Can I buy a second hand car online

asks daisydotes

A. You certainly can, there are lots of sites that specialise in selling used cars. The quality of the cars you buy really depends on how much you're prepared to spend. You can buy from a used car specialist, a car supermarket or direct from the manufacturer online.

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Q. How can I be sure that the car I buy from an online vendor is a good motor

A. You can never be 100% sure of a second hand car, no matter where you buy it from. Here are a few things you can do if you're worried:

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a) Have the car checked out by a mechanic (the AA and RAC will also do this for a fee if you prefer) before you hand over any money

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b) Buy from a large broker

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c) Ensure that the car you are buying is not stolen or a write-off (you can do this online at www.hpi.co.uk for �30).

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d) Check the chassis and registration number in the car against the registration document.

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Q. Can you recommend any good sites for second hand cars

A. Some of the following are established and reputable and are all trading online:

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Autobytel

This site is really easy to use - you can choose from a list of cars for sale on its database, or look for the exact car you're after by typing in its name and simply pressing the search button - and has hundreds of secondhand (and new) cars for sale. The cars all appear to be of good quality, and prices start at around �4,000.

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Autotrader

This is the online version of the well-known magazine of the same name - and is fantastic to use, as it has so many add-on features. It can search by engine size, mileage and condition of car�-�if you know what make of car you want before you start your search. If you don't know what make you're after it can be like looking for a needle in a haystack as its database is so huge. This site includes loads of photos, so it can be a bit slow.

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Exchange & Mart

This is another online version of a well-known magazine of the same name, the weekly-classified magazine, Exchange & Mart. As with Autotrader, its database is huge so it really helps your search time if you know what you're after. If, however, you don't you can pick up some great bargains, by typing in crazy prices and seeing what it finds for you. It also has an email service. This site also includes loads of photos, so can be a bit slow.

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Fish4Cars

This is a great site that offers a unique service - it takes all the classified car ads from the local press around the UK and puts them all on one huge database. It is very fast to use as it does not carry any photos, so you don't actually see what condition the car is in - but the photographs are usually so small that it probably doesn't make that much difference. If you don't know what kind of car you're after, experiment with the Lifestyle Search facility - as it will match a vehicle to you.

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JamJar

Wittily named after cockney rhyming slang for car, this site offers some good deals on used and nearly new cars. It is also the best site for independent car reviews and provides a warranty for every car it sells, so you feel very safe buying from this site.

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Q. What about car supermarkets and manufacturer sites, can you pick up some good deals here too

A. The best tip for buying from a manufacturer-based site, ie one that sells only one make of car e.g. VW (www.volkswagen.r66.co.uk) or Alfa Romeo (www.alfa-approved-cars.co.uk) etc. is to make sure that the site is approved by the manufacturer - and it will have a notice to this effect if it does. To find these simply type the name of the car manufacturer into a good search engine, and you're off.

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Some supermarkets offer great deals on new and nearly new cars and they are usually under warranty. Some of the best car supermarkets on the web include the following:

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Broom Broom

This is a good site if you've got a bit of money to spend, but also in the market for a good bargain as its cars are from the higher end of the market e.g. BMW, Mercedes etc. You can save up to �10,000 on some new cars here, and it sells imports and will deliver the car.

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Motor Nation

If you're after a family saloon this might be the site for you as it has some great bargains in stock. Most are nearly new. If you do decide to buy from here, the site does not deliver so you'll have to pick up from one of two supermarkets in Widnes or Birmingham.

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If you have any other Internet related questions, please click here

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By Karen Anderson