A used car, often referred to as a second hand car or a pre owned car, is a vehicle that has had one or more previous owners. The car industry in the United Kingdom is huge and a big proportion of this relates to used cars. In an average year, UK consumers spend around £24 billion on used cars and they are said to be the average person’s second most expensive purchase after buying a house.
For a great number of people, buying a used car is a much cheaper alternative to buying a new one, as they can often find what they want at a cheaper price or get more car for their money.
There are many different outlets people can use to buy cars, ranging from attending auctions to visiting car dealerships. Many turn to private sales in order to make their purchase, either looking at adverts placed in local press and in magazines or by looking at sites on the internet.
For many people, even though the internet provides them with an easily accessed outlet for their search, buying from a car dealer can bring several benefits. For starters, when making the purchase through a dealer, UK law, more specifically the Sale of Goods Act 1979, protects the consumer. This act protects the buyer from making a purchase that is not satisfactory and ensures they are purchasing exactly what has been described. A car dealer is also likely to have a wider range of vehicles to choose from, such as vans and automatic cars.