Author: Declan

How much should you invest in a second-hand car?

Written by Declan
Buying a second hand car can always be a bit of a worry. You never quite know what exactly you are buying even if you do all the research. If you are buying or have bought a second hand car in the region of £1500 or less then research shows that you can expect to have to spend a similar amount of money again on it over the next year or so. It is important to do some checks before committing to the purchase of a second-hand vehicle. Firstly you should ask to see the HPI certificate which is a check to show that the car has not been subject to a write-off, have outstanding finance on it or plate changes etc. It can also sometimes show you mileages taken...
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Where is the best place to purchase a used car from?

Written by Declan
Many of us would love to be able to buy a brand new car but simply cannot afford too. For every new car sold in the UK there are about three used ones sold. Buying a used car always carrys an element of risk. You may be buying a car off a complete stranger and have no idea of the history, if it has been looked after or even if the mileage is accurate. You will have to rely on the information you have such as service history and previous MOT’s. Even if you buy a car off someone you know and trust, they may not be aware of an outstanding issues which could only arise after you have purchased the vehicle. Ideally, you want to try and buy a...
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Are you having issues with your alternator?

Written by Declan
Cars can be a bit of a nightmare. You may find that you seem to be constantly having to have work done, especially on older vehicles. A common problem with older cars are alternators. You may notice that you are having issues with your car battery and you may be surprised to find that it is actually the alternator causing the issue and not the battery. Alternator issues can cause issues with a number of other aspects of the vehicle. You may notice that the car struggles to start up or that when driving your lights dim, this may be a sign of an alternator issue. The best way to find out if you have an issue with your alternator or if it is indeed the battery, is to take...
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Checking boot space in a car

Written by Declan
Before committing to buying a new or used car be sure to check the boot capacity if space is important to you. You need to think carefully about how much space you need. Many people assume that most 5 seater cars have a similar amount of boot space but this is not correct. Also just because it is advertised as a 5 seater, doesn’t necessarily mean that you will fit five adults in without a struggle. If you need to put car seats in the back, again you will often struggle to get three across the back seats.  Some cars have a lot of room for the passengers but the boot is very small meaning you struggle to get your weekly shopping in let alone a pushchair or have somewhere...
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Exhaust Emissions Test

Written by Declan
As part of the MOT test most cars are subject to an emissions test. The only cars that are exempt from this rule are vehicles with less than 4 wheels, two-stroke vehicles, hybrid vehicles and quadricycles. Most vehicles are tested using a special meter but old vehicles (classic cars) may be tested by sight. The vehicles are usually linked up to a tube which is placed over the exhaust. The readings are then taken and checked against the MOT standards to say whether it is a pass or fail. Tests can also be performed on the roadside if needed and if the vehicle fails, you will often get an order to fix the issues within 10 days of face prosecution. You may face a fixed penalty notice on the side...
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