Shopping around for a used car isn’t always easy and in fact it can be a stressful experience. This is especially true if you are new to driving or are used to buying brand new cars on PCP or other finance plans that can dramatically simplify the buying process. The used car market in the UK is growing exponentially, and there are many reasons for this. For example, many people’s financial priorities are changing, and as the cost of living skyrockets it can be more difficult to justify the expense than comes with owning a brand new car.
Furthermore, our general attitude towards buying cars has shifted in recent years. It was the case for decades that a large number of people felt the need to have the latest cars every few years and this led to a large turnover of relatively new cars entering the market with low mileage. While this is great for people looking to grab a bargain in terms of a lightly used car, it is also terrible news for the environment.
A new car is an extremely resource intensive thing to make. There are plenty of different materials that go into producing them, and many of these materials are gathered in ways that are not exactly environmentally friendly. It is also extremely power intensive to manufacture a new car. Factories that make cars are known to have high energy consumption, and this power tends to come from non renewable sources such as coal and oil. In part, this has driven many people towards buying used.
Used cars might not have the latest technology and the absolute best and most efficient engines, but they are the only real way to ensure that all the raw materials used to create the car in the first place are used properly and efficiently. This can offset the fact that the car is not the most eco-friendly, and can be much more environmentally friendly than buying a brand new vehicle.
Buying a used car
When looking for a used car to buy, you should definitely consider choosing approved used cars because they will come with certain guarantees and benefits that you can’t find when buying from a private seller. For example, a used car bought from an approved dealership will have a generous warranty to protect you against faults, but the car will also have been thoroughly checked and inspected before you buy it. These dealerships will make sure any faults are addressed before you buy, and will often put the car through an MOT for your peace of mind.
Depending on the make and model, a car will be roughly half the price of its brand new equivalent after three years or so. This also varies according to the mileage that the car has done, as well as its overall condition. If you are able to be flexible with your preferences in terms of make, model, colour, engine size and trim level, you will find that there is plenty of choice available in the used car market and you will definitely be able to find something suitable for your needs and budget.
The best advice is to shop around and be prepared to travel at least a few miles to find your next car. It may be the case that the cars local to you would do the trick but there is something absolutely perfect just a few miles away. It definitely doesn’t hurt to look! Before you crack on with your car search you will need to make sure you know what your budget is, and whether you want to use a finance plan or buy the car outright.
Once your budget is sorted you can start researching the cars that are available for your price range. If you are more set on a particular car then you may have to make some sacrifices in order to get it. For example if you know you want a specific car with a specific trim level then you may have to adjust your budget, or be flexible with the colour of the car, or even be prepared to travel further afield to find it.