Motorists buying secondhand models remain consistent on what factors they look for when choosing a used car dealer.

It is most important that motorists get “the right car at the price” according to BCA’s used car market report 2009, which cites that 40% of consumers think this is vital.

This is followed by motorists looking for a good deal at 35% while 26% of car owners wanted to trade in their own vehicle.

Dealers being local, friendly/helpful and reliable/trustworthy also ranked highly.

Men (37%) like to feel they have got a good deal more than women (32%), which is also a must for half of 17-24 year-olds. This is less of a concern for 65 years and older car owners (28%) who are more interested in ‘trading in their old car’ and the ‘dealer was recommended’.

On the other hand, 55-64 year-old motorists like to be sure about ‘the cut of a dealer’s cloth’ – stressing ‘the staff are friendly and helpful’, ‘dealer appeared reliable and trustworthy’ and ‘I have bought a used car from them before’ as qualities they for when deciding which dealer to use.

Used car buyers’ requirements vary little across used car price bands, although half of people buying cars over £20,000 like to feel they have got a good deal on a car, compared with the average figure of 35%.

 

BCA commissioned BMRB International to carry out face-to-face interviews with 2,000 UK motorists in March this year with a regional spread across the UK.