance or part exchange?" — if yes to either, politely decline
- Don't negotiate over the phone — "Come and see it, if you like it we can talk about price"
- Watch for scam messages (see our Avoid Scams guide)