Buying a Car on the Web

There are so many internet sites around offering used cars, that it is difficult to find out which ones offer more value and practical advice. So what constitutes a good used car portal ?

It depends on what you are looking for – if you are looking for some specific such as an import, then you might need to refer to a specialist site. But if you are looking for a good deal on a second hand car, then the following criteria might be important to you.

Any self-respecting used car site should offer a search by model, the most basic criteria. Year or registration is also important, as is mileage. The idea is that you narrow your search down as far as possible to save you time and ensure that you end up with the car you want.

Many also offer the facility to search by gearbox (manual or automatic), and by fuel type.

Also important is the ability to search by geographical location, so that you can test drive within a reasonable distance. Then do not forget the minimum and maximum price, to weed out those cars outside of your budget – although remember to be a little flexible on this, as you may be able to drive the price down.

Lastly, many sites offer reviews or guides on buying cars which can be a great help, as long as you make sure that they are impartial.