Tell Co-op Insurance what you look for when buying a used car - £300 voucher to be won! NOW CLOSED

[EllieMumsnet]

Whether you are buying a small family car, something fun for yourself, or perhaps a first car for your teenager, there are many things to consider such as size, fuel economy, and comfort to name a few. Co-op Insurance think safety is really important but would like to find out what is most important to you when you are buying a used car.

Here’s what Co-op Insurance has to say: “We know safety is paramount when it comes to driving children around and finding an affordable used car that offers the best safety standards will be important to many mums. For this reason we have identified and unveiled the top 5 used cars (under £5,000) for passenger safety. Whether it's your teenager’s first car or your car, passenger safety is very important and often an afterthought with all the other aspects to think about.”

So what is important to you when buying a used car? Are you savvy in finding the best price or do you shamelessly want a nice colour? Perhaps it’s all about the in-car entertainment for you to avoid the dreaded ‘are we there yet’? Or are you adamant that you must be able to fit three car seats in the back? Whatever your most important features are, please share them below and you will be entered into a prize draw to win a £300 voucher of your choice (from a list).

Thanks and good luck

MNHQ

Standard Insight T&Cs apply

Page after page of people saying "reliable, low mileage, fuel economy, service history etc", as if those are never-heard-of, unusual "wants"

I'm waiting for someone to come along who always looks for a "gas- guzzling, unreliable, gone round the clock, no records, impractical heap of over priced junk"!

SAFETY!

With a used car, I would check the condition of the tyres, the airbags, the seatbelts, the lights, the brakes, the clutch and the mileage.

Cost first of all, space for all the bits and bobs that come with the kids and then low mileage. Not at all bothered by colour although I am a little swayed by any upgrades the car has dependant on now much it add to the price.

It hasn't really got anything to do with looks but is all to do with space and practicality eg it has to comfortably fit two adults, three teenagers including two who are 6 feet+ tall, two dogs and loads of luggage. Eek!

For me, now that my child is about to be 11 years old, it has to be a small classic car. Because whilst all the belts and braces and whistles and bows of modern cars is great, the issue with a used car is always the service bills and the more 'computerised' cars are, the greater the service bills (as I found out to my cost with my last car), whereas a car with a basic engine can has parts which can be replaced and repaired fairly cheaply and with an acutal mechanical engine, which can be looked at. The trend for 'seeing the parts' and actually knowing how an appliance works not only empowers me, but also it is environmentally friendly - reuse, repair, renovate and recycle. In the long run, this is the best option for my child.

Reliability & fuel economy are top of the list. After that, sound system, roof rails & boot size.

I need to know about the previous owners & how well the car has been looked after. So only consider cars with full service history & non repetitive problems on MOT certificates.

Good safety features and ISOFIX and anchor points, I also need car reversing/parking sensors.

I look for clean interiors with not stains & rips. Good exterior condition too, no big bumps or scrapes.

The colour is a big factor for me too, I'd hate to have a neon yellow car for example.

Storage is a must for our car, big boot and lots of compartments.

I would never buy brand new because of the immediate depreciation. A good 2-3 year old car which I have checked over by a mechanic pre-purchase. Something safe and reliable that's easy and cheap to maintain. Must be a 5 door for ease of access. Not worried about the colour.

We needed enough seats for four children and days out with two grandparents for a seven seater was our main requirement

I definitely consider style - no bangers, mystery be sporty and has to be 7 seats so that really narrows the choice. We don't compromise of style/speed/fuel economy..

I look for reliability and fuel consumption in the first instance. It has to be big enough to fit a family of four and luggage and be cheap to repair if needed. I generally like parking sensors and an automatic gear box too!

Low mileage, full service history and space. We have 5 DC so need all the seats in a 7 seater and although we (finally) no longer need space for a buggy, boot space is still important for shopping, suitcases etc.

I don't care what the car looks like, but safety, three separate seats in the back and a big boot are my priorities. I would also look for a car that's cheaper to run.

Good mileage, good service history, but most importantly I need to be able to trust the dealer. The hard sell is guaranteed to make me walk away!

We tend to look for reliability and safety.

Usually we will have read reviews to narrow it down to the model we want and then when we go to look at a car we want to see it's history (service history, new parts/work carried out on it, any accidents or inconsistencies that suggest it may not be what it seems)

Good service history, recent MOT, clean, tyres all have even wear and tear. Generally clean good condition. Decent vibe from the sales person

Size in important, especially now we have a baby and need space for her pram etc. Also good value for money is very important and that it has back doors for ease getting our baby in and out

For me I'm not too fussed on appearance as long as it is in good, overall, safe condition. I check mileage, when MOT due, when tyres were last replaced. I also use an app to check what advisory's it has had on previous mot's to see if anything will cause a problem in future

When I recently bought a very second hand car, the important thing was the service history, and knowing it hadn't been in any accidents etc

The prime consideration is that my Mum, who has major mobility issues, should be able to get in and out easily. After that, it's safety, economy, reliability and if I'm comfortable driving it. I'm not bothered about appearance or fashion.

Economic and environmentally friendly
Reliable
Low mileage
Good safety record
Nice and comfortable to drive
Good amount of boot space
Looks good

Big enough boot for the dog

Enough room for the kids in the back and two car seats

Economical and cheap to tax

low mileage is

It's usually about practicalities like how boot size, reliability, getting car seats in, running costs. Also price is super important. While I'd be concerned about safety, I would tend to think that any car that's well maintained, has been serviced and MOT'd and is bought from someone reputatable is safe enough!