Used car advice

The time of the year can massively affect the price you pay for a car. Therefore you should keep an eye on the calendar to take advantage of seasonal factors. For example, the cost of a convertible in the middle of winter will be significantly lower than at the start of summer. If you think cleverly about when you make your purchase then you could find yourself with an absolute bargain, so:

• You should avoid buying convertibles in the spring or summer. Instead, wait until the winter months when the demand for these types of car are much lower.
• The peak months for car sales in the UK are March and September. Therefore, around this time dealers will have lots of used cars to sell. Surplus stock means that you are a much stronger position when it comes time to negotiate.
• The slowest months for car sales in the UK are December and January. No one’s really thinking about buying a car just before or just after Christmas so car sellers are keen to make a deal at lower than usual prices.
• When the summer hits it’s the best time to look for 4x4 cars. When the weather turns wintery then demand for these types of cars increase and so does the price.

There are a few different places that you can get your hands on a used car and each one have their own pros and cons.
References: How to choose a good car dealer | Buying from an independent car dealer | Buying a used car from a car supermarket | Knowing your legal rights when buying a cars

One of the most common mistakes car buyers make is that they try and buy the most expensive car that they can afford and they do this purely based on the cost of buying the car. However, it’s vitally important to factor in costs such as insurance, servicing and fuel costs as these can add up to quite a sum.

Running costs
Once you have decided on the car you want, figuring out exactly how much you can afford might seem a little complicated. Your monthly payments might be affordable but you also have to factor in other costs such as insurance, servicing, TAX and other unpredictable costs such as a replacement water pump. So, before you decide to shop around for a car you might want to take a look at some of these costs so that you’re not taken off guard.
References: Setting your budget | Gap insurance explained

There’s just no questioning the fact that there are cars out there on the used car market that have proven themselves to be problematic over the years. It’s just not worth taking the risk so you should try and shortlist cars that have only a positive reliability record. There are a plethora of excellent car review websites (eg Whatcar.co.uk, Parkers.co.uk, Autocar.co.uk and Autoexpress.co.uk) out there on the web which will allow you to collect loads of information concerning reliability and common issues. Without doing this homework, you will be unprepared when it comes to inspecting a car you really like the look of.

Knowing the true value of a car that you’re looking to buy not only really increases the chance of you finding a real bargain but it also reduces the chances of you being ripped off. Our free online car valuation service provides you with all the information and data you need to find the right value for the used car of your choice.
References: How much does mileage affect a car’s value

If you think you’ve found the car that’s right for you and fits nicely within your budget then you need to contact the seller. You can do this in a variety of different ways with the most common ones being by phone or email. Some dealers even offer a live chat service so you can chat to them online. Whatever way you contact the seller, one of the first things you need to ask is if the car is still for sale and whether you can arrange to come and see it.

When you see the car you’ll obviously want to make sure it’s the very same car that was being advertised. Have a good look around the car and look out for any dents or scratches on the bodywork. You need to check that the car’s condition matches how it was described in the advert. For example, make sure that the tyres have got plenty of tread left on them. It’s also worth checking under the sills for any signs of rust or a hasty or botched repair job. It’s also a good idea to check the fluid levels. If they’re not topped up correctly then it’s another sign that the car has been mistreated. You should also check the car’s mileage. A good way of doing this is to take a look at the car’s latest MOT certificate. This will show you the mileage that was recorded on the car’s last MOT test and you can vouch this back to what it currently says on the odometer to make sure it all adds up. It’s worth checking if the car has been properly maintained and you can do this by checking the car’s service history. Just because it says full service history (FSH) on the advert doesn’t mean it’s necessarily true. It’s worth finding out when the next service is due and what it involves. If it’s a major service such as a cambelt change then you could be facing a large bill soon.
References: What to check | Inspecting a used car | Inspecting the interior of a car

The last thing you want to do is drive a car without any adequate insurance so you need to make sure you’re insured to test drive the car you’re interested in. Once you’re in the car familiarise yourself with it and then test it out fully. This means pressing all of the various buttons and making sure everything works as it should. When you’re driving the car watch out for slipping clutches, a rough sounding gearbox and any knocking or clunking sound from the suspension. Also, check that the car doesn’t pull to one side on a straight piece of road. Everything should feel right.
References: How to test drive your next car

Once you’ve found a car you like then you need to check the documents. The most important one is the registration certificate which is also known as the V5C or log book. This document is not proof of ownership but instead shows who is responsible for registering and taxing the vehicle. Therefore, you really don’t want to buy a car without this document at hand. There’s a couple of things you need to check in this document. The first is that the chassis number shown in the document matches up to the one on the car. You also want to check that other specification listed, such as the colour and engine size, also match up with the car being sold. What you should also do is check that the address listed in the V5C is the same address where you are viewing the car being sold. You should also take a look at the MOT certificate and see whether there are any advisory items on it as these will cause the car to fail next time. You could then use this to negotiate on the price.

Check the history
There’s no way you would buy your next house without having it surveyed even if you trusted the seller implicitly. Therefore, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t exercise the same caution when looking to buy a used car. If you’re buying from a dealership then there’s a good chance that they have carried out a history check on the car already for their own peace of mind. It’s important to know that the car is not; recorded as stolen, an insurance write off or has outstanding finance. So, if there is no history report present the you should get a check done.
References: Car history check

Once you’ve taken a good look at the car both inside and out and you’re satisfied with how it drives then it’s time to start negotiating on the price. The majority of sellers are happy to negotiate on price but others, most notably car supermarkets, are less inclined to do so. You must be firm but fair when it comes to haggling and always have your budget in mind. If the deal doesn’t work for you then be strong enough to walk away. Once you agree on a price then make sure you get a signed and dated receipt.
References: Negotiating with a dealer | Top 10 questions to ask a car dealer | Tricks of the trade

You might quite like the idea of a nice new car sitting on your driveway but coming up with the necessary cash can be a problem – or maybe not? This is because there are several way that you can pay for your next car and each one is designed specifically for private car buyers.
References The best way to buy a new car