Tips for Buying a Used Car

Buying a used car online can be daunting. Whether it’s price, condition, mileage or something else, buyers have a lot to consider before they make a decision, and with the rise of online marketplaces there are more options than ever before. Thankfully, CarsVansandBikes.com are here to help make things a little easier for you.

Check out our tips for buying a used car online.

What to look for when buying a used car

• Suitability
  Think about what type of car you want. Are you after a 4x4, a saloon or would you prefer something more sporty?

Don’t forget to consider what you’ll be using your car for. Is it for taking the kids to school and general day to day driving, commuting or for long-distance trips such as UK staycations.

Other things to bear in mind are boot size, engine size and miles per gallon.

• Condition
  No one wants to drive around in a car covered in scuffs, scratches and dents, so it’s always best to check that the car you’re looking at has plenty of pictures taken from multiple angles during the daytime. When inspecting the car in person, make sure you do so during daylight.

• Paperwork
  It’s important the used car you’re buying has the right paperwork. This includes a V5C certificate and service history.

• Price
  You’re going to have a budget, so we advise looking around the market for a guide price before clicking buy. Age, mileage and condition are key factors determining the price of a used car.

• Mileage
  More on this below!

What is good mileage for a used car

Truth be told there isn’t one correct answer here. You can just as easily find used cars that have a low mileage count in poor condition as you can high mileage cars in great condition.

A lot of this depends on how well maintained the car has been and how it has been driven and cared for by previous owners.

All stats point to our average annual mileage decreasing over the past 15 years or so, but if you want to have a rough estimate then we can look at the traditional figures.

Most people use the guide of around 10,000 miles per year, with 12,000 being an acceptable higher band.

Naturally that means if you find a 5 year old used car that’s done less than 50,000 miles, you could consider that low.

What questions to ask when buying a used car

• Can I view it in person?
• Is it yours to sell?
• Does it have any outstanding payments or claims?
• How many previous owners have there been?
• Does it come with all the necessary paperwork?
• Can I take it for a test drive?

Where to buy used cars

You can buy used cars right here at Cars Vans and Bikes, and there are a number of reasons why you should consider used over new.

Find your next car today!