Each year hundreds of thousands of used cars change hands. Some deals are great buys; others are not so good. Follow these tips for buying a used car to help you get the best value for your money.

If you trade in a used car on which you still owe money, make the dealer put in writing that he will pay off your car loan in 10 days or NO DEAL. Without contractual proof, some unscrupulous dealers legally delay paying off these loans (in some cases indefinitely). In addition to making payments on your new loan, you must continue making payments on your previous loan until it is satisfied by the dealer (since the loan is in your name)—or risk going into arrears and ruining your credit.

Always take the car for a test drive. Make sure you don’t just drive it on city roads. Take it out on the highway and get up to highway speeds to make sure you like the ride, how quiet the car runs, steering, and other elements like how good your visibility is and blind spots. Decide whether you are comfortable driving the car. If you aren’t comfortable, then it’s not the car for you.

Most dealers are reputable, but to be safe, always include clear payoff terms in your contract and follow up with the lien holder to ensure the dealer has complied. If a dealer refuses to include this, be ready to leave immediately and take your business to a reputable dealer.

There are several good website resources for finding out what a vehicle is worth. You can search by category, make, model, and price. If you do an Internet search for ‘used vehicle prices,’ you’ll find several good resources.

With 3 car supermarkets in Cardiff, Northampton and Swindon, theirs no better way to buy a used car online, as with thousands of second hand car available to drive away, the car shop supermarket is the first choice when you want to buy used cars.