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Tips for buying used cars

New models depreciate very quickly. In the first year alone the value could decrease by as much as 40 per cent, with this increasing to 60 per cent over a three year period.
This means models which are a couple of years old will hold their sale value for longer, while cars that are five years old or over could often even better their value, providing they are cared for well and kept in a good condition.
Once you’ve made the decision to buy a used car. The next question that needs answering is, where are you going to buy it?
Online dealers Autoquake believes that £10 million was saved by shoppers buying vehicles online last year. Research by Which? paints a similar picture. The consumer group compared the cost of 14 cars both online and in dealership and found that 12 of these were cheaper on the internet.
Auctions are another option for those looking to buy a used car, but people should make sure they do their research and know all the terms and conditions before bidding on something which has gone under the hammer.
Manheim Auctions recommends heading down to the auction house simply as an observer a couple of times, before actually taking the plunge and bidding.
The traditional route of purchasing from a private seller or dealership is still also an option, but care must be taken to ensure that the car is legitimately for sale and is in the condition the seller states it is.
DirectGov advises always checking the registration certificate is genuine and offers further recommendations on its website.
Another key decision is choosing the right model. What Car? has recently named the Ford Mondeo 2.0 TDCi Zetec 5d as its used car of the year 2010, which might be a good place to start looking.
Other models appearing in the website’s top ten included the Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Design AC 5dr and the Kia Cee’d 1.6 GS .
Regardless of the model drivers choose, and where they decide to purchase it, the key to getting a great deal on a used car is almost always doing your research.