UK car buying questions, answered
94 questions about buying and running a car in the UK, each answered in full at the top of its own page and traced back to the rule, the regulator or the dataset it comes from. Where a rule applies only in England, Scotland and Wales, the Northern Ireland position is given alongside it.
Asking about one particular model rather than a rule? Used Car Model Q&A gives the common faults, best years and costs of each model we have a guide for, with a link to the full guide.
Car finance
The statutory positions on handing a car back, section 75, APRs, returns, outstanding finance and compensation.
Can I hand my car back if I have finance on it?
Yes, and it is a statutory right. But the point at which the half rule costs nothing falls later than halfway through the term.
Does section 75 cover my car finance?
Not on an ordinary dealer-arranged HP or PCP agreement. Two other routes do, and they are stronger.
Who sets the APR on car finance?
The lender sets the rates; the dealer is a broker. What the FCA banned in January 2021 changed how that works.
Can I return a car I bought online?
Within 14 days of delivery, and no reason needed — but not if you bought it at the showroom.
I bought a car and it still has finance on it — can I keep it?
Usually yes, as a private buyer in good faith, anywhere in the UK: under the Hire-Purchase Act 1964 in Great Britain and the Hire-Purchase Act (Northern Ireland) 1966 in Northern Ireland.
Am I owed compensation for mis-sold car finance?
The FCA scheme is confirmed but partially suspended, so no lender is currently required to calculate or pay.
Running costs
What a car costs to keep on the road, worked from published figures rather than round numbers.
Should I buy a used electric car?
Only if you can charge at home. Without a driveway the case is much weaker.
Is an electric car actually cheaper to run than petrol?
Cheaper on a driveway, dearer on the public network — the spread is more than tenfold.
How do I check the battery health of a used electric car?
No official test exists. The MOT inspects the battery visually for security and leaks, and measures nothing else.
Will I have to pay per mile for an electric car?
Yes, 3p a mile from April 2028 — alongside vehicle tax, not instead of it, and on cars already on the road.
Is it cheaper to pay car tax yearly or monthly?
Yearly. But monthly Direct Debit adds only 5%, while two single six-month payments add 10%.
Do I need to tax a car I have just bought?
Yes, before you drive it. The seller’s tax was cancelled and refunded the moment they told DVLA.
Does my car have a cambelt or a timing chain?
It is set by the engine, not the model — so the three places that can actually tell you for one car.
How do I check if a car has a known fault?
Three free GOV.UK checks run on the registration alone. Each has a blind spot, and knowing which one matters.
What is the safest used car under £15,000?
Euro NCAP stars expire after six years and are not comparable across test years — so judge the year, not the number.
How many miles is too many on a used car?
A car in England averages 7,100 miles a year (DfT National Travel Survey, self-estimated), so judge the mileage against the age rather than a round number.
What counts as low mileage for the money?
Below the lower quartile for the age. We compare it with the same model at the same age and set the price difference beside it.
Does an SUV cost more than a hatchback for the same money?
Compared budget by budget across live UK stock: is the SUV older, or has it just covered more miles?
Can I still buy a petrol car after 2030?
Yes. The phase-out applies to new cars; the government has said used petrol cars can still be driven and sold.
Is fuel duty going up?
As things stand, twice in 2027 — and with VAT on top a 5p duty rise is 6p at the pump.
Can I use E10 petrol in my car?
Every new car made since 2011 is compatible, so a 2011-or-later car is fine.
MOT
Grading, advisories and failure rates, from the DVSA’s own published statistics.
What does an MOT advisory mean, and will it fail next time?
An advisory is not a failure and does not automatically become one. Nor does a Minor defect.
Why do cars fail the MOT most often?
Lamps and electrical equipment are the most common failure. Tyres are the most dangerous.
What are the odds a used car passes its next MOT?
It depends on mileage more than age. A 20-year-old under 20,000 miles beats a 10-year-old on average miles.
When can I get my MOT done?
Up to a month minus a day early and you keep the renewal date. Earlier than that and you lose the difference.
Does the MOT transfer when I buy a used car?
Yes — it is recorded against the vehicle, not the keeper, so the expiry date does not change on sale.
Is my car exempt from the MOT?
If it is over 40 years old and unmodified for 30. That is a different rule from the tax exemption.
Buying and your rights
What to ask before you pay, and what the law gives you afterwards.
Is an approved used car always backed by a warranty?
No. It is a manufacturer programme with no legal definition, so two approved-used cars can carry completely different cover.
Does the advertised price have to be the price I pay?
They need not honour a genuine mistake — but they cannot advertise one figure and add compulsory fees later.
How do I prove a car's mileage has been altered?
The free MOT history records the mileage at every test back to 2005. A reading that falls is close to conclusive.
How much do dealers make on a used car?
Less of the gap than it looks. VAT takes a sixth of the margin, and preparation does not reduce it.
What questions should I ask a car dealer?
The ones tied to something checkable: MOT history, service record, tax band, finance and the V5C.
What are my rights if a used car breaks down after I buy it?
Thirty days to reject it outright, and six months where the fault is presumed to have been there all along.
Will my car be charged to drive in the ULEZ?
It turns on the emissions standard rather than the age, and most cars already meet it.
MOT tests, certificates and retests
How long an MOT lasts, what it checks and costs, and what to do after a fail, from the DVSA’s and the DVA’s published guidance.
How long does an MOT last, and how often do I need one?
An MOT certificate lasts a year.
How do I find out when my MOT is due?
Enter the registration number on GOV.UK’s free MOT status check or MOT history check, which show when the current MOT runs out.
Do electric cars need an MOT?
Yes.
What does an MOT test check?
The MOT inspects the safety and environmental condition of a car’s main parts.
Can I drive a car with no MOT?
No.
Can I drive my car after it fails its MOT?
Yes, if its MOT is still valid, no dangerous problem was listed and it is roadworthy.
Do I have to pay again if my car fails its MOT?
Not always.
How much does an MOT cost?
In Great Britain the most an MOT centre can charge for a car is £54.85, and £29.65 for a standard motorcycle; a centre can charge less.
How do I appeal an MOT result?
Talk to the test centre first, then appeal to DVSA by emailing its appeal form.
How do I check an MOT in Northern Ireland?
Enter the registration number on GOV.UK’s MOT history service.
How do I prepare my car for its MOT?
Make sure the lights, tyres, brakes, wipers and mirrors are in order, have the fuel cap key to hand and, for a diesel, arrive with a warm engine.
What MOT class is my car?
On GOV.UK’s MOT fee table, cars with up to 8 passenger seats, motor caravans and goods vehicles up to 3,000kg design gross weight are Class 4.
Vehicle tax and DVLA paperwork
What road tax costs, which cars are exempt, and the registration documents, fines and refunds, as GOV.UK sets them out.
How much is car tax in 2026/27?
It depends on when the car was first registered.
How old does a car have to be to be exempt from road tax?
A car built before 1 January 1986 can stop paying vehicle tax from 1 April 2026; if its build date is unknown, one first registered before 8 January 1986 qualifies.
Do electric cars pay road tax?
Yes.
Do hybrid cars pay road tax?
Yes.
Does the expensive car supplement apply to a used car?
Yes, it can.
What is a SORN, and when do I need one?
A SORN, or Statutory Off Road Notification, tells DVLA a vehicle is being kept off public roads, so you can stop taxing and insuring it.
What is a V5C log book, and what does it show?
The V5C is the vehicle registration certificate DVLA issues, usually called the log book.
How do I register a used car in my name?
The seller usually registers a used car to you, online or by post, and gives you the green new-keeper slip.
Can I tax a car without an MOT?
Not if the car needs an MOT.
What happens if I do not tax my car?
An untaxed car with no SORN draws an automatic £80 fine, and you must pay the tax for the time it was untaxed.
Do I get a car tax refund when I sell my car?
Yes.
How do I tell DVLA I have sold my car?
Register the new keeper with DVLA online, or complete the V5C’s new-keeper section and post it.
How do I get a replacement V5C log book?
Apply to DVLA online or by phone as the registered keeper, with the registration number, VIN or chassis number and V5C name and postcode.
London charges
The ULEZ and the Congestion Charge, as Transport for London publishes them.
How do I pay the ULEZ charge, and what if I forget?
Pay the £12.50 daily charge on TfL’s website or app, by phone or through Auto Pay, up to 90 days ahead or by midnight on the third day after the journey.
Do motorbikes have to pay the ULEZ charge?
Yes, if the bike does not meet the Euro 3 emissions standard.
Do electric cars pay the London Congestion Charge?
Yes.
Electric cars: charging, VAT and grants
What charging costs, how VAT applies to it and whether a used electric car can get a grant.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
At home in Great Britain, Ofgem’s price cap averages 26.32p per kWh from 1 October to 31 December 2026, with no VAT.
What is the VAT rate on electricity and EV charging?
At home in Great Britain, domestic electricity is zero-rated for VAT (0%) from 1 October 2026 to 30 June 2027; in Northern Ireland it is 5%.
Is there a grant for a used electric car?
No.
Insurance basics
The legal minimum, what happens to an insured car you are not driving, and what an insurance group is.
Can I drive a car home after buying it without insurance?
No.
Do I need to insure a car I am not driving?
Yes, unless you keep it off the road and have declared that with a SORN.
What is a car insurance group?
An insurance group is an advisory score from 1 to 50 for how risky a car is to insure, set by an industry panel from Thatcham Research data.
Checking a used car
The official checks before you buy, how to check for finance and find the keeper, the paperwork to get, what a number plate tells you and what a write-off category means.
What should I check when buying a used car?
Before you visit, check that DVLA’s record and the MOT history match what the seller told you, and whether the car has been recalled.
What year is a 71 plate car?
A 71 plate means the car was first registered between September 2021 and February 2022.
What do insurance write-off categories A, B, S and N mean?
Category A and B cars cannot be repaired: A must be crushed entirely, while B’s body shell is crushed but other parts can be salvaged.
How do I check if a car has outstanding finance?
Run a vehicle history check that includes finance: nidirect says a comprehensive check from a vehicle checking company shows whether finance is still owing.
Can I find out who owns a car from its number plate?
Not from GOV.UK’s free vehicle check, which shows no keeper details.
What paperwork should I get when I buy a used car?
Ask to see the V5C and check it matches the car, get the green new-keeper slip, the MOT certificate or history, any service records, and a receipt or bill of sale.
Do I need insurance to test drive a car?
Yes: it is illegal to drive on a road without at least third party insurance, so whoever takes the wheel must be covered to drive that car.
Selling, settling and ending car finance
How hire purchase and PCP work, what you can do before the final payment, and what a lender must do if a payment is missed, from the Consumer Credit Act and the FCA’s rules.
Can I sell a car that still has finance on it?
Yes, once the lender is paid off.
Can I part exchange a car that has finance on it?
Yes, once the finance is cleared.
Can I cancel my car finance within 14 days?
Yes, if the agreement is regulated: you can withdraw within 14 days, counted from the day after it is made or you get your copy, if later.
How do I settle my car finance early?
Ask your lender for a settlement figure, due within 7 working days of your request, then pay it.
What is PCP car finance, and how does it work?
PCP (personal contract purchase) is a form of hire purchase with monthly payments and a final “balloon” payment.
What happens at the end of a PCP agreement?
You choose: pay the final payment and own the car, hand it back, or use any equity towards a new agreement.
What is hire purchase on a car, and how does it work?
Hire purchase (HP) lets you pay for a car in instalments while hiring it.
Who owns a car bought on PCP or hire purchase?
The finance company owns it until you make the final payment and take up the option to purchase.
What happens if I miss a car finance payment?
Before it can end a regulated agreement or take the car, a lender must serve a default notice allowing at least 14 days from service.
How much car finance can I get?
The FCA’s creditworthiness rules set no fixed figure.
Faulty cars, returns and private sales
What the Consumer Rights Act gives you against a dealer, what a private sale leaves you with and where to complain, from the legislation and the government’s own pages.
Can I return a used car to the dealer I bought it from?
Consumer law gives no right to return a car you chose at the showroom because you changed your mind.
What can I do if a dealer refuses to fix a faulty used car?
Ask the dealer in writing to repair or replace it: a trader must do so within a reasonable time, at its own cost.
Who is responsible for a faulty car bought on finance?
On hire purchase, PCP or a conditional sale, the finance company supplies the car and is liable for its quality.
What are my rights when buying a used car privately?
Fewer than from a dealer.
Does “sold as seen” mean I have no rights?
No.
Is it illegal to sell a car that is not roadworthy?
Yes.
What can I do if a used car is not as described?
A dealer’s car must match its description, including the main characteristics stated.
How long do I have to reject a faulty used car?
A dealer’s faulty car can be rejected within 30 days from the day after it is yours and delivered.
Do I have more rights buying from a dealer than privately?
Yes.
Work it out for your own car
The answers above give the rule. These work out what it means for a specific car and a specific set of numbers.
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