Our second hand car buying guide takes you through the process of buying a second hand car. There are a lot of considerations to make before you buy.

You could be taking a big leap of faith in buying a car second hand, so why is the used car option so popular among motorists?

Although there have been horror stories of substandard vehicles being sold by malevolent private sellers. The overwhelming majority of used cars are still in very good shape. Invariably they are much cheaper to buy than brand new models which have just arrived at the showroom. Also, the scope for used cars is wide-ranging – it could either be a recent model which has just been traded in, or a more retro vehicle with time-honoured specs that don’t come with new cars.

For younger or less affluent drivers particularly, buying second hand is always a good option. You just need to be vigilant when shopping for used cars. Even if a dealer or private seller sounds as charming and honest as can be, don’t take their words at face value.

Perform your own checks to see if you think the car is up to standard. That means inspecting it inside and out, looking under the bonnet, testing all the controls and even taking it for a test drive.

Even if a dealer or private seller sounds as charming and honest as can be. Don’t take their words at face value. Perform your own checks to see if you think the car is up to standard. That means inspecting it inside and out, looking under the bonnet, testing all the controls and even taking it for a test drive. Our

Our second hand car buying guide will help you to make the right decision. Only when you go for a spin in the vehicle can you really establish whether or not you would be happy to part with your hard-earned money for it.

There are questions you will need to ask and the second hand car buying guide points out these questions.

When you’re looking at a second hand car with a view to buying, ask the seller the right questions. How many previous owners has it had? Was it ever crashed or damaged before? Has it had mechanical problems in the past? When was it last serviced?

It would be a very good idea to bring along somebody experienced in second hand car buying as a guide. This will make sure there are no nasty issues before you buy.

You can be fully armed and informed when going shopping for used cars by taking a look at the infographic below, which was kindly supplied to us by First Aid Wheels.

If you have any comments on this second hand car buying guide, then please do in the section below.