What to consider when buying a 2nd hand car
10 Feb 2025 | Buying A Used Car
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So it’s time to buy a 2nd hand car. How to choose which car to buy can be an overwhelming experience, because there are many dealers and so many cars out there; it can seem like the choice is limitless. We've created a checklist to help you narrow down exactly what you’re looking for and what will suit your lifestyle.
What to consider when buying a 2nd hand car is a question that can be approached from so many angles. But the first thing will probably be budget: what you have chosen to spend. If you're buying a car with finance, we have a handy calculator to help you figure what you can afford. Once you've decided what you want to spend, proceed with our tips below for buying a used car.
What do you need a car to do?
Fitness-for-purpose is one of the big things to consider when looking at a car: how it will do the job that you need it to do. This will help determine the type of vehicle you are searching for.
If you’re looking for a vehicle to commute into the city and you drive alone, it’s likely you’ll need something small and economical, as parking can be a hassle and heavy traffic is not kind to fuel consumption. Maybe even a hybrid car of some kind? The most economical used cars might be a great place to start, search our stock of small economical used cars here.
If commuting is secondary and you have a family, maybe you’ll want something larger with a spacious back seat and a good sized boot. Car or SUV? Some people don’t like the bulk of SUVs and prefer to be closer to the ground, while others like sitting up high and enjoy the versatility of an SUV. We've broken down the benefits of buying an SUV here.
If you have three children or more, you might even consider a 7-seat SUV, as these generally have 3 rows of seats - easier to separate the kids on those weekend road trips.
Consider the distance you typically cover in a week, or whether you intend to do a lot of longer journeys: it might be worth paying a premium for a vehicle with lower mileage as it will have more useful life left in it.
So what are the best 2nd hand cars? The ones that suit you, of course.
What features do you need?
Deciding exactly what features you need might help determine the type and age of the vehicles you are looking at. For example, if you drive on the motorway a lot, you might want a car with a really good cruise control system, and that will mean looking at vehicles that might be a bit newer.
Maybe you need a spacious SUV that can serve equally as a family car and load-carrier; so you might want something with rear seats that are comfortable for passengers but also slide or fold easily to transition from one use to another.
The safest used cars might also be a priority. Look for familiar features you know are important like anti-lock braking and airbags, but also check out the Government safety ratings: ANCAP for newer cars or the Used Car Safety Ratings (UCSR) for older vehicles.
Purchase from a company you trust
With so much choice out there, you have options. Look for a business that’s been around for a long time, has had great feedback from previous customers and one that you feel is treating you with respect.
A more established dealership is also likely to offer a range of products that can help you feel more secure in your purchase, like finance from a big-name company or extra guarantees and extended warranty programmes.
Your car choice is unique to you
Unless it’s a pure business vehicle, emotion plays a big part in a vehicle purchase. And there’s nothing wrong with that. So if you’re drawn to a particular colour, slightly indulgent feature (a car might have an awesome stereo system, for example) or something else that seems a bit random to others, that’s okay.
Just be very sure about the difference between needs and wants and which boxes a particular vehicle ticks. The heart will play a part, but just be sure it doesn’t over-rule the head.