How to Buy a Car
Save money when buying
With dealers offering cut-price cars and private sellers downsizing their current vehicle, now is a great time to buy a car.
We explain how to buy your next car – from phoning the seller, test driving the car and making an offer. We’ve also come up with some top haggling tips to help you knock the price down.
What car to buy
We help choose the right car for you with our comprehensive car buying advice.
Where to buy a car
We help you select the best place to buy your next car - whether it's a dealership, car supermarket or from Auto Trader's private adverts.
Sections to help you
How to buy a used car
Need help buying your next car? Read our essential guide to buying a second hand motor.
How to Haggle
Want a used car for less? Our haggling guide features expert advice from TV stars Jason Dawe and Dominic Littlewood.
How to buy a new car
Read our step-by-step advice for getting the best possible price for a new car.
How to pre-order a car
Want to make sure you get the next car of your dreams? We show you the best way to pre-order an upcoming car and place a deposit.
Buying from a dealer
Buying from a car dealer is arguably the easiest way of buying a car. We talk you through the process.
Phoning the Seller
As private sellers are under no obligation to reveal a car's history, the onus is on the buyer to determine a car's past.
How to get cheaper car insurance
We explain how to find the best quote from more than 300 car insurance companies at Auto Trader’s Car Insurance Centre.
Buy safe with a car history check
We explain why a car history check is the smartest investment you'll make when buying a car - and how to get one.
Buy safe with a vehicle inspection
Find out how to make sure you don’t buy a car that is not roadworthy.
How to Check a Car Before Buying
If you're alert and know what you should be looking for, you can tell if a car is 'straight' or not almost right away.
Test Drives
If your idea of a test drive is to drive as fast as possible and see if anything breaks or falls off, then you'd best read on.
Car Buyers' Legal Rights
Buying a used car is a potentially risky experience, so it's best to be fully aware of your rights should something go wrong.
How to get finance for your new car
We show you how to get a great loan with Auto Trader's Car Loans and Finance Centre.
DVLA V5C Registration Certificate
The V5 has been replaced by the V5C Registration Certificate, which can be recognised by its bright blue front cover page.
How to buy: Podcasts
Listen to our exclusive car-buying podcasts.
Buy Safe
Stay safe with our essential buying advice.
Useful Numbers
Get all the important information on legal advice, vehicle inspections and insurance problems from these companies.
Safety and Security Centre
Read our essential advice and protect yourself from fraud when buying or selling a car on the Internet.
News and Reviews Hub
The latest news, road tests, features and slide shows, plus great competitions.
Free legal advice from experts
We’ve teamed up with car legal experts Law Answers to answer your motoring questions.
How to get car warranty
We've teamed up with some of the leading car warranty companies to offer you the best choice of warranties online.