Step 1

What kind of car do you want?

Start by choosing the body style that fits your life. Each option below gives you a quick sense of what it is best for.

Step 2

What is your budget?

Use a rough budget for now. This helps narrow the search before you start looking at listings.

Why budget matters

A clear budget stops you wasting time on cars you cannot comfortably afford and helps you focus on realistic options.

£

Estimated range: £800-£1800

£

Estimated range: £20-£200

£

This will be used to filter the guide to cars that fit your price range.

Not including fuel costs, service and MOT costs for the first year of ownership

Total cost

£6,320

Step 3

Finding a car that you like

This is a quick brand-level guide to help you narrow things down. It is a starting point, not a final verdict on every model.

Strong starting point

Brands that are often a safe place to begin if you want a dependable shortlist.

ToyotaHondaMazdaHyundaiKiaSkodaLexus

Mixed bag

These can be excellent or frustrating depending on the model, engine, and year.

VolkswagenFordBMWAudiMercedes-BenzNissanVolvo

Avoid unless you know what you want

Usually best left for buyers who already know the exact car and ownership costs they are signing up for.

Alfa RomeoFiatJeepJaguarLand RoverDS AutomobilesRenault

Step 4

Suggested cars

This shows a filtered shortlist based on the body style you picked in step 1. It is curated, not exhaustive.

Choose a body type in step 1 to see the matching shortlist here.

Step 5

Know what to look for in a listing

Before you arrange a viewing, use the listing to work out whether the car is worth your time and what it might cost to own.

1. In the listing

Look for a full service history

Look for invoices, stamps, or digital records that show the car has been serviced properly and on time.

Check the number of owners

Fewer than five owners is a useful guide. If the car has changed hands several times recently, it could be a sign of expensive faults.

Check the mileage

Cars with more than 100,000 miles can become less reliable, although plenty of well-maintained cars go further than that.

Make sure there are two keys

Replacing a missing key can cost around £100 or more, so check that both keys are included before you buy.

Check the insurance group

The lower the insurance group, the better. As a rough guide, aim for a car in group 20 or below.

Check the road tax

Check how much the car costs to tax and whether the current tax band fits your budget before arranging a viewing.

Look for modifications

Avoid cars with obvious modifications unless you know exactly what has been changed. They can be a sign the car has been driven hard and may cost more to insure.

2. If it is a dealer

Know what protection you get

Dealer sales usually give you more legal protection than a private sale, including rights if the car is not as described, not fit for purpose, or not of satisfactory quality.

Verify the dealer is legitimate

Check the company on the official gov.uk company search before you travel: Companies House search. gov.uk company search

Check the dealer’s reputation

Look at reviews, how long they have been trading, and whether their online details match the forecourt, phone number, and company name.

Be careful with promises to 'sort it later'

If the dealer says they will fix something, make sure it is written down. Verbal promises are easy to forget once the money changes hands.

Use the dealer’s openness as a signal

If they resist basic questions, rush you, or dodge the paperwork, that is a strong sign the car and the seller both need more scrutiny.

3. Check the MOT history

Enter the registration plate to pull the official DVSA MOT record: pass or fail results, mileage readings, and any advisories or defects.

The short version: a well-kept car usually has paperwork that matches up, tyres that look cared for, and a seller who lets you inspect it properly. If the listing looks messy or the dealer is evasive, keep moving.

Step 6

Run a history check

Once a listing looks promising, check the car’s history before you go any further. This is where you catch stolen cars, finance problems, write-offs, or other hidden red flags.

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Run a VIN check

If the report shows the car is stolen, has outstanding finance, has been written off, or has any other major red flag, walk away.

What to watch for

Run a full history check before you go any further

Once a listing looks promising, check the car with a history service such as CarVertical before you test drive it so you do not waste time on a car with hidden problems.

Walk away from serious red flags immediately

If the car is stolen, has finance against it, has been written off, has mileage inconsistencies, or shows any major history problem, do not keep negotiating.

Use the report to verify the story

A good history report should support what the seller told you. If the paperwork, mileage, ownership, or damage history does not line up, assume there is more you do not know.

Keep the dealer or private seller honest

If the seller refuses a history check or gets defensive about it, treat that as a warning sign in itself.

Step 7

Go on the test drive

If the history check looks fine, use the test drive to confirm the car starts cold, drives straight, stops properly, and does not hide an expensive fault.

Consider an independent inspection

You do not have to inspect everything yourself

You can hire an independent mechanic or vehicle inspection service to check the car for you before you buy. Ask the seller if they will allow it, and make any offer conditional on the inspection result. A trained inspector can spot faults that are easy to miss during a viewing or short test drive.

Before you book

Confirm the seller agrees and check what the inspection includes.

Ask for a report

Use the findings to request repairs or renegotiate the price.

Pause if refused

A seller who will not allow reasonable checks is a warning sign.

Take it with you

Your test-drive PDF

A print-friendly checklist for the day: what to inspect first, what to test on the road, and the questions worth asking before you make an offer.

01

Inspect

Walkaround and cabin checks

02

Drive

Road, brakes, and controls

03

Ask

Questions before you agree

Highlighted questions

  • Can I see the car start from cold?
  • What work has it needed recently?
  • Is anything due soon, such as a service, tyres, or brakes?
  • Can I take it for an independent inspection?

Run the MOT lookup in Step 5.3 first so the PDF can personalise its warnings.

Your choice so far