Advice on buying a used car and getting a cheap deal on women’s car insurance

Buying a second-hand car can be an absolute nightmare. And we’ve got to face up to it, the majority of us girls probably don't know as much about cars and engines and all that sort of stuff as we should.

We might be able to get ourselves a cheap car insurance deal from one of those specialist women's car insurance firms, but what's the point of saving money on your premium if you're just going to chuck loads away buying a heap of junk?

Used-car salesmen make a killing from people that wander into their garage or showroom without being clued-up and not knowing what they want. When they see a woman walk through their doors, their eyes light up. They instantly think they’ve got an easy target.

So if you don’t know your camshaft from your crankshaft and your ABS from your RDS, keep reading. Because those nice people at CoverGirl Car Insurance Services, the experts in women’s car insurance, are going to give you a few tips about what to look for when buying a second-hand car, and how to tell when the DelBoy-esque dealer’s not quite telling you the whole truth.

Ok, so here goes...

Before you start flicking through the pages of the second-hand car magazines have a think about what you can really afford. You might think a brand spanking new car is out of your price range, but nowadays there are some real bargains to be had. If you do go for a new car you'll be covered by a warranty that’ll protect you should anything go wrong, and you'll normally be able to haggle for some free motor insurance to be thrown in as well. On top of all that you’ll have the peace of mind that your car hasn’t been stolen and isn’t an insurance write-off.

If a new car really is out of the price range then start by flicking through magazines such as AutoTrader or WhatCar. They'll give you an idea of prices and probably have a few suitable cars in too. Local papers normally have a pull-out section one day every week dedicated to car adverts and newsagent windows are often a good bet too.

Do have a look at second-hand dealerships but remember that Mr Garage Man has got to make a living so all his cars are going to cost a little more than those being sold by private dealers. You will probably get a warranty from a second-hand garage but some of them aren't worth the paper they're written on.

When you’ve identified a few cars that you like the look of, ring up and arrange a viewing appointment. Only agree to go during the daylight and in good weather because any potential faults are harder to see in the dark or the rain. And you might make a mess of your hair.

When you’ve decided which cars you’re going to have a look at, go online and get a motor insurance quote for them from a women’s car insurance specialist. The last thing you want to do is buy the car of your dreams, get it home and then find that you can’t afford to insure it.

So by now you should've arranged your viewings, shopped around for a cheap car insurance quote, and got some idea of how much you’re prepared to pay. The last thing you need to do before you set off is get some extra help. If you’ve got any friends that are even slightly mechanically-aware, ask them to come along with you. Offer to buy them a drink in return and their knowledge could prove invaluable. If not, you’ll just have to keep reading.

When you finally arrive to see what could soon be your very own little car, there’s lots of things to check to make sure it's going to be a good runner and not cause too many problems.

Firstly, check the tyres for any sign of uneven wear. If one tyre looks more worn than the others it could be an indication of a suspension fault. And that’s not good. Also not good is smoke coming out of the exhaust, and dents and colour variations in the paintwork- that could be a sign of the car having been in a crash.

Pull out the dipstick (?!) and check that the oil isn’t black and sludgy because that means the engine hasn’t been well-maintained and might not last too long. Also look for rust, including underneath the wheel arches and on the door seals, and check the carpet and seats aren’t wet, a sure sign of leaks and holes.

If the car looks ok ask to see the service log and MOT history as you’ll be able to tell what work’s been done in the past. It is best to avoid a car that hasn’t got a full service history because even the most innocent-looking motor could have some dodgy secrets.

The next thing you need to do is take the car for a test drive. Remember that the car will feel different to whatever you’ve been driving before, but there are one or two signs to look out for. Make sure the gear-change isn’t clunky and stiff, ensure that the car doesn't drift across the road when you’re supposed to be driving in a straight line, and check that the lights, indicators, windscreen wipers and all the other bits and pieces are working alright.

If everything seems ok the last thing that needs to be done is a vehicle history check. Lots of agencies such as the AA and HPI offer the service, and for a few quid you can find out if the car’s been listed as stolen, if there’s outstanding finance still remaining on it or if it’s ever been in an accident and classed as an insurance write-off. If you don’t get it checked and buy the car anyway, you could be breaking the law and the police have a right to confiscate it, leaving you with nothing.

So if everything still seems ok then you’re in a position to buy the car. Make sure you get your motor insurance sorted from a women's car insurance specialist before you drive it off, because you won’t be covered if you have an accident driving your new pride and joy home without any.

Good luck!

*A replacement car can normally be arranged under one of the following conditions: (1) Comprehensive policyholders – a replacement car may be available under the terms of your insurance policy. Please check your policy details for more information. (2) Non fault accident – where we have the name, car registration number and insurance details of the person who caused the accident, we can supply a replacement car. This is done on a credit hire basis which means the costs for this service will be passed onto the insurance company of the person who caused the accident. We may not be able to arrange a replacement car where we are unable to get an admission of liability from their insurance company, or where the driver is untraceable or uninsured. (3) Repair garage – if your car is booked in for repairs following an accident, the repair garage may be able to provide a replacement car (subject to availability).