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Tips on buying a used car – your questions answered

All you need to know about buying a second-hand car from dealers and private sellers, what to look for on a test drive, and doing the deal

Advice 1 year ago

When is the best time of year to buy a car?

The cost of a car is rarely final, and there are bargains to be had if you’re prepared to negotiate or wait for a deal. But when is the best time to shop for your next car?
Advice 1 year ago

What’s a Category S or Category N car?

Category S (Cat S) and Category N (Cat N) are a type of insurance category given to a vehicle if it has been written off by an insurance company because it’s uneconomical to repair. However, just because a car has been 'written off', it doesn't necessarily mean you should reject buying it.
Advice 4 years ago

Do I need a vehicle history check?

With a third of all used cars having something to hide, finding out about the history of a potential purchase could be vitally important.
Advice 4 years ago

How do I test drive a used car?

Test driving a used car is very different to testing a new car. Of course, you need to check that the car meets your needs, but you also need to check that it is in decent condition.
Advice 4 years ago

Should I negotiate when buying a used car?

Dealers want more transparency and trust in the market, so an increasing number of cars are being priced at market value from the outset. However, there may still be times when you need to negotiate.
Advice 1 year ago

Where is the best place to buy a used car?

Used-car buyers have plenty of choice where to buy their next used car, and each place has its pros and cons. No one choice will be right for everyone, but whether you want a good price, good service or excellent back-up, you have the option.
Advice 2 years ago

Should I buy a new, nearly new or used car?

Our research has shown many car buyers don’t worry about whether they want a new or a used car, all they’re concerned with is getting their next car. So, what are the pros and cons of new, nearly new and used cars?
Feature 3 years ago

Best first cars for under £2,000

Don't think you'll have a limited choice when you buy your first car. On the contrary, with a budget of £2,000, you can have pretty much whatever sort of car you fancy.
Advice 2 years ago

How to spot a flood-damaged car

Floods have caused chaos in recent years, and it's possible flood-damaged cars could make it on to the used car market, but following our tips should help you steer clear of a potentially dangerous buy.
Advice 2 years ago

How to use Auto Trader’s Owner Reviews

Looked at alongside Auto Trader’s Expert Reviews, our collection of thousands of Owner Reviews will give you the complete picture of what any car you might be interested in is like to live with.

More collections from Auto Trader

Collection 24 articles

What car should you buy?

Help on how to choose your next car; what things to consider and what options are worth paying for.
Collection 50 articles

Buying a new car

All you need to know about buying new - from car configurators to test drives and what happens at the dealership.
See all our articles
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We pick the right cars to meet your individual needs
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Find out what a car is really like to live with everyday
 I bought ones
Watch real owners tell us about their cars
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Meet the Auto Trader team
Erin Baker
Editorial director
Erin spent most of her career as a motoring journalist on The Daily Telegraph. Still enjoys fast cars, but spends most of her free time driving round four kids in a SUV.
Ivan Aistrop
Road test editor
Ivan has been testing cars and writing reviews since 2000. There aren't many motors out there that he hasn't driven.
Phill Tromans
Senior road tester
A journalist since 2001, Phill spent more than a decade testing cars in the UK and abroad, working for Autocar, Fleet News and Evo Middle East.
May Starey
Video & image editor
May manages all of Auto Trader's editorial photo and video activity, along with our YouTube channel.
Andrew Woodhouse
Digital editor
Andrew creates our buying guides and advice pieces, working with our expert reviewers to help you find your perfect car.
Lucy Yiasoumi
Digital editor
Lucy reports on industry news.
Ian Plummer
Industry commentator
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