One of the biggest advantages of buying a used car is choice. You might discover that a previous-generation model fits your needs better than the latest version – or you may find a great deal on something no longer available new.
And let’s not forget about value. Buying a pre-owned car means avoiding the steep depreciation that hits as soon as a new car leaves the forecourt. In most cases, you’ll get more for your money too – like a higher spec or upgraded trim for less than the cost of a new entry-level model.
For example, while a brand new Hyundai i10 Premium starts from £17,900, a well-maintained three-year-old model in the same trim could cost approximately £12,000 – leaving you with a nearly-new city car and extra money for running costs, insurance, or optional tech upgrades.
Absolutely. The used car market has stabilised significantly after several unpredictable years. Prices surged during the panedmic due to supply issues, but in 2025 values have levelled out, which makes it a smart time to buy a used car.
Electric cars for sale are especisally good value right now. The second-hand electric vehicle (EV) market has grown rapidly, and falling prices mean that many prveious expensive models are now much more affordable. You should to find a bargain on popular models like the Nissan Leaf, Renault Zoe the Volkswagen ID3, making them ideal for drivers that want to go electric but without the new-car price tag.
There's also the benefit of the March registration plate change. The DVLA introduced the new '25' plate on 1 March 2025, replacing the '74' plate that was brought in in September last year. The change led to a surge in part-exchange cars, as many new car buyers upgraded to have the latest number plate.
As a result, dealers now have more used cars in stock, which makes gives you more choice and also gives you more space to negotiate. With many dealers keen to hit their quarterly sales targets, buyers are in an especially strong position to get a great deal.
There are a few other things to consider as well. Convertibles will likely start peaking in value around now, as demand is higher when the sun comes out. If you're after a used convertible, and aren't in a rush, you'll likely get a better deal towards the end of the year. The same is true of campervans. Conversely, 4x4s and SUVs tend to be in more demand during winter, so you may find better value in the Spring.
When considering the best locations in the UK to buy a used car, cities like London, Birmingham, Manchester, and Glasgow offer a wide range of used car dealerships and private sellers, providing diverse options to choose from.
No matter where you live, at heycar you can filter your search so you can find the perfect car for you close to home.
We’ve designed heycar with used car buyers in mind. Whether you know exactly what you want, or need a little more help deciding, we're sure you'll find the perfect used car for sale on heycar. You can narrow down you used car search with our filters, check out our latest car deals or get in touch with one of our helpful customer service agents via live chat.
We only have the best quality used cars for sale from selected dealers and you can even buy a used car online. We promise that all of our used cars on sale are quality checked, have a minimum of a 30 day warranty, and have covered fewer than 100,000 miles, meaning you can drive away with peace of mind. And to show you we’re serious about quality; we offer a 10-day money back guarantee.
We have a great range of used cars for sale from all the big manufacturers, while we also have used cars for sale on finance, so if you’re after Hire Purchase or a Personal Contract Purchase deals, then we can help you out. Head to our dedicated used car finance page to discover more.
As well as listing 1000s of used cars for sale that you can buy from one of our trusted dealers, we also have a huge variety of cars for sale online as well. It couldn't be simpler. Find the car you want from our huge range of buy online used cars, buy it outright or finance it and get it delivered straight to your front door. Take a look our guide to buying online with heycar to find out more.
Some used cars have been used more than others, so what can you consider high mileage? Well, the average UK annual car use is around 12,000 miles a year, which means a five-year-old used car with 60,000 miles on the clock is perfectly normal.
Some car manufacturers offer higher mileage warranties on their cars. Kia’s seven-year or 100,000-mile warranty is industry leading, while these days a used car still has many years and many thousands of miles left in it at 100,000 miles.
If you want to be sure that your used car will last a long time, it’s worth buying one of the best cars for owner satisfaction. The annual HonestJohn.co.uk Satisfaction Index takes feedback from thousands of owners on how they rate their car in areas such as fuel economy, performance, technology, repair costs and, of course, reliability. Car brands with the most satisfied owners include Lexus, Dacia, Hyundai, Kia and Skoda.
If you’re buying a used car then pretty much the first thing you’ll have to do is insure it. With the cost of living going up, car insurance is a frustrating but necessary expense for car owners.
If you’re willing to shop around and be clever, though, you can save money on your car insurance. There are other tips and tricks, such as not automatically accepting your renewal quote the next year, not being afraid to haggle, adding a second driver with more experience or fitting a black box. Have a look at our list of the top 10 tips for getting cheaper car insurance – you might be able to save more money on your premiums than you think.
Insurance brokers can also help you find a better deal while cutting your allowed mileage to the minimum will reduce your premium. It’s worth avoiding powerful or expensive cars if keeping insurance costs low is important, so why not check out our list of the cheapest cars to insure.
If you’re in the market for a used car, the first thing to do is to understand what type of car you need. That’s easier said than done. There’s a baffling number of car body shapes available. We explain the popular different car body types available plus their advantages and disadvantages.
SUV stands for Sport Utility Vehicle and now takes in a vast collection of cars. They have the high driving position of a more traditional 4x4, and although some do have this function readily available, not all SUVs are four-wheel drive. SUVs vary hugely in size from the equivalent of small family hatchbacks to large estate cars and they usually have five doors and five seats, though some come with seating for up to seven.
MPV stands for Multi-Purpose Vehicle, though its also referred to as a people carrier. Need to chauffeur several people at once? Many MPVs have seven seats. Need to move some furniture? Just fold the seats flat and you’re left with van-like space. If there’s a downside, it’s probably that with all seven-seats up, boot space can be limited. The two furthest rear seats are really meant for big enough kids only.
A hatchback is a car that has a boot that opens with the rear window. There are multiple types of cars that fall under the hatchback category. Popular family hatchbacks are cars like the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus, while there are smaller options out there like the Audi A1, Ford Fiesta and Volkswagen Polo. Hatchbacks provide a great compromise for daily life as most have comfortable seating for five (taller adults might struggle for space in the back) and a reasonable sized boot.
Like the idea of a family hatchback but need more space? Go for an estate as they have more boot space than the hatchbacks or saloons they’re based on, while modern estate cars are a lot more stylish than some of their boxy predecessors. You'll also find that estate cars have a more useful boot space than rivals SUVs.
With coupe meaning cut in French, it’s not surprising these have just two doors. They’re designed to be fun to drive and often only have two seats, although many claim to be what’s known as a 2+2. This is when they have two seats in the back that are big enough for a couple of young kids.
Keep me updated by email with the latest advice, news and offers from heycar.
By submitting you agree to our privacy policy