Buying My First Second Hand Car

FUNDSS

Hello,

I have previously avoided buying a car to save on costs. However, I accept that I am in at a part of my life now where it is becoming unsustainable. 

I want to buy a reliable second-hand car in cash. The trouble is I'm pretty clueless about how to go about it. Should I look at a local used car dealership in person, online or ask a friend? Should I use AutoTrader or facebook marketplace? Is it sketchy to use the internet or is it safe and sound if follow a few principles and procedures? Even if buying a cheap car, is there a way to avoid a dealer ripping you off (things like MOT red flags)?

I'm also pretty clueless about the process of buying a car. Do I need insurance before I buy or can I get this after? Do I need to tell the DVLA anything including that I have purchased the car? Is there anything else I will legally need to do before, during and after the purchase?

I know it's a long list of pretty basic questions - I'm asking here because I know it's the right place to ask.

Any help would be really appreciated. 

SaverRate

Personally I would use Autotrader it gives indications on if the price is low, good, great or high. Check the reviews of the dealership and always test drive the car. Drive it around town and on a motorway/duel carriageway. Personally I prefer to use main dealers but have brought cars from independent dealerships too and not had issues. 

Always worth checking to see if it comes with a warranty - even 3 months is better than none. I know Volkswagen garages are doing 2 years warranty on used cars at the moment. 

Get the dealership to do an MOT before you drive it home and if its not been serviced in the last 3-4 months get them to do a full service too. Some dealerships do a multi point check if its been serviced in the last few months. Ask the garage if they can do a HPI check and ask for evidence of this. If they refuse you can do your own HPI check online. 

Go around the car and check bodywork, tyres, alloys, interior etc. 

You can check the history of the vehicle MOT's on the .gov website for free. Always worth doing this before buying the car/looking at the car as gives you an indication of the condition of the car/how its been looked after. 

Before you pick up the car to drive home you will need to get insurance for the vehicle and tax the vehicle. Both can be done at the dealership when collecting the car if you want. 

The garage should send a section of the v5 off to inform the DVLA you are now the registered keeper and you will get a V5 through the post a few weeks later - Keep this as you will need it when you sell the car.  

Make sure the garage gives you the service book for the vehicle or atleast evidence of a service history as again this will affect the resale value of the car. If it has alloy wheels ensure the car has the locking wheel nut. 

Grumpy_chap

FUNDSS said:

Hello,

I have previously avoided buying a car to save on costs. However, I accept that I am in at a part of my life now where it is becoming unsustainable. 

I want to buy a reliable second-hand car in cash. The trouble is I'm pretty clueless about how to go about it. Should I look at a local used car dealership in person, online or ask a friend? Should I use AutoTrader or facebook marketplace? Is it sketchy to use the internet or is it safe and sound if follow a few principles and procedures? Even if buying a cheap car, is there a way to avoid a dealer ripping you off (things like MOT red flags)?

I'm also pretty clueless about the process of buying a car. Do I need insurance before I buy or can I get this after? Do I need to tell the DVLA anything including that I have purchased the car? Is there anything else I will legally need to do before, during and after the purchase?

I know it's a long list of pretty basic questions - I'm asking here because I know it's the right place to ask.

Any help would be really appreciated. 

The first thing to do is to set out your needs for a type of car:

• Budget - cash or finance (monthly)
• How many people
• How much luggage
• How many miles per year?
• Will the miles be mostly in town, or mostly motorway?
• How long will you plan to keep the car?

Once you know the type of car and likely age of car you'd be getting, you can start to look at the best way to buy that type of car.

FUNDSS

Grumpy_chap said:

FUNDSS said:

Hello,

I have previously avoided buying a car to save on costs. However, I accept that I am in at a part of my life now where it is becoming unsustainable. 

I want to buy a reliable second-hand car in cash. The trouble is I'm pretty clueless about how to go about it. Should I look at a local used car dealership in person, online or ask a friend? Should I use AutoTrader or facebook marketplace? Is it sketchy to use the internet or is it safe and sound if follow a few principles and procedures? Even if buying a cheap car, is there a way to avoid a dealer ripping you off (things like MOT red flags)?

I'm also pretty clueless about the process of buying a car. Do I need insurance before I buy or can I get this after? Do I need to tell the DVLA anything including that I have purchased the car? Is there anything else I will legally need to do before, during and after the purchase?

I know it's a long list of pretty basic questions - I'm asking here because I know it's the right place to ask.

Any help would be really appreciated. 

The first thing to do is to set out your needs for a type of car:

• Budget - cash or finance (monthly)
• How many people
• How much luggage
• How many miles per year?
• Will the miles be mostly in town, or mostly motorway?
• How long will you plan to keep the car?

Once you know the type of car and likely age of car you'd be getting, you can start to look at the best way to buy that type of car.

It will be a very cheap car in cash - circa £1000 that is roadworthy. I have had a look and there are some options. Not that many miles in fairness - the bigger issue is my career prospects having no car. This will be mostly in town. Car will probably be kept medium term.

knightstyle

Unfortunately you will not get a car at that price from a decent dealer, it will be a shyster who changes the garage name regularly or private.
You really need to get someone experienced on board to look before buying.
So buy private, make sure you buy from the registered keeper whose address is on the V5 and has had the car for a while.
Check MOT history and see bills for work done to pass and the advisories.
Find out if anything will need doing soon such as an expensive service, a cam belt change, gearbox oil change etc.
Never pay cash unless you are sure, try to get them to send you a paypal payment request giving car reg as this will be your proof of purchase.  make sure you are insured for the test drive etc.
I am sure others will add to this. But No.1 is to get someone who knows about cars to look before buying, local garage may help for a small fee.

Herzlos

I wouldn't touch a £1000 from a dealership; with their markup it's probably a £300 car.  Most garages will send trade ins like that to auction.

There are exceptions though. Are there are car dealerships that have been there for years and have a decent reputation? You may be able to go and ask them if they can keep an eye out for a trade-in that'd suit you.

If you can, get a mechanic to check it out for you (most dealers should be happy with that, and it'd cost you about an hours labour). RAC and AA do a car inspection service too.


If you're only using it to boost job prospects, and it'll be used rarely, then it may be cheaper to look into hiring a car for the odd day here and there. You can get basic cars for something like £15/day. If you then need one for work, then you can look at buying something.