Tips on Buying a Used Car

The first thing when buying a car is to establish your budget, taking into account insurance, tax and finance, the advantage of buying a used car is to get that nearly new feeling at a fraction of the price of a new car.

Using an established retail dealer is one of the easiest way to guarantee a good deal or a used car supermarket.

There are some important factors to consider when choosing your car:-

Price – the phrase “you get what you pay for,” is particularly apt here and remember the cheapest is not always the best.

Body work – check for rust and anywhere you think the paintwork may have been tampered with, this could be a sign of an accident.

Interior – the interior of car should be clean with no damage to the upholstery – however this will not account for general wear and tear.

Test drive – when test driving your car you should ensure the brakes are responsive, listen for any unusual noises as this could mean a problem with the engine and make sure the car does not swerve as this could mean the tyres need to be realigned.

Paper work – an established dealership or car supermarket will carry out the service history, MOT, HPI check and deal with the V5C registration document for you, but always check any paperwork involved and query if you are not sure. Ensure the owners section of the registration document is complete when the sale is finalised. Your Used Car will last you a while so make sure you take your time to get this right.

Warranty - Most dealers used cars will include a warranty with the car you have chosen, this can give you peace of mind for up to two years – although check this with your dealer as this varies from company to company.

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