Getting a great deal on a used car

Driving is expensive these days, even if you do find fantastic lady car insurance deal with a motor insurance provider like CoverGirl.

Because of these seemingly ever-increasing motoring costs, many women are looking for savings by turning to second-hand cars. This way, they can get all the fun of a nearly-new vehicle but avoid the massive depreciation associated with brand new cars.

Just a quick flick through a car sales mag or two minutes of browsing on the net will reveal that there are loads of bargain used cars out there - it is just a matter of finding them.

Unfortunately, there are many pitfalls that lie in the way of unwary second-hand car buyers, making it quite a risky business. Rip-off merchants are happy to prey on the unwitting and it is all too easy to end up with a cut and shut or an otherwise damaged and even dangerous car.

However, you will be happy to know that the girls at CoverGirl aren't just experts in low cost lady's car insurance and have put together a guide to help you find your dream used car.

Budget

Before you start looking at cars, set your budget and stick to it. Make a list of what you want from your car. For example, do you need four doors so the kids can get in and out easily? Do you need a big boot for your shopping bags or car boot sales? Do you want diesel or petrol? Can you afford a car with a high motor insurance group?

Research

Search the internet for the best websites and let your friends know you're looking to buy a car. There are also lots of specialist weekly magazines like AutoTrader and FridayAd which have lots of second-hand cars for sale.

Online, the best sites where you can find second hand cars include: www.ebay.co.uk, www.exchangeandmart.co.uk, www.autotrader.co.uk and www.friday-ad.co.uk.

Other excellent sources of information are your friends and family. What do they think of their cars? Ask about fuel consumption, car insurance and reliability. This will give you some good ideas for which makes and models to keep an eye out for and which to avoid.

Test drive

Before taking the car on a test drive, open the bonnet and check the engine is cold. You should always test drive the car from cold to ensure you won't have problems starting it first thing in the morning.

When you take the car for a test drive, make sure it lasts for at least 20 minutes, so you can be sure you are comfortable with it. Try driving the car on the motorway and country lanes to see how it handles on different roads. Make sure you test the brakes well, any grinding sounds could indicate wear. Keep an eye on the oil temperature gauge. Any signs of overheating could indicate a head gasket problem.

Look out for cars with a full service history and be cautious of those without one. A documented service history means the car will have been regularly maintained and may well prove to be more reliable in the long run.

What to look out for

When you inspect a car, don't be embarrassed about doing a thorough job. It is also well worth bringing a car-savvy friend with you to act as a second pair of eyes and ears to pick up any flaws.

You will kick yourself if you spend several grand on a car that ends up costing you loads in repairs - or worse - one that should go straight to the scrap yard.

Tyres

Buying a fresh set of tyres can set you back quite a lot so, when you are buying a new car, it's worth checking the tyres won't need replacing straight away. Every tyre, including the spare, should have more than 2mm of tread. Ensure that there is no cracking or splitting of the rubber on the tyres and steer well clear if the wear is uneven as this can indicate there are more serious problems with the car.

Bodywork

Check the bodywork thoroughly for any crash repairs and be very cautious about buying a car that has been involved in an accident because there may also be other damage that is not immediately obvious. Also check for rust, scratches and dents that may affect the value of the car.

Engine

It is normal for engines to be slightly dirty but if you notice that your prospective new car has a very mucky engine then you might want to think again about your purchase. A dirty engine can suggest poor maintenance and perhaps some problems like an oil leak. When you start the car, listen out for any unusual engine noise.

Steering

If the car pulls to one side when you are driving, the chances are that it is poorly aligned and this would need to be corrected. Steering problems such as this are often reflected in tyre wear.

Brakes

When you press the brake, you should be able to feel a decent level of resistance. If you do not, and the pedal can easily be depressed to the floor, this is probably a car to avoid. While you are test driving the car and it is safe to do so, try braking hard to ensure you get the proper response and the car does not change its course.

Suspension

You can check if the shock absorbers need replacing by pushing the corners of the cars hard. If they do not rebound just once then settle back into position, you may be looking at a car with a problem.

Odometer

Many people try to sell off older cars that have been "clocked" - i.e. the odometer has been rolled back to show a lower mileage than is accurate. If this has happened, the numbers on the odometer may be left out of line and the car will probably look older than it should do.

Paperwork

It is vital to check that the car has all the proper paperwork. Otherwise, you could end up with a car that is being sold illegally and even if the car is genuine, you may have trouble getting buyers to believe you when the time comes to sell the car.

Check that the number plates and other details match the V5 document, as there are a huge number of fraudulent schemes that play on the trusting nature of innocent consumers. It is also well worth having a check carried out by www.hpicheck.com as the chances are that it will pick up any questionable aspects of the car's history.

Negotiation

If the car passes your inspection with flying colours, has all the paperwork and you are absolutely confident that is the one for you, it's time to put your sternest face on and start negotiations over the price.

It is best to negotiate face to face and with cash in your hand. Be confident and expect to walk out of there with a discount - the seller will usually have priced the car with some leeway in mind. When deciding on a price, remember to factor in the cost of any repairs that need doing to the car.

The most important thing to remember is your budget. If you find that negotiations aren't going well and the seller wants more than you can comfortably afford, walk away and remember that there are plenty more cars out there that will look just as fab on your driveway.

Need a lady car insurance quote to go with your new car?

Now you have your shiny new motor, we can help you to get a really great value lady car insurance quote to go with it.

At CoverGirl, we know that ladies make better drivers than men. It has been proven again and again that women have much less serious accidents than men and therefore make lower value motor insurance claims.

Because we don't insure men (apart from as a named driver on a lady's car insurance policy), it means we can offer really fantastic rates to all you girls out there.

Many of the women who get a motor insurance quote from CoverGirl get a pleasant surprise as they realise they have saved up to 30% on their previous lady's car insurance policy.

Save money - get a cheap car insurance quote now.

*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).