You've got the photos, the paperwork, and the price in mind. The next decision — where to list — will determine how fast you sell and how many time-wasters you have to deal with along the way. Ireland has a compact but active used car market, with a handful of platforms dominating. Here's how they compare.
DoneDeal – Ireland's Leading Car Marketplace
DoneDeal.ie is Ireland's dominant classifieds platform and the first place most Irish car buyers search. If you're selling privately in Ireland, DoneDeal is almost always your primary channel.
Costs and Audience
- Private listings typically cost €10–20 for a standard car ad, with higher-tier packages available for featured placement.
- DoneDeal attracts serious buyers — people who are actively searching for a specific make or model.
- The audience tends to skew toward buyers who have already done research and are ready to enquire.
What to Expect
DoneDeal's listing interface is straightforward but manual — you'll input all details yourself with no AI assistance. For mainstream cars in good condition, the volume of genuine enquiries is hard to beat in the Irish market. For niche or specialist vehicles, you may find enthusiast forums and Facebook groups outperform it.
Cars.ie – The Secondary Option
Cars.ie is Ireland's dedicated automotive classifieds site. It attracts a slightly more premium buyer demographic and is particularly strong for newer, higher-value vehicles.
- Listing fees are broadly similar to DoneDeal.
- The platform has a cleaner, more automotive-focused layout compared to DoneDeal's general classifieds feel.
- For cars over €15,000, listing on both DoneDeal and Cars.ie is worth the combined cost.
Facebook Marketplace – Free, Local, and Chaotic
Facebook Marketplace has become a significant channel for private car sales in Ireland, largely because it's free and taps into a massive existing user base.
- Pro: Free to list, local reach, buyers can see your profile
- Pro: Buy/sell groups for specific makes and models
- Con: Tied to your personal Facebook profile — limited privacy
- Con: High volume of 'Is this still available?' messages that go nowhere
- Con: Scam attempts are common — fake payment screenshots, overpayment fraud
Introducing car‑spot – The Modern, Free Alternative
DoneDeal costs money. Facebook Marketplace lacks structure and privacy. That's the gap car‑spot fills.
- Genuinely free: 7-day listing at no cost. Extend for a small fee only if needed.
- AI that does the work: The AI Vehicle Specification Assistant fills in missing specs automatically.
- Photos in the right order: AI Photo Classification arranges your shots optimally. Feature-to-Photo Highlighting links claims like "Full Service History" directly to a photo of your logbook.
- Track where enquiries come from: Unique Platform-Specific Share Links for DoneDeal, Facebook, and forums. See which channel drives the most views.
- Privacy protected: Your phone number and email are never shown. Buyers must submit their own contact details first.
