What’s the best age to buy a second hand car?
The optimum age range for purchasing a used car is commonly recognized as falling between 2 to 5 years old. Within this timeframe, a car has traversed the steepest part of its depreciation curve while still maintaining relatively new and well-maintained conditions. Generally speaking, the best time to buy a used car is at the end of the month, especially at the end of a quarter: March, June, September, and December. Dealers will be keen to meet their sales targets and, in turn, may offer better deals.
Where is the best place to shop for a used car?
Dealerships — franchised, independent, national chain, and online dealerships — remain among the most popular places to buy used cars. Private car sellers on listing sites such as craigslist and auction sites like ebay are also popular. Auction websites, such as ebay , are a popular way to buy and sell second-hand cars of all types and ages. You’ll usually have to pay a small fee and can set a reserve price; ebay also allows a ‘buy it now’ function at a set price. Bidders can ask questions prior to the sale, but bids aren’t legally binding.
What is the best mileage to buy a secondhand car?
To assess a used car’s mileage, multiply its age by 10,000. For example, a five-year-old car should have no more than 50,000 miles. If it’s significantly higher than this, investigate the car’s service and MoT history. Keep in mind that “high mileage” can vary depending on the car’s make, model, and condition. As a general rule, you should assume that the average car owner puts 12,000 miles on a car each year. To determine whether a car has reasonable mileage, you can simply multiply 12,000 by its age. That means good mileage for a car that’s 5 years old is 60,000.We suggest you consider a 4- to 6-year-old vehicle with around 50,000 miles on the odometer. But it’s essential to consider how an owner drove the car, whether in a city, on a highway, or a mix of miles, and how well the driver cared for the automobile. Comprehensive service records will help tell some of that story.