Used Car Advice & Guides

Nearly 28% of people who bought a used car in the last decade reported a problem with it afterwards, according to Citizens Advice research from 2024. The most common issues were defective vehicles, undisclosed damage, and mileage that was higher than advertised. Most of those problems could have been spotted, or at least flagged, before money changed hands.

Buying a used car is one of the biggest purchases most people make, and the gap between a good buy and a bad one is almost always about preparation. Nearly 7.8 million used cars changed hands in the UK in 2025, but used-car complaints to The Motor Ombudsman rose 14% in the same year, reaching 18,570 cases. The most common causes were customer service failures and engine or component problems.

Most of those disputes were avoidable. This guide walks you through the process from working out what car you actually need, through to what to check …