A few simple habits make it much easier to spot a good listing, and steer clear of a bad one, before you ever leave the house.
The description, mileage, service history and vehicle history checks tell you far more than the headline figure. A cheap price with a thin description is worth asking about.
Every DriveGrid listing shows whether a car has been recorded as a write-off, stolen, or scrapped, along with its keeper count. Always check this before getting attached to a car.
Search for the same make, model and age to get a feel for a fair asking price. If one listing is well below the rest, ask why.
A genuine seller won't mind sending a few extra photos, or hopping on a quick video call, especially if you're travelling to view.
Keeping the early conversation on-site means there's a record of what was said and agreed, which is useful if anything doesn't match up later.
Legitimate sellers won't ask for a deposit to "hold" a car sight unseen. If you're being pressured to pay before viewing, treat that as a warning sign.
Photos and descriptions can only tell you so much. See our guides on viewing a car in person and test driving a car for what to check.
Ask to see MOT history and service records, and check the mileage on them roughly matches what's advertised and what you see on the odometer.
Browse used cars from private sellers and traders across the UK.
Browse used cars