This time we are going to give you all the information you need to know about buying a used car in the UK.
There are many websites where you can get offers on vehicles that people post. Among the websites we recommend are:
- Gumtree
- Facebook Marketplace
Contents
The Prices
Clearly it all depends on your budget, but generally cars in the UK are quite cheap. You can get from £500 – £600 depending on the year, mileage, usage, but it all depends on your budget.
MOT TEST
One thing to consider when looking for a car to buy is the MOT TEST. This consists of a check that is done annually to the vehicle to verify that everything is correct and in optimal conditions and that the vehicle can circulate without any problem. This check is done once a year, in any authorised workshop.
When you are looking for a vehicle to buy, you should check that the MOT is up to date.
How can you check it? Here is a step-by-step link on how to check the MOT for any vehicle:
How to find out if a vehicle has an up-to-date MOT? step by step
ROAD TAX
We recommend that you buy a vehicle with a long MOT period, 10 or 12 months MOT still available, as this gives you assurance that the vehicle is in good condition.
Another important thing to consider is the ROAD TAX. This is personal and the amount will depend on the car, the year of the vehicle, the newer it is the cheaper it will be. This payment can be done monthly or yearly, it can also be done online:
Check if it is up to date:
To pay:
This serves to verify the price, also depending on the car and its characteristics.
Once you have purchased the vehicle online, you have to register it to your account as a direct debit and then the vehicle is ready to drive. This is mandatory, you cannot drive the vehicle without having the ROAD TAX up to date, you can be fined, so it is best that when you go to buy your car you have everything up to date.
V5C – Logbook
Let’s assume you have found the vehicle you want, checked that the MOT is up to date, ROAD TAX is up to date and then you are with the person to negotiate the purchase of the vehicle. Following this, comes the documentation step.
This is something very simple, you don’t need to go to any notary or anything like that, it is only with an official document called V5C – Logbook. This is like a book, an official transit document from the DVLA, which is the transit in the UK. This document is the only proof you have that who you are buying the car from is actually the owner and their details must be there.
Section 2 – Selling or transferring your vehicle
There are several sections in this book. When you are buying the car, the section you need to fill in is number 2. Here you will fill in your details and sign.
Section 6
There is a part that the seller is going to give you that day, which is section number 6, a green part called “new paper”. This paper will remain with you as proof that you are now the owner, the seller will have to send the rest of the document to transit and in approximately 2 to 3 weeks you will receive at your home the original new Logbook in your name, which is the original papers of the vehicle but now they will be in your name. In case you want to sell the car, you have to fill in the details and send it again to the transit office and the buyer will receive the new document.
It’s really quite simple and now the vehicle is officially yours.
Car Insurance
You will need something very important that is also compulsory, the car insurance. There are many websites where you can find offers, here is a very good insurance comparator:
There you will enter all the details of your vehicle, your licence and the prices. The Compulsory Insurance is also required to be able to drive the vehicle. It is also done completely online, you don’t need to go to a garage or anywhere else.
This is all you need to know to buy your first car in the UK, a second hand car from a private individual. If you have any questions or comments please let us know.
