Find the best offers for used cars in the UK

Your used car’s worth will depend on the previous number of owners, service history, post-manufacture additions, mileage and more. To get a more direct answer, use the free valuation option available on our website.

There are three values offered to you:

• Private - the sum you can expect when selling your car to a new owner for usage
• Trade-in - how much you will be getting by trading your current car in, which will go towards your next purchase
• Cash - the amount you can expect when selling used cars to a car buying service

All you need is your registration number.

Your car needs an MOT after three years have passed since the registration date. Your car’s registration date can typically be found in its V5C form, commonly referred to as the ‘logbook’. In case of an imported car with the registration date unknown, you can use the date of its manufacture.

After its first MOT, your car requires an extra check-up every year thereafter. An up-to-date MOT is especially important for used cars for sale.

Without it, it’s unlawful to be driving in the vehicle and might land you with a fine of up to £1,000. The MOT status can be easily checked online using the registration number.

Yes, you will have to pay car tax as soon as the deal is complete and you own the car.

As the new owner, you’re required to tax and insure the vehicle. Unfortunately, there are no legal exceptions for used cars in the UK, which means road tax is non-transferable.

There are some conditions which may make you exempt from having to pay road tax:

• The car produces no CO2 or up to 100 grams/km if it was first registered between 1st March 2001 and 1st April 2007.
• Under certain circumstances when having a disability, you may be eligible for free car tax.
• If the car is older than 40 years, it’s considered a historic vehicle and is similarly exempt from taxation.

If you have a registration number, then you can check your tax easily.

Yes.

First and foremost, make sure your car insurance covers driving someone else’s car. Alternatively, ask the used car dealership or private seller whether their insurance will be sufficient.

When first seeing the car live, inspect the body and paintwork for signs of damage.

As you’re driving, pay attention to the following:

• How easily does the car start?
• Listen to the sound of the engine.
• Check the steering wheel - it should feel ‘right’.
• The clutch - if the pedal bites too high, the clutch could be worn.
• Test the brakes - the car should stop cleanly, in a straight line.

We recommend driving over different types of road.

Book a test drive with us online.

In most cases, insuring used cars is cheaper.

Part of the premium you pay for your new car insurance goes towards higher replacement costs.

On average, you can expect a difference of 5-25% when comparing insurance prices.

It’s possible to further reduce the insurance cost by removing collision and comprehensive damage coverage.

If you get into an accident where your car sustains heavy damage, repairs are typically not worth it. If you’re not yet a fully experienced driver, your starting insurance premiums will be among the highest. As a result, insuring a used car will help reduce costs significantly.

Yes, depending on a few factors.

Firstly, if you’re buying online, you benefit from a 14-day ‘cooling-off’ period, where you can get a full refund, no questions asked.

When purchasing from a used car dealership, your car should be of satisfactory quality, meet all descriptions previously given to you and be fit for purpose.

If any of these requirements aren’t met, you can request a full refund in the first 30 days after the purchase.

When buying from a private seller, you’re only covered in the case the seller claims something which doesn’t accurately describe the car.

For new cars, go to our new car search page and search by the make or type of car you’re looking for. There you can find the newest available models, along with starting prices. Click on a car to find in-depth information about it, with the ability to request a quote.

When looking to buy used cars, check out our marketplace, with more than 100 000 cars to choose from. Search for your dream car by make, select your preferred payment plans and jump to live offers near you!

When buying a second-hand car, start with the paperwork. Replacing documents is both difficult and time-consuming.

Here are the main ones:

• V5C
• MOT (available online)
• Service History

Once you’re certain all the documents are in good order, it’s time to look at the car itself.

Take your time inspecting the paintwork, engine, gearbox and clutches as these tend to be problem areas. Pay attention to the car’s interior - are all of the electronics in good order?

Finally, you should test-drive the car to make sure it’s the right fit for you. It’s recommended to drive as long as you need, on varied types of roads.

A good rule of thumb is to expect the car to have 10 000 miles per year of use.

It’s wise to look into what the average lifetime mileage expectation for your particular model is. Subtracting current mileage from the lifetime expectation informs you of how long you can expect the car to still run, based on mileage alone.

Remember: when comparing cars, not all mileage is equal - a lot depends on the kinds of roads, driving purposes and service history from the previous owners.

It’s a good idea to take a look at used car reviews, as these will typically provide the most accurate expectations.

It varies.

The specific conditions of the trade may significantly differ on your used cars dealer, including drive-away insurance.

In case it’s not available to you, make sure to get temporary insurance. This will keep you on the right side of the law, and be helpful in case you end up in an accident. This type of insurance can last from the time you need to get home, to a full month, depending on your needs.

Make sure to get full annual insurance once you’ve driven the car back home.