We like to find a bargain in life, to know that we’ve bought something for lower than the market value. Whether we’re doing our weekly shopping, or buying something larger like a house or a new car, we will try to get the best price that we can.

This often leads people to shun their local car dealer in favour of buying private, either through the local newspaper or through the Internet. This can, in some cases, prove to be a wise move, but all too often when you buy private you end up buying something that is less than what you expected.

When you look for used cars privately, you have no guarantee that they are free of faults and that they will work without requiring maintenance. However, when you buy from a large car dealer you know that each car the dealer sells has been thoroughly checked by a trained mechanic. You also know that should the vehicle develop a fault you will be able to return it to the dealer for it to be looked at and fixed if necessary.

You have no such peace of mind when buying private.

Many used car dealers also sell new cars, and even though you may be budgeting for a used car, the price of some new cars could give a pleasant surprise – especially when you consider the government scrappage scheme that gives you money off for trading an old car. New cars also come with longer warranties, meaning you can be sure of avoiding expensive repairs for years to come.