A popular used car expert has taken to YouTube to recommend how motorists can buy a pre-owned model for significantly less than normal and still receive peace of mind.
Adam Morris is one of the main presenters on the ReDriven YouTube channel and regularly fronts videos in which he showcases a wide range of well-known new and used cars and offers tips to help motorists save money and avoid breakdowns.
In a recent video, Adam offers a number of tips for drivers thinking about buying a car at auction, stating that many venues let visitors bid on a very wide range of cars, including incredibly well-kept ex-company models.
He advised: "It's important to remember, as we found when we went along, that there's such a wide variety of cars to choose from. Yeah, of course there's going to be some very questionable options going through for a few hundred pounds.
"But there are also some ex-fleet cars with faultless service histories, run-of-the-mill family cars with just a little bit of panel damage, all the way through to prestige ex-lease cars, some with a really good service history and others with a few question marks."
Compared to private sellers and dealerships, car auctions typically offer a much wider range of vehicles at generally lower prices, with many traders and dealers using them to find models to sell on.
However, with bidding often being incredibly fast-paced and many auctioneers not offering auctions, it is easy for inexperienced motorists to feel nervous about making a bid.
Nevertheless, with confidence and some research, the YouTuber highlighted that drivers can get a dependable car for a very reasonable price.
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In particular, Adam recommended that bidders start by focusing on a model that generally offers a good track record for reliability and has an estimation that sits well within their price range.
He added: "Our advice? Start with looking for cars that are generally considered reliable to begin with, and then find something with as few miles as possible, with the best service history as possible.
"Try to get a gauge for what life it's had so far and, as always, try not to stretch the budget too far, because it never hurts to have a few thousand spare to fix any potential issues that might need fixing."
Finally, drivers were also advised to not turn up without knowing what cars will be present on the day, with Adam suggesting motorists who have never visited an auction before go to one simply to see how they operate.
He continued: "Keep in mind that buying at auction requires a little bit more research than you might be used to, so jump online. Check out what cars are going to be coming down the auction lane on the day and get a gauge of the market value through all of the other car buying channels.
"And, in most cases, get down to the lot, kick the tyres, check inside, maybe even bring a mechanic with you to check things over. Maybe go to an auction with no intention of buying, but just to see how it operates."
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