Buying a used car is a great way to hold onto your saving and pay less for a car. Buying used doesn’t have to mean getting an old banger either and there are plenty of reliable second-hand cars to choose from. If you’re in the market for a used vehicle you may be wondering where is best to buy your car from. Private sellers can sometimes be easier to negotiate with, but you do get an extra level of protection when buying from a reputable dealership. Let’s take a look at the advantages of both and help you decide which is best for your next used car.
Buying from a private seller.
When you buy a car from a private seller, it means you have direct access to the car and even gives you the opportunity to haggle the price. You can speak with the car’s owner to find out about the condition of the car, its history, and its current condition. You can also request any additional documents from them such as MOT certificates and the car’s logbook. Some sellers may also allow you to take a test drive so you can check the condition of the car for yourself. Buying from a private seller means you could grab a great deal on a used car, but it means you won’t get any sort of warranty if anything should go wrong, and you can’t return the car once you’ve bought it.
Buying a second-hand car from a dealership.
Getting a car from a reputable dealership is recommended if you’re not that clued up on cars and don’t want to take a private seller’s word for the condition of a car. Car dealers will do their own checks on the vehicle before its allowed to be sold and also provide a free warranty and service before the car can be bought. You should check that the dealer you’re looking to use is a reputable FCA approved car dealership which means they are verified by the Financial Conduct Authority if you wish to use their in-house finance to purchase the vehicle. It can be harder to haggle the price of second-hand cars from dealers as they usually need to stick to their guns to make a profit. However, you also have more rights when it comes to buying from a dealer and if the car isn’t fit for purpose, you can return the car within 30 days.
Can you finance a car if it’s a private sale?
Car finance is a really popular option for drivers who can’t afford to pay for a car with one lump sum or use their savings to get a car. Instead, you can spread the cost over a number of years and make monthly payments back to a finance lender. Usually, private sales on secondhand cars are done through cash payments but there can be finance options available too. Personal loans can be used to buy whatever you like, and they’re not secured against a vehicle which means you can purchase a car from a private seller just like a cash buyer!
What are your rights when buying a used car?
When you buy from a private seller, you don’t have many rights when it comes to returning the car if something goes wrong. Whilst you can get a good deal on a used car from a private sale, it is quite risky. It is your own responsibility to verify the car is satisfactory and fit for purpose before you buy it, which can be hard if you’re not very clued up on used cars.
You are covered under the Consumer Rights Act 2025 when you buy a second-hand car from a dealer. If a car is not as described or of satisfactory quality, you can reject the vehicle and hand it back to the dealer and be entitled to a full refund within 30 days of purchase. If you’ve bought the vehicle through finance and there are problems with it, you can unwind the deal with the lender and the finance will be cancelled.
Top tips for buying a used car:
- Take the car for a 30-minute test drive and drive the car on different terrains to see how it performs. This is also a good opportunity to inspect the car yourself without the watchful eye of the seller.
- Check the history of the car online before you commit to a purchase and make sure all the required documents such as the logbook (v5) can be supplied by the seller.
- Have an affordable and realistic budget in mind when shopping for a used car and stick to it.
- Check your eligibility for car finance first before committing to funding your car through this route. Car finance deals won’t be accessible to everyone, especially if you have a low credit score.
