News

Used car buying – the facts

The average Brit spends 27 hours purchasing a used car and buys seven in a lifetime, according to new research.

In the age of technology and speedy click to buy purchases, the second-hand car buying process is stuck in the slow lane.

Even after travelling an average of 48 miles and attending four viewings, two-thirds (68%) of buyers are disappointed with their purchase.

Top reasons for dissatisfaction include:

  • Car not worth the asking price (54%)
  • It didn’t drive well (28%)
  • Car looked worse than its photos (28%)
  • Bodywork was in bad condition (24%)
  • Tatty interior (22%)
  • Car was going to need more work than expected (21%)
  • Owner seemed dodgy (20%)

Furthermore, 13% had to have unexpected work done to the vehicle and 10% said their new wheels broke down within a month.

New online used car retailer Carspring, which conducted the survey, aims to transform the way people buy and sell second hand cars by delivering a fully inspected car directly to your doorstep within a week of purchase – and buyers have a 14-day money back guarantee if they’re not fully satisfied so there’s plenty of time to test drive.