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

It needs to be safe and reliable. Also affordable to run.

Low mileage and good service history are a must when buying a used car

Price, condition and reliability.

Low Mileage and how the engine ticks over when idling. Warranty as well so would never buy private.

I also take a mechanic friend to examine also we also examine the service record which should include the mileage

Full service history and the condition of the car are really important, if it's scruffy chances are that the owner doesn't look after it.

Good size, reliability and affordable! :)

First things I normally look at are mileage and if it's mot'd, and if there were any advisorys on the mot. Check that the owner hasn't got it on finanace as you can never be too careful and if it's ever been involved in any accidents

I look at cost, size, how comfortable it is to drive, fuel efficiency, boot size, age and mileage.

What I mainly love about about buying a used car, it's getting all the extras and bells and whistles someone else chose and paid top whack for, at a fraction of the price. Because in the second hand market all those extras are included and don't really increase the value of the car.
I look for low mileage, comfort, safety is obviously a key thing but I have generally bought VW or Volvo in the past. Service history and fuel consumption. The boot has to be big and the leg room in the back must be adult sized (big kids).
My current car (coincidentally insured by Coop) met all of these criteria and was a bargain, mostly because it is top of the range even though it's 6 years old and had really low mileage.

sunroof! I love them and you never seem to get them on new cars.

Low mileage, good service history, clean interior, price, no dents or scratches. Good mpg also.

That it is in a good state of repair

Low milage, service history, good condition. I also love getting the extras I probably wouldn't pay for if buying new.

It has to be economical & comfortable. I'm not bothered about gadgets just a car that is reliable.

We spent 3 months looking for the right second hand car and viewed/test drove 8 different types. The one which stood out (and the one we bought) felt comfortable to drive and be a passenger in and had plenty of space and storeage.

Not too big a car, but with plenty of storage in the boot and even in the passenger compartment. We had a lot of trouble recently trying to buy a Renault Scenic up to three years old, that was petrol, not diesel. In the end, although we live in a large city, we had to drive to a dealer thirty miles away to buy a petrol C-Max.

Space. 3 young kids so I prefer full seats to fit car seats. Reliability. Cost to run

I look for mileage, service history, insurance costs, fuel type and efficiency, size and looks

For me its a happy balance....it has to have the gadgets I need (and the colour I want) but its also safety, low mileage and affordibility.

Boot space is a must though for our suitcases :D

I hate buying cars! It is scary to invest so much money when you are taking a big risk on the unknown! I look for the right price, a car make that is known for reliability and probably cheap parts and repairs and running costs! I don't care about colour or tech, in fact the less tech the better for me...less to go wrong! The only other requirement is size, it must fit all the camping gear in!

safety and miles on clock

I want to buy from a reputable dealership. We have got our last two used cars from Volvo due to the warranty and service plan. I chose the model of my car by engine/fuel economy but then went for one that had all the bells and whistles.

Full MOT and fuel efficency