When it comes to purchasing a used car, you have lots of options ahead of you. As well as businesses that specialise in used car sales, you can turn to auction sites and private sellers. However, although there are lots of options available, this isn't a process you should rush. Here's what to look for when buying a used car.

Your Needs

Before you start browsing through cars, make sure you separate your wants from your needs. For example, if you don't live in a rural setting, you may not need a four-wheel drive. And for most people, a convertible isn't a necessity. Identifying what you actually need can significantly broaden your options while reducing your costs. 

Your Budget

Your budget shouldn't just cover how much you're willing to spend on the car itself. You should also look at fuel efficiency. How much do you expect to spend each week, and does your prospective car allow for that? Additionally, you need to focus on your insurance costs. While a car may look cheap right now, you could be paying for it later in the form of high insurance premiums.

Miles on the Car

All used cars come with miles on them. It's up to you to identify how many miles you're willing to accept. Having tens of thousands of miles on a used car isn't necessarily a bad thing. However, you should check to see when a cambelt change was last performed and whether the gears are currently in a good state. The car should also benefit from a service after a certain number of miles, and this can vary according to the manufacturer. Make sure the service intervals have remained regular, or you could find yourself paying for someone else's mistake.

Common Faults

Some signs of wear and tear are acceptable. However, to the untrained eye, it's sometimes easy to miss signs that a fault is looming beneath the surface or that a repair is soon due. Try turning to a used car review service or ask a professional to perform an inspection. Someone with the right training can assess a car's suitability and identify faults. They can then advise whether you need to negotiate a repair, try for a better price or turn away from the car altogether.

Finally, always make sure you take the car for a test drive. Doing so allows you to detect potential problems and assess how comfortable you feel with driving it.