Motorists have been offered a number of tips that can help them avoid unexpected bills when buying their next used car.
Many drivers consider buying a used car as being one of the most cost-effective ways to get around. However, whilst there are plenty of bargains throughout the market, buyers must make sure that the vehicle they are interested in is as affordable as it seems.
In particular, the online vehicle retail platform MOTORS highlighted that drivers living near a low-emission zone (LEZ) or ultra-low-emission zone (ULEZ) should make sure the vehicle they want to buy is compliant.
Growing in popularity across city centres, and throughout the London region, emission zones incentivise buying cleaner, modern vehicles by making non-compliant models pay an entry charge, which can be as much as £12.50 per day.
As a result, drivers who enter a zone in a non-compliant vehicle each day may end up spending £4,550 more than they were planning on each year.
Whilst some areas have exceptions, the majority of emission zones apply charges to vehicles based on their age and the type of fuel they use.
This includes petrol cars that do not meet Euro 4 emissions standards, mostly made before 2001, and diesel vehicles that are not Euro 6 compliant, a measure introduced in September 2015.
Nevertheless, classic cars that were first registered more than 40 years ago and electric vehicles of any age are automatically compliant, with disabled drivers also able to gain an exemption from the fee.
Steven Edwards, Motoring Editor at MOTORS, also recommended that used car buyers thoroughly inspect the vehicle they are interested in, which can help them avoid an average fee of £273 in repairs.
He advised: “Some signs of wear and tear are expected, but checking the tyres, gearbox, and engine is essential to ensure they are in good condition and won’t become an issue for you to repair down the line.
“Check the mileage matches the age and condition of the car, and take it out for a test drive to get a feel for it.”
Finally, MOTORS suggested that drivers also carefully consider the overall running costs of the used car they want to buy, with the typical car currently costing more than £2,000 to remain on the roads.
When choosing what model they are interested in buying, many motorists consider how economical it is, but they should also check the cost of taxing the vehicle. This is particularly important for drivers looking to buy a car made before April 2017, which would be taxed based on CO2 emissions.
Drivers should also get a rough idea of how much it would cost to insure the vehicle, with the average cost of cover currently standing at £620 per year – a figure that can easily rise for owners of more powerful models.
