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Buying a car should be an exciting experience. Getting to choose the used car you’ll be spending a lot of time in is an important decision – one that shouldn’t be rushed or taken lightly. Purchasing a pre-owned car does come with both costs and risks.&nbsp;

Furthermore, the current <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/engineering/en/research-analysis/understanding-the-current-global-semiconductor-shortage.html">global semiconductor chip shortage</a>, along with supply chain issues, have limited the production of new cars. These factors have massively increased the demand for pre-owned cars, causing average prices to skyrocket.&nbsp;

Fortunately, caruno has thousands of in-stock used and nearly new vehicles available, to suit all budgets.&nbsp;

When looking at how to get the best deal when buying a used car, there are several things you can do to ensure you’re getting the very best deal for your financial circumstances and requirements. Here’s how to get the best deal when buying a used car…

The first step to take when buying a used car is to list all the reasons why you want to buy a car, and what you’ll need it for.&nbsp;

Will you be making long trips every day, or short ones over the weekends? What are your space requirements? Are you wanting any specific technology? What safety features are important? Should it be child-friendly? Do you want a petrol, diesel, electric or a hybrid?&nbsp;

After ranking your requirements in order of importance, and setting a budget, you’ll have a far better idea of the type of car you’re after.

Next, you can start to research what your various options are. You can do this by searching online, by reading reviews, visiting dealerships, and checking safety and performance ratings. Aspects such as fuel consumption, tax, insurance, and all other running costs should be considered too.&nbsp;

Once you’ve decided what type of used car you’re looking for, there are several places you can choose from to locate, and to purchase your chosen vehicle. Dealerships, manufacturer showrooms, garages, private sellers, auctions, and online, are all options.

Your choice will often depend on how confident you are about the seller, as well as the ease of purchase.&nbsp;

Choosing to deal with a dealership for example will mean a higher level of preparation before the sale. You’ll also receive more attention during and after the sale, than at an auction.

If you decide to go to a car auction, make sure to get there early. This’ll mean you can study the list of used cars up for auction, as well as inspect them for any cosmetic or mechanical issues.&nbsp;

If you decide on a private sale, it’s imperative to do your own product research on the make and model in question. Although this option may prove to be cheaper, the car won’t carry an ‘approved used’ status, and, in some cases, a warranty. This option may end up costing you more money in the long run.&nbsp;

Your final choice of seller should also depend on whether you want to pay for the whole car upfront, or if you want to pay in installments.&nbsp;

Buying a used car from an online motor trader, like caruno, means you have more legal protection.&nbsp;

All our vehicles are prepared to the highest industry standards as part of our detailed <a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/about-us/caruno-car-quality">275-point check</a> so you can have confidence in your purchase and peace of mind for the future.

Whichever seller you’re thinking of dealing with, it’s very important to make sure the seller is a reliable one.&nbsp;

There are many ways you can do this.&nbsp;

By reading reviews you’ll learn about people’s past experiences with the seller, and you’ll get a much better idea of how reliable, honest, and helpful they are. You’ll also learn about the perceived quality of their used cars.&nbsp;

There’s no substitute for meeting with a seller face-to-face. This way you can get a real feel of how the seller operates, along with a preview of the cars themselves.&nbsp;

If you know someone who has an interest in cars, it’d be a good idea to chat to them about the various sellers. They may have knowledge that would benefit your search. Taking them along to inspect the cars would also go a long way towards ensuring you end up with a good-quality vehicle, from a reliable seller.&nbsp;&nbsp;

Use specific keywords when searching online

When searching for a car online, most people tend to only enter the car type, the year, and the price range. This is a mistake. If you want to make sure you’re looking at reliable, well-kept cars, there are specific keywords you should use to help filter out the better deals.&nbsp;

Make: <a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/cars/kia/rio">Kia Rio</a>

Keywords to use: Single owner, low mileage, accident-free, full-service record, dealer-maintained, mint condition, estate sale, senior owner, well-kept, synthetic oil, etc.

*Make sure to use only one of these keywords per search.&nbsp;

A combination of all of the above approaches will put you in a favourable position when buying a used car.&nbsp;

Once you’re sure about the make and model of the used car you want, it’s a good idea to shop around. This way you can compare prices, as well as the conditions of the various cars. You can also haggle with various owners and dealerships to see who’s prepared to give you the best deal.&nbsp;

Carefully investigating a used car’s history is an important part of the buying process. Inspecting all relevant documentation will reveal all the need-to-know information about the car’s condition but also give you an idea of&nbsp;

The most important factors to look at are:

After you’ve conducted a very thorough inspection of every aspect of the vehicle, in the light of day, it’s more than acceptable to politely negotiate the price. Make sure to thoroughly inspect the interior, exterior, and performance of the car before doing so.

Read: <a href="https://www.caruno.co.uk/advice-and-guides/buying-a-used-car">Buying a used car: 8 tips to help you find the right car&nbsp;</a>

When dealing with a private seller, it’s a good idea to point out any wear and tear you notice on the car, that may lead to a reduction in price.&nbsp;

Hopefully the seller will be prepared to discuss lowering the asking price.&nbsp;

If you still feel the car is overpriced, you can always make a lower offer. The worst that can happen is that the seller refuses, and you walk away.&nbsp;

Dealerships often offer various discounts and purchasing perks, so it’s worth asking them what they can do for you.&nbsp;

As suggested before, if you’re not a car expert, it’s a great idea to take someone along who knows about cars and what to look for.&nbsp;&nbsp;

This is also where buying a car online could pay off. Motor traders like caruno have access to multiple lenders and can offer you competitive car finance, buying, and leasing deals. Plus, we have frequent special offers alongside other extras such as cost-effective maintenance plans and more.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A great way to reduce the cost of your purchase is to part-exchange with your current car.

Use an online car buying company to get an evaluation of the trade-in value of your current car. Motor trade companies are actively looking for good quality used cars, so if your car is in good condition, you may get a good deal.&nbsp;

Alternatively, you could take your car straight to the dealership where you want to buy your next car, and ask them to provide you with a part-exchange quote.

You can use this amount to offset the cost of the used car you intend to buy, or to reduce the deposit amount.&nbsp;

caruno wants to organise you the very best used car deal for your circumstances. We offer part-exchange as one of the many ways you can get your hands on a quality used car, for the very best price.&nbsp;

At caruno, all our ‘approved used’ cars carry a car quality promise, have been through a vigorous 275-point inspection, and are awaiting your consideration. Any potential faults, repairs, or replacements have been taken care of, leaving all of our cars looking, feeling, and most importantly, driving like new.&nbsp; 

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