Secret used car buying tips and tricks to get the best deal

Buying a used car can be a confusing business but if you get it right the rewards are potentially huge. That’s what we’re here to help you do. 

There are plenty of pitfalls you must avoid at all costs, but to ensure you don’t get caught out, we’ve spoken to the insiders and experts to assemble eight top tips for maximising your used car budget and getting the right car for your needs. Our 2026 Used Car Awards have identified the best used cars on the market, now it’s time to focus on finding the car that suits and doing the deal…

1. Consider a different brand or bodystyle

Car buying is often driven by the heart as much as it is the head, so we understand how easy it is to get attached to a particular make, model or bodystyle. However, analysis of the used market shows that savings can be sizeable if you broaden your search to consider a car’s main competitor.

Taking a look at the Carwow classifieds for cars aged between four and six years old that have covered less than 60,000 miles, we can see that drivers could save, on average, £5,500 by choosing a Vauxhall Astra over a Volkswagen Golf. Similarly, the badge-engineered Suzuki Swace will set you back £3,100 less, on average, than the near-identical Toyota Corolla, while heavy depreciation means the all-electric Polestar 2 is typically more than £7,000 cheaper than an equivalent BMW i4.

This is perhaps no surprise given that different brands suffer varying degrees of depreciation; comparing prices of one and five-year-old stock on Carwow’s marketplace, we found that Land Rover and Tesla models tend to depreciate the fastest, meaning it’s easier to find great used deals on them, considering both brands’ premium list prices. The same goes for the more mainstream Vauxhall. Toyota, on the other hand, is one of the better manufacturers at staving off depreciation. This perhaps could be due to its 10-year warranty programme – something that might be worth the extra dough for used buyers.

But it goes beyond make and model; switching to an entirely different segment could save you thousands. Carwow data shows the average price of used hatchbacks is less than £17,000, whereas SUVs sit closer to £26,000. Yet while humble hatches typically can be found on lower rungs of the used car market, choosing one over a more fashionable crossover in an ‘apples for apples’ scenario could prove prudent.

For example, a Mercedes C-Class Estate offers very similar levels of practicality and luxury to its SUV sibling, the GLC. However, we didn’t have to search the classifieds for very long to find a three-year-old wagon with 25,000 miles for less than £30,000. That’s anything up to £8,000 less than a like-for-like GLC.

At the other end of the price spectrum, a three-year-old petrol Vauxhall Mokka GS with 30,000 miles on the clock will set you back between £12,500 and £13,000. But if you’re happy to sacrifice a little boot space and some kudos in the car park, the equivalent Corsa supermini can be had for roughly £3,000 less, which represents a saving of around 20-25 per cent.

2. Make the switch to an EV before it’s too late

Electric cars have long been perceived as more expensive to buy than their petrol or diesel equivalents – and for the new car market, that’s been very much the case until recently. However, consumer confidence mixed with rapidly developing technology means that residual values haven’t held up as well as for other fuel types, leaving used car buyers to profit.

According to industry valuation expert Cap HPI, a three-year-old, 30,000-mile EV’s trade price tends to be, on average, around 10 per cent less than a like-for-like petrol or diesel equivalent – and that’s not even taking into account the long-term savings such as less-regular servicing and lower refuelling costs (provided you can charge at home). Yet as fuel prices soar and more drivers realise the benefits of EVs, time may be running out if you wish to maximise savings.

Carwow figures show that EV prices have bounced back from the usual February sales slump to a much greater degree than other fuel types, now sitting at an average of around £26,000. As used values become more robust and new EVs are priced more in-line with ICE alternatives, the benefits of buying a second-hand electric vehicle start to diminish.

3. Aim for the ELUSIVE depreciation sweet spot

Car depreciation isn’t linear; vehicles tend to lose value much more quickly early on in their lives, slowing down as they get older. So, with the amount of maintenance required typically rising as a vehicle gets older and develops more problems, finding that sweet spot can mean not only a low up-front price, but also reasonable running costs.

But where is that spot? Well, after a new car’s first three years and 36,000 miles, valuation intelligence firm VIP Data estimates that it is projected to lose 65 per cent of its initial asking price; 15-30 per cent of that can be in the first year alone. Things start to taper off as the years progress, though, so snapping up something between two and five years old will almost always represent the best value for money. Just be aware that many manufacturer warranties run out after three years, so you may want to consider extending your cover for peace of mind.

4. Hold off and buy when the time is right

Just like booking a holiday or theatre tickets, prices for used cars fluctuate throughout the year, making some times better to buy than others. Insights firm Cox Automotive tells us that used car values can fluctuate by anything between one and three per cent per month, with the greatest dips typically occurring towards the end of the year.

However, often the best times to buy are at the end of the month – mainly in March and September. Then, following the bi-annual plate change, people have often traded in their old cars for new ones and, as a result, a large influx of used cars enters the market. With supply outstripping demand, it’s often possible to snap up a good deal as dealers try to hit sales targets and shift vehicles that are occupying valuable space on their lots.

5. Consider a model with greater availability

The Covid-19 pandemic showed that availability can greatly impact used car prices; the limited number of new cars entering the second-hand market at a time when factories had ground to a halt resulted in used prices soaring. According to Cox Automotive’s insights director, Philip Nothard: “We saw vehicle values peak at around 65-67 per cent throughout 2021 and early 2022, which was consistent with a market experiencing constrained vehicle supply and a heightened demand for used stock. Since this point, values have normalised, falling back to 46-50 per cent in 2025-2026.”

Yet, while Nothard says this lack of availability has generally been “washed through”, choosing a model with greater availability gives you more scope to get a good deal. If you’re happy to drive a few hours away, comparing prices at dealers across the country could save you hundreds or even thousands of pounds.

6. Bartering can go beyond the asking price

Haggling is often part and parcel of used car buying and we recommend politely requesting at least 10 per cent off the price of a car when trying to secure a deal. And if you’re buying from a dealer, there may be more savings to be had. 

Once you’ve agreed a price, or if the dealer refuses to budge on what they’re asking, it’s worth requesting certain services in order to sweeten the deal, threatening to walk away if they’re not agreed to. This can include things such as a year’s warranty, a servicing package, an alloy wheel refurbishment or even a full tank of fuel to drive away with; if you’re financing, you may also be able to negotiate a lower interest rate. But as with all of the above, make sure to ask for these add-ons once you’ve negotiated a price, because dealers will often offer them instead of a cash discount.

7. Widen your search radius 

Research suggests that most buyers won’t travel beyond about 50 miles from home when buying a new car, while very few will go 100 miles or more for the right vehicle. When your free time is at a premium, it’s understandable that you might want to avoid an entire day out to look at one or more potential purchases. 

For such an important purchase, though, that’s likely to be the most expensive thing you buy after your house, it’s worth sacrificing a bit of your own time. Looking that little bit further afield could uncover a bargain you might have otherwise missed, and you’ll have a lot more choice in terms of colours and trim levels to find something that’s as closely aligned to your wants and needs as possible.

Even if you’re dead set against travelling too far, it’s at the very least worth having a look around at what’s available at a national level to get an idea of prices and availability. Don’t limit your search in the early stages. 

8. Consider buying at auction to save money

It’s generally riskier to buy a car at auction than privately or from a dealership, so we can understand why it might seem a bit daunting to the point of being off-putting. There’s no opportunity to test drive the car beforehand or inspect it mechanically, and vehicles are generally sold as seen. But if you’re willing to take a chance and try something new, there are some potentially large savings to be made. 

What’s more, online catalogues mean you’re able to see what models are available before committing to visiting an auction, and in any case, you might not need to go there at all, with companies like British Car Auctions (BCA) offering live online bidding. We think you’d be missing out, though - it can be quite an exciting experience. 

Just be aware that not all auctions are open to the public. You’ll also be competing with experienced motor traders for whom it won’t be their first rodeo. Proceed with caution.

Now you know the top tips and tricks to ensure you get a great deal, now read about the pitfalls you must avoid at all costs...

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