| The internet has revolutionised the way we buy things, | | | | cough up the cost of the car, but it could save you |
| from paper clips to houses, and so it is with buying a | | | | thousands in the long run, if it prevents you from buying |
| used car. Now, you have access to every cyber | | | | a lemon. On the other hand an inspection could confirm |
| garage and individual who lists their cars for sale on | | | | that the car you are buying is mechanically sound and |
| the web; the online used car market is incalculably | | | | a good buy, and that will give you piece of mind. |
| enormous. | | | | Just as important as the quality of your car, is the |
| To get an idea of how big, just try entering "buy quality | | | | quality of your car finance and that too must be |
| used car" into Google and then, if you have the time, | | | | considered before you enter the market. If you are |
| page through the 114 million results returned! Narrow | | | | lucky enough to be able to buy your car with cash |
| the search and make it relevant only to the UK and | | | | then skip this paragraph! Banks and building societies |
| you will still get a whopping 12.8 million results. | | | | will offer those with a good credit record car loans at |
| Even if your used car buying query starts online, at | | | | competitive rates, or you could go to a specialist car |
| some point you will need to inspect the vehicle that | | | | company that offers finance as well as cars. The |
| interests you before you buy it, unless you are | | | | latter tend to offer finance at higher rates, but are |
| extremely brave, or foolhardy. Whether it's from a | | | | more relaxed with their lending criteria. If you are taking |
| dealer or an individual the same rules apply if you want | | | | out finance to buy your car, bear in mind that if you |
| to avoid buying a lemon. | | | | dispose of it in less than a couple of years, then you |
| If you are not a mechanic, or if you don't know one | | | | could lose out because of depreciation and finance |
| who can accompany you to your vehicle inspection, | | | | fees. |
| then consider paying for the services of one, or enlist | | | | And lastly, don't forget that you need to calculate the |
| the help of a major car association such as the AA or | | | | amount of maintenance and ongoing running costs that |
| RAC who offer such services at reasonable cost. It | | | | you will need to keep your car on the road. It's no |
| may appear to be yet another expense, when you | | | | good maxing out on the loan repayments only to find |
| already have to buy road tax and insurance as well as | | | | that you can't afford petrol! |