In the second part of our complete buying guide we show you where to buy.

Buying a car part 1: New or used?
Buying a car part 2: Where to buy?
Buying a car part 3: What car?
Buying a car part 4: Getting a great deal
Buying a car part 5: Payment, paperwork and delivery

Difficulty: Easy
Time: 10 minutes
What it's worth: avoiding lots of time and hassle

What you need:

• A car in mind
• Access to a computer
• Money
• An address

Directions:

View our step-by-step guide with the image below:

Do your research

1. Before racing off to your nearest dealership, consider the following:

• Finances - how much are you willing to spend?
• Time - are you likely to spend a few days looking at cars or do you want to enter ownership quicker?
• Family or friends – will others influence your buying decision?
• Location – are there local dealerships in your area?

2. Pick one of the following buying locations:

Buying from a car dealer

These sell brand new cars and fall into two main groups - franchised and independent.

Franchised dealerships represent a specific car maker such as Ford or Vauxhall. They offer a range of services such as dealer finance, warranties, part-exchange, servicing garages and accessory shops.

Independent car dealers sell a wider range of new car models and aren't tied to a single manufacturer - giving you more choice. Prices tend to be lower than franchised dealerships but you might not see as many special offers or strong after-sales service.

Reputable dealers should be members of a trade association - ask if they're with the Retail Motor Industry Federation (RMIF) for peace of mind.

Both types of dealerships can include Approved Used schemes, which take the risk out of buying a used car from a private seller. For more information read our guide to buying an Approved Used car.

Buying a car online

Buy online and you'll often get a better price on a car. You might not be able to view the exact model before buying, so do your research first and test drive a similar model at a local dealership. Read Auto Trader's car reviews.

Auto Trader’s new car homepage lets you search from thousands of new vehicles. You can also choose from the best new car offers and read the latest news and reviews.

Find the best new car deals on Auto Trader

Buying a car privately

Buying a used car privately will usually mean you'll pay a lower price.

You'll need to travel to the seller's home address, check the car yourself and ensure all the paperwork is correct, but the potential savings are often worth the extra effort.

For more information, read our complete guide to buying a used car.

Search for a used car on Auto Trader

Buying from a car supermarket

New and nearly new vehicles are priced lower at a car supermarket than they are at a franchised or independent dealer.

There are plenty of cars available, but options are often limited and stock usually consists of basic models. They usually also offer just one or two finance schemes.

Car supermarkets tend to provide less after-sales support and warranty you’ll get from a dealership, but with much lower list prices.

Buying at a car auction

Auctions are home to some serious used bargains for private buyers who do their homework.

With little or no opportunity to test drive the car or contact previous owners, it's a gamble and there's not much legal protection, but it can be an ideal route to a cheap first car.

If you're new to auctions, take an experienced buyer with you and arrange insurance first. If you commit to buy, you'll need to pay the balance and auction fee before leaving.

Buying an imported car

Buying a car from another country and importing it into the UK allows you to drive a model which might not be available here. There are two types of import:

A grey import is a car which has been bought abroad and doesn't have a UK specification.

A parallel import is a car bought in from another country but can have a full UK spec.

Not all foreign cars will be legal over here - you may need to get parts altered to meet UK requirements. This could give bring residual values down when you sell the car. You'll also need to register the car with DVLA within 14 days of purchase.

For more information read our importing guide.

More advice

Buying a car part 1: New or used?
Buying a car part 2: Where to buy?
Buying a car part 3: What car?
Buying a car part 4: Getting a great deal
Buying a car part 5: Payment, paperwork and delivery