Used Car Buyers' Guide

We Supply Cars for People Who Know What They Want

Because of the way our online car finding service works, the more you can tell us about the car you want, the better. We can't arrange for you to test drive a car before you buy it, but if if you know exactly what it is you're looking for, our sales executives will be delighted to assist you and give you advice on all aspects of the used car you want.

The main factors which need to be considered when buying a used car are as follows:

Finance

Will you be you paying in cash or do you require a loan? If you are borrowing money you need to be comfortable with the deposit required (often your part exchange, see below) and the monthly payments. The finance calculator will give you a good idea of the cost. These may vary due to individual circumstances.

Part Exchanges

If you have a car to part exchange we will give you a quote. Our quote will be based on the price given by the CAP black book, the motor industry benchmark for used car values.

In most cases we will simply trade your car onwards, so what we are bid is what we will give you. We always tell our customers that if you know someone who wants to buy your car privately, then sell it to them, as they will probably give you a better offer. If however you can't or don't want to sell it, we will be happy to give you a value.

Type of Car

What type of car do you want to buy - supermini, sportscar, MPV, hatchback, saloon, estate? If you want advice on the best type of used car to suit your lifestyle and requirements, contact us and we will be happy to help you out.

Annual Running Costs

We've created a handy spreadsheet to help you calculate your annual cost of running a car. Just enter your costs for a rough guide to how much you're likely to spend on running a car each year. Too expensive? Perhaps you need to look at buying a different type of used car. You can always contact us for more advice.

Download spreadsheet

Diesel or Petrol?

Should you buy a used car with a diesel or a petrol engine? Generally a diesel car costs more to buy but less to run. You can work out the best choice for yourself by entering details in our petrol/diesel fuel calculator.