There are many online companies offering car credit so it is essential that the buyer shop around to secure the best deal. Car credit online has the advantage of being easily comparable with other companies that may have been approached. It is possible to apply provisionally for car credit even before seeing the car wanted for purchase, because in that way one has definite repayment figures and a set APR which makes it really easy to stay within the parameters of the initial loan amount without being seduced into spending more than can comfortably be afforded.

Online car credit companies usually gives an on the spot decision and the loan can be held good for a certain amount of time, giving the buyer time to beetle off and secure the vehicle itself. The same is true of High Street lenders; car credit can be applied for and obtained provisionally with a shelf-life of, for example, two weeks so that a prospective buyer can car shop with confidence knowing the finance has already been secured.

Always be sure that any company offering car credit is regulated by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). The final agreement for car credit should always be in writing and signed by a representative of the finance company and the buyer. UK law states there is always a cooling off period for credit agreements during which an individual can decide not to go through with the loan without incurring penalties.

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One of the most important aspects of selling a car second hand is to pick the right price to advertise.  Picking a price that is too high will lead to fewer buyers and more reluctance to close a deal.  Picking a price that is too low will lead to plenty of buyers, but will leave the seller short of money that they could have made had they chosen the right price.  Also, it is not in the interest of sellers to constantly undersell, is it drives down market values and increases depreciation in the long run.  So – finding a good and fair price for your used car is very important.  If you are stuck wondering “what’s my Audi R8 value,” for example, a little research goes a long way.

With the internet, it is a lot easier than before to find an estimate for your car value.  There are many different websites that offer some kind of car valuation service, most usually for free.  All you need to do is supply a few details such as the car make, model and age, as well as a general overview of the condition it is in, and the website comes up with an approximation of how much the car could be worth. 

Another way the internet makes it easier to value your car is by looking at sales that have gone through.  Car auction sites are particularly useful for this, and even eBay can be a good place to look.  Anywhere that shows how much a car sold for is a useful place to look.  Just be sure to look at cars that are the same model as your own, preferably with a similar age and condition.

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Some used car dealers are more specialised than others. While most sell all types of used cars, there are others that only concentrate on a single type of vehicle. For example, Exeter Small Automatics has only small used automatic cars for sale. They are aware of their customers’ concerns for the environment and so give them what they want; small used automatic cars. This may sound very limiting, but with around a hundred automatic cars for sale, they clearly do not find such specialisation to be overly constraining for them. 

The company’s website has detailed information on driving an automatic car, as there are clearly concerns that many of their customers will have only driven manual cars in the past, and may be worried about the prospect of changing to an automatic. The website reassures the reader that an automatic is much easier to drive than a manual car. Exeter Small Automatics also provide access to financing from Black Horse, making it possible to arrange a loan and buy a car on the same site.

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Today’s market offers a variety of ways to purchase a car that were unheard of even 15 years ago. The meteoric rise of IT means that there is less need to trawl around car salesrooms or plough through the small ads in the local paper. Now it is common to not only select the preferred model online but also to study its performance and check out 3D views of the interior from every angle. In addition, a potential buyer can read customer reviews so the purchaser is armed with technical specs and vehicle performance details long before being anywhere near ready to go car shopping.

Even if the buyer is not a car enthusiast, the chances are they will have come across some car related information before purchase. Nowadays the car buyer is much more product-aware, thus being in a stronger purchasing position and meaning the seller must up the ante and be expected to do more than simply match the customer’s knowledge. Consequently the car business has opened up and now includes the prospective buyer within the hallowed realms of mechanical knowledge erstwhile only know to the chosen few.

For the seller, however, the basic methods of sales and marketing have advanced along with IT, and those in car sales really have to know the product inside out. With global competition growing tighter they must be prepared to be flexible in terms of cost and other incentives to purchase.

It is not all bad news for the seller though, because with most UK vehicles purchased with finance, customers have more access to loans than they had before so those who are seriously in the market for a vehicle have a higher percentage of acquiring finance than ever before. In addition there are more company cars on the road too, giving scope for tendering cars by the fleet and incorporating a maintenance contract.

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Even if a car is not new it can still be treated to that showroom gleam by keeping it washed and polished. Never wash the car in direct sunlight as it is too easy to leave streak marks all over as the water dries unevenly on the bodywork. 

•    Step 1: Rinse car all over with plain water and hose. 
•    Step 2: Use a good quality car pre-wash product and apply with a woolly car wash mitt. Start at the roof and work down, a panel at a time.
•    Step 3: Now the main wash with a car shampoo of choice, change mitt for a sponge and work shampoo into car with circular motions.
•    Step 4: Clean wheels and tyres with a brush then wash out thoroughly using a different sponge.
•    Step 5: Rinse shampoo off both bodywork and wheels with fresh clean water, hose preferable.
•    Step 6: Dry off with a chamois.
•    Step 7: Polish. Add to polish to two pints of water and rub into paintwork only. Buff to finish.

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There are a lot of different ways to get extra cash out of your Citroen if you are thinking about selling. By taking just a few simple steps you will be able to squeeze a little extra money out of the buyer, giving yourself a better deal.

What’s my Citroen Worth?

Firstly, it’s heavily recommended that you clean your car properly. This will give buyers a good first impression and won’t give them an excuse to try to haggle down the overall price. Some people even choose to take their cars to a professional valet to get a ‘new car’ feeling.

Secondly, make sure that the Citroen doesn’t need any simple repairs. Things like scratches, dents and rust can drastically reduce the overall value of the car. If you can’t sort out these issues yourself, it could be worth taking the car into a garage for a clean up and service.

Thirdly, consider renewing the tax and MOT on the car. This is one of the main things people tend to look at when they are buying a second hand car. By having time left on the tax and MOT, buyers will realise that the vehicle is roadworthy. These steps will all increase your Citroen’s overall value and will allow you to squeeze a little more cash out of the buyer.

How Can I Sell my Citroen?

There are various options that a seller could take when trying to sell a Citroen. The easiest way is to part exchange the vehicle for another car. This method involves taking the car to a dealer and getting them to take it off your hands for a reduced price on a new car. Although this approach is very convenient, it doesn’t always give sellers the best value for money.

Selling a car privately is another option. This means that the seller will have to advertise the car in classified ads. It’s recommended that you should always take cash with this option. If the buyer can only pay with a cheque, you should always wait for the money to clear in the bank before handing over the car.

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There are many car sales forecourts and dealerships that have a wide cross section of automatic cars for sale, depending on the individual’s requirements and budget. Both diesel and petrol automatic cars are widely available.

The prospective purchaser has to decide whether they are looking for a small city car, a model that will be suitable for long distance driving or a high-performance sports car. Whatever the reason for choosing to buy an automatic car, you will be assured of a smooth and effortless drive to your destination; short or long journeys become a pleasure.

If you have a particular make of car and model in mind you can look at various websites to find out what is currently available. Bearing in mind this could involve you having to travel some distance it is essential to make a firm appointment for a test drive, so that you do not have a wasted journey. 

Once a suitable automatic car has been found, a decision has to be made regarding whether a part exchange deal is preferred, if it is to be an outright purchase or if car finance will be required to complete the deal.

The car will most probably have a warranty and you should be able to take it to a dealer in your own area, should there any repair work be required.

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Many people believe that after they buy a new car they will be required to have it serviced by the dealer exclusively; however, as of October of 2003 new car buyers have not been obliged to get their car serviced by a dealer while it is still under warranty.  What this means is that the buyer can have their car serviced by any reputable car repair shop, although they must ensure that the shop they use will service their car according to the manufacturer’s recommended schedule and criteria, and that the parts used are manufacturer approved parts.  Failure to do this could void car’s warranty.

If you do choose to have your car serviced or repaired outside of the dealer network, you must ensure that the mechanic will adhere to the above mentioned criteria, and you will also be responsible for keeping complete records of the car’s service and repair history.  Any work which is being undertaken under warranty should still be completed by the franchised dealer, as they will find it easier to deal with the manufacturer directly.  If you are in doubt about whether or not something is covered under the warranty, check with the car supermarket or dealer where you purchased your vehicle.

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Buying a new, used or part exchange car from a dealership can be a difficult process and while most aim to give a good and honest deal, a few are known to use underhand tactics to get more money from a customer. Some unscrupulous practices by car dealerships include:

•    Spot Delivery – This is when dealer tells you the cost of your car and then after taking a deposit, lets you drive home even though the deal is not finalised. You then receive a call from the dealer telling you that as a result of the credit check, they can no longer offer this and either you have to return the car, or pay more for the vehicle. Make sure the contract is complete before you give over any money and look for the words, “subject to financing,” which will tell you the contract is not, in fact, complete.

•    Additional Dealer Mark-ups (ADM) – ADM can include any number of extra costs such as rust proofing, undercoating and dealer preparation to name but a few. These charges are often pre-printed on the form to give the impression they are fixed. However all ADM charges tend to be for things that take no more than two hours work in total so do not be afraid to negotiate.

•    Credit Reports when Paying Cash – If you’re not going to finance with a dealership, then do not allow them to run a credit check as every time this happens your credit score may decrease slightly.

•    Check the Final Costs – Do not trust a dealer to get the maths right, do it yourself. Whether an honest mistake or something more sinister, totals don’t always match so make sure any down payments, money from part exchanged cars and any rebates are factored into the equation.

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There are many places where it is possible to find used cars for sale. This article looks at some of the most popular options.

On the Web

Motors.co.uk is a popular used cars website run by Northcliffe Media, which owns the Daily Mail and a large percentage of Britain’s local newspapers. Another popular site is autotrader.co.uk, the website of the best-selling magazine. Both sites ask you to select a make and model and provide your postcode, so that you can find suitable used cars for sale in your area. If you do not have a specific make and model in mind, you can enter other features, such as price range, mileage, colour etc.

In Print

Since not everyone has access to the web, print media, as a source of used Mercedes adverts, is not entirely dead yet. Both the websites mentioned above are offshoots of print media, while Motors.co.uk is the brand name used by the car ad supplement in many of the Northcliffe Group’s local papers. Whilst it takes longer to search through ads if you are looking for something specific, it can actually be quicker to browse a print publication if you are not quite sure what you are looking for.

At a Dealership

Another way to find used cars for sale is through good old-fashioned shoe leather; visiting local used car dealers to see what is on offer. The advantage of this method is that you can actually see the cars for yourself, rather than relying on photographs and lists of features. If one takes your fancy, you can always take it for a test drive. Visiting dealerships yourself ensures that you only see cars that are local to you, so you know you will not have travel 50 miles if you see a great ad in the paper or on the web.

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