Hello John, got a used car?

Learn to avoid costly mistakes with our guide to buying secondhand cars...

Buying a secondhand car is a scary business. No matter how good a deal might look, there's always the lingering worry that you might be conned by an unscrupulous seller out to make a quick buck. Such misgivings are perfectly sensible. While the majority of sellers are honest, a small minority gives everyone else a bad name. If you're buying from a private individual, they might have no idea what's about to go wrong with the car. Take a sensible, cautious approach to buying a used car and you'll increase your chances of getting exactly what you want at the right price.

Basic research

Knowledge is power, so begin by knowing what you should pay. Look around online and check sources such as classifieds and Parker's Car Price Guide (www.parkers.co.uk) to get a clear picture of the market. When you're doing your initial sums, be sure you can actually afford the car you want, so be realistic with yourself about such costs as car loan repayments, car insurance, the cost of servicing and so on.

Where to buy?

The safest option is usually to buy from a dealer that also sells new cars of the same brand you're buying. However, there are plenty of good secondhand dealers around, from huge car supermarkets to local companies. Ask around and get personal recommendations from friends.
Private sales are often a great way to get a great deal, but be careful of unscrupulous dealers using classifieds. When you first call, say you're phoning about 'the car'. If the reply is 'which car?' it could be because the seller is a dealer trying to offload a bunch of hard-to-shift motors.
Auctions are for the confident and knowledgeable, and never buy from the guy who just happens to have pitched up outside the auction site: the car could be stolen.
By all means use the Web for research, but always view before you buy.

Making depreciation work for you

Depreciation in the value of cars is a fact of life. Bad news? Not necessarily for the savvy used-car buyer. Use depreciation to your advantage and you can let someone else take the worst of the losses while you bag a bargain:
Models that are favorites with fleet buyers, tend to be cheaper than more unusual models, simply because there's more choice on the secondhand market.
Don't go for so-called 'prestige' brands because premium brands hold their value to a greater degree.
But do remember, if you follow the above advice, when you come to sell your car you won't get as much for it.

Caution pays

Organisations such as the AA (www.theaa.com) offer plenty of detailed information on buying, so take advantage of their expertise before you even view any cars. Some of the advice they offer may seem obvious, but it's surprising how good sense can desert us when we sense a bargain.
Don't ever, for instance, buy a car that you've only seen in the rain, poor light or at night - it may not look so swish on a sunny morning. Make sure you inspect such documentation as the V5 vehicle registration document, the MOT certificate and certificate of insurance.

Crooked ways

Look for evidence of 'clocking', turning back the odometer, in worn screws on the dashboard (evidence it's been tampered with), or bodywork that seems a little too scratched in relation to what's on the clock.

The cheapest cars to insure

source www.parkers.co.uk (Nov 2008)

Look for the often subtle evidence of mismatched paintwork, which can suggest a shunt or accident. In the very worst-case scenario, this may be evidence of a cut-and-shut, where the remains of two wrecks are welded together.
Finally what did you actually think of the car when you gave it a test drive? Did it fulfill your expectations? If it didn't, is it because of that specific car or because you've opted for the wrong model and need to re-think?

Extra help

If all this still seems daunting, there is help out there. For around £35, for instance, the AA will run a Car Data Check that will tell you mileage information, whether a car is stolen and whether there's any finance outstanding on it.

Finally...

Don't be pressured into parting with your money and always haggle. Remember, it's better to walk away than buy a car that you won't, or even can't, enjoy driving away.