There are many different approaches to buying a second hand car, such as buying from an independent dealership or attending an auction.
Although there are pros and cons to each option, you can end up getting a great deal out of any of them if you play your cards right. Here, we shall discuss most of the common methods of buying a used car, and the things to look out for with each one.
One of the more expensive places to buy a used car is at an authorised dealership. However, these places are usually pretty generous with their trade ins, and offer quite a high level of customer service and quality assurance. They only usually sell one or two different makes of car, so if you need a wider choice, you should look elsewhere.
Independent dealers tend to offer better prices and more flexibility than franchises, will tend to take a part exchange deal, and their garage facilities are often both highly competent and reasonably priced. However, some independent garages have a better reputation than others, and their warranties tend to be more expensive than privately arranged ones.
Car supermarkets offer a huge amount of choice, and their vehicles tend to be very clean with a low mileage. Although they are generally cheaper than specialised dealers, there are often a number of hidden costs attached, and they do not always offer part exchange deals. You also have less legal comeback with a car supermarket, although you can always arrange a private warranty with an independent broker.
Classified ads can be a great place to look for cheap second hand cars from private sellers, but this is also one of the most time consuming ways to buy a second hand car. You have virtually no legal comeback when buying from a private seller, so it is important to arrange a vehicle inspection before you commit to buy.
Auctions can be an exciting way to buy a car, and sometimes you can get a stunning bargain. In fact, this is where many independent dealerships get their cars from. However, your legal comeback is quite limited, as is your opportunity to inspect the vehicles before bidding, so this is a bit more of a risky route to take than some of the others.
If you buy directly online, you might end up with an astonishing bargain, and it is a lot more convenient than traipsing round garages, auction rooms, or private sellers. However, depending on the seller, there may be nothing in the way of legal comeback, which is risky as you are basically buying something before seeing it, and sorting out the payment can be a hassle.
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