Used cars for sale

Should I buy a used car?

A used car could be the perfect choice for your next car. Used cars can give you great value for money, along with a huge range of models to choose from, and they’re available to buy immediately – no need to add your name to a waiting list. You also have several options for paying, so you can choose the one that suits you.

How do I choose the right used car for me?

With so many great cars to choose from, a good place to begin narrowing down your options is to consider how you’ll actually use your car. A small hatchback is ideal if you mostly do short trips into town, while a large SUV will be great if you go on a lot of family holiday road trips. Think about how big a car you need, taking into account the size of your driveway and how many friends and family members you might need to fit inside.

Consider how many miles you typically drive, and what sort of fuel you want to use – petrol engines are great if you do lots of shorter journeys, while a diesel engine may make sense if you cover a lot more miles. If you want minimum running costs and a lower environmental impact, an electric car might be a great choice, or if you want something that’s in between, a hybrid or plug-in hybrid could be just what you need.

More car buying guides

What car should I buy?

Should I buy an electric car?

Manual vs automatic cars: which should I buy?

How can I pay for my used car?

When it comes to paying for your car there are a number of options available. You can buy a car outright, pay using a credit or debit card or apply for finance, usually through either a Hire Purchase (HP) or a Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) agreement.

HP lets you spread the cost of the car over monthly payments, with no limits on how many miles you can drive. At the end of the agreed term, you own your car. HP could be right for you if you know you want to keep the car at the end of the agreement.

With PCP, your monthly payments tend to be lower than with HP because you agree to your anticipated monthly mileage and won’t become owner of the car unless you make a final ‘balloon’ payment. PCP is a good choice if you like to change your car every few years or if you aren’t yet sure you want to own the car at the end of the contract.

You can learn more about car finance here