If the item, service or property you want to buy has been listed as a Classified Ad, follow these tips below and you'll be prepared to make an informed, safe purchase.

• Read the item description carefully. If the details you need to know are not included in the listing, please contact the seller directly using the contact details displayed in the listing. There’s no bidding on Classified Ad listings.

• Make sure the item is legal and allowed. If you have any doubts as to whether the item you're interested in is permitted to be sold, check eBay's policies on prohibited, questionable and infringing items.

• Research the item's value. Look at similar completed eBay listings, visit other websites or shops that sell similar items, or ask friends to help you determine the current market value of the item.

• Check the seller’s reputation. Although buyers can't leave feedback for sellers listing Classified Ads at this time, you can still check the seller's reputation of using other listing formats by clicking on the number next to their user name and reading the comments.

• Know how you’re protected. Buying an item, service or property using the Classified Ad format on eBay.co.uk, eBay.ie or eBaymotors.co.uk is the same as buying through a traditional newspaper or magazine ad. Check if the seller has a returns policy by contacting them directly. As your transaction is not completed on the eBay website you will not be covered by PayPal purchase protection.

  In particular, professional car dealers selling via Classified Ad format will be bound by the The Sale of Goods Act to sell cars of satisfactory quality to which they have good title. Dealers are also bound by the Trade Descriptions Act (1968), which requires them to describe cars accurately, and the Road Traffic Act 1988 (as amended) which makes it an offence to sell (or offer for sale) a vehicle in an unroadworthy condition or alter a vehicle so as to make it unroadworthy.

• Make sure you know how to complete your purchase. If you want to buy the item, service or property you should contact the seller directly using the contact details displayed in the listing to discuss price, payment method, insurance, delivery etc. As you don't complete the purchase of a Classified Ad format listing on the eBay website, we advise all our community members to use common sense when completing the sale in person with the seller. If problems do happen, please contact us using the link at the bottom of this page. We will investigate and take action if a member has breached one of our policies. Whatever payment method you agree on, we’d recommend not using instant money transfer service, such as Western Union, as these payments are difficult to trace should anything go wrong.

• Ensure your contact information and email address is up to date. Check your personal information to make sure it is correct. Also, check that any "spam" blocking software you have installed doesn’t limit a seller from communicating with you.