| These days, purchasing a car can be a minefield of | | | | maintenance issues will usually constitute a safe |
| uncertainty - especially so for the majority of us who | | | | purchase. Cars that are over three years old are |
| do not have detailed technical knowledge of the | | | | generally a little more tricky with a much larger |
| workings of the car industry. But having a basic | | | | variance in quality; these cars may cost as little as |
| knowledge of how the second-hand car industry | | | | £2-300, but as always at the lowest end of |
| works could end up saving you thousands of pounds; | | | | any market, you get what you pay for. |
| providing you do some careful research beforehand! | | | | When looking for a second-hand car, a good piece of |
| Due to the way that dealers classify the | | | | advice is generally to stick to independent dealers. |
| second-hand car market, motorists can often save | | | | This is because dealers with affiliations to major |
| themselves thousands of pounds on a second-hand | | | | brands of vehicle generally receive a commission for |
| car if they shop with care. Depending on such factors | | | | every car they sell, and as such can often be even |
| as age, mileage and condition of the vehicle, | | | | less impartial than non-affiliated salesmen. Affiliated |
| second-hand cars normally fall into one of three | | | | dealerships are also generally less willing to consider |
| categories. The first of these categories is nearly | | | | other brands or other makes of car. However, |
| new cars, which are those vehicles that are up to | | | | although generally favouring one brand of car and |
| one year old, have very low mileage (usually | | | | being more expensive initially, the flip side of the coin |
| sub-10,000 miles) and can cost thousands of pounds | | | | is that affiliated dealerships (or "main dealers") do |
| less than an equivalent brand new car. The old adage | | | | offer brand specific after sales care and servicing, |
| of a car being immediately worth three thousand | | | | hold a large stock of spare parts and offer good, |
| pounds less the moment you drive it off the | | | | multiple year warranties. |
| forecourt may no longer be true - but the principle | | | | Another option to consider when looking around for a |
| certainly is. | | | | second-hand car is to cut out the middle man entirely |
| The next category of second-hand car involves the | | | | and use the internet to search online. Online car |
| most commonly seen used cars on the road today | | | | buying has exploded in recent years and generally |
| and constitutes the vast bulk of the second-hand car | | | | provides the cheapest way of buying second-hand |
| market. This category includes those cars which are | | | | cars, as advertising costs for both car sites and |
| one to three years old, are in good condition and | | | | independent sellers are much cheaper than via |
| have reasonably low mileage on the clock - making | | | | traditional channels, as well as helping to avoid the |
| them excellent vehicles for the cost-conscious buyer. | | | | high pressure sales environment that is often |
| Most dealers will have a wide selection of cars of this | | | | associated with buying a second-hand car. |
| type, and if properly checked over for faults and | | | | |