What to Look for When Buying a Used Car in 2025

Buying a used car should be an exciting experience. Here at Eden, we’re experts in pre-owned vehicles, so if you’re looking to make a change, get in touch and discover what we have to offer.

But if you’re considering the purchase of a used car in 2025, what should you be looking out for? In this article, we’re going to drill down on what to think about when buying a second-hand car.

Budget

One of the best places to start when looking at a used car is with your budget. While it might not concern the vehicle directly, establishing a budget early on can make the whole shopping process a lot easier and will avoid disappointment down the line, too. Bundle in all of the additional costs, such as maintenance and servicing, into a monthly output, and it’ll make the whole process a lot easier.

You may want to consider going down the finance route, too, if you’d rather spread the cost of the car over a set period. Get in touch with the Eden team today to discover more about finance options.

Mileage

Mileage is another thing to think about when purchasing a used car. It all comes down to what you’re happy to accept - a higher-mileage car might cost less but need a little more repair work sooner, whereas a lower-mileage car might cost more but need less maintenance.

There’s no reason to discount a higher-mileage car, either, as all of our vehicles at Eden are professionally inspected prior to going on sale.

Size

Gauging what size of car will be right for your needs is also important. For instance, if you’ve got a larger family, then you might want to consider an SUV or an estate car or, if you’ve got dogs, then something with a bigger boot could work.

But while there’s always a temptation to go for a slightly bigger car, they do sometimes come with higher running costs - so always try and work out what size of car could work for you as accurately as possible to make things easier in the long run.

Fuel type and transmission

While 10 years ago your choice of fuel types was pretty limited to just petrol and diesel, these days there’s a far greater variety. The growth in electric car popularity has meant that more of them have arrived on the second-hand market, with these cars offering the possibility of some very low running costs. If you’re new to the world of electric vehicles, then get in touch with the Eden team, who will be able to answer any questions you have about battery power.

Plus, you’ve also got the option of hybrid cars, with mild, self-charging and plug-in models out there to choose from. All usually offer a more efficient driving experience than the one you’d get with a standard petrol or diesel car, so they’re worth considering. Finally, decide whether you want an automatic or manual gearbox. The former is more relaxing to use in traffic or around town, but the latter is more common and often simpler to maintain and repair.

Age

Similar to mileage, age is a key factor in how a car’s price is determined. The good news is that all of our cars here at Eden are professionally checked over before sale, so even if you’re looking at something a little older, you can be sure it’s in great condition.

An older car will be slightly less expensive but could potentially have covered more miles, whereas a newer car might have lower mileage but cost more. It’s down to what you’re happy with.

Specification

Thinking about the features you want from your car is also something to look for when buying. So, whether it’s Apple CarPlay for connecting and mirroring your phone’s apps on the car’s infotainment, or rear-seat climate settings to help those in the back stay at a comfortable temperature, put together a ‘wish list’ and this can help to make choosing much easier.

At Eden, you’ll find a car’s list of key specifications on every listing, so check out our current range today to see what’s available.

Here at Eden, we’ve got years of experience in pre-owned cars, so if you’d like to find out more or see what else we can offer, head to our website to check out our line-up of vehicles today.