How much for a normal used family car these days?

[RedPandaClaws]

We desperately need to a new car, our current one is 20 years old and falling apart!

We won't be doing any of this modern leasing or PCP stuff, I just want to pay in full for a used car that is maybe 3-4 years old, from an official dealer to get a bit of protection and warranty hopefully.

I have no idea about the type of car yet! I just want a decent normal family car with a bit of space in the boot, suitable for kids, reliable etc etc.

As a rough estimate how much do you think I should be preparing to pay? I just want to have an idea do I can start to plan my budgets for the coming months.

I'm expecting a bit of a shock as we bought our current car for £5k back in 2011, but I know used prices are much higher these days!

TIA

I bought an 11 year old car with just under 70 thousand miles on it for 4k last year and that was the best price I found after an entire weekend of looking. 3/4 years old your looking at around 12-15k.

Huge range but I’d say £13-30k for a 4 year old car

Horses for courses. You can spend £15 -£20000 on a newer, larger, fewer mileage, higher spec car, or £5000 for an older, smaller and/ or high mileage car.

Just looking at one website at random.

Honda jazz - 2020, 50000 miles, £10000

• 2019, 17000 miles £15000

Have a browse on auto trader
Some brands you get more for your money eg Skoda vs VW.

Also depends on size you need and if you want automatic.

I had a budget of £18K for an around 4 yr old automatic mid sized family car/SUV or estate.

I think you’re looking at 14K + for only 3-4 years old and something decent. You could easily spend 20K +
Second hand car prices are high and aren’t coming down.
I bought a 5 year old decent used Volvo and it was 13.5K 3 years ago. I got a 10K loan which I took out when loan rates were lower so it only costs £135 a month. If you don’t want pcp or finance maybe look at a personal loan.

Yeah I would get on Auto Trader. I’d say a standard family car would classed as a Nissan Qashqai or a Kia Sportage - put them in to Auto Trader and see what comes up.

Hugely varies though - others would describe a golf as a family car and others would say a Land Rover Discovery is, so until you figure out what make and model you want you are going to get wildly different answers.

I highly recommend Autotrader which has different settings for everything and can give you a rough estimate. I filtered for close by, trade, 5 doors, petrol, no cats (eg not written off by insurers), maximum price (under 6k) and loads came up that I could choose from.

I bought a 3yo Volvo V40 d3 for £12k. 18,000 miles

It's not trendy like the XC40 so less expensive, but solid, reliable and comfortable with plenty of leg room for huge teenagers.

I mean the range you could pay is huge ! But for 3-4 years old from a dealer with a warranty I think you'd be looking at a minimum of £15k.

Thanks all, that's really useful information to know. I think at least £15k is probably what I'm looking at by the sound of it. I'm just looking for mid range brands, nothing fancy, just boring and normal.