Second-hand car prices have risen significantly post COVID, due to the low supply of new vehicles and high consumer demands.
Car manufacturers are currently affected by the global shortage of semiconductor chips, an essential part in the car manufacturing process. As a result, production lines have slowed down, with manufacturers unable to build enough cars to meet consumer demand, turning many to the used-car market.
According to Auto Trader, this past year has seen a 31% increase in the value of used vehicles. With the general cost of vehicles increasing and fuel prices at an all-time high, what’s the best way to reduce the cost of your next motor?
Many parts of the UK experience changes in the value of property, cost of living, and to an extent, the cost of goods. But do second-hand cars see this same change, and how much cash can UK residents willing to travel for a deal save?
To put this to the test, the team at Classic Land Rover® supplier John Brown 4×4 studied the prices of the ten most popular models of second-hand cars across 63 of the largest towns and cities in the UK. All 1,890 vehicles compared were under three years old with fewer than 20,000 miles on the clock.
According to Admiral, Britain’s top ten most popular used cars so far in 2022 are as follows:
These models of cars were used by researchers at John Brown 4×4 to compare prices across 63 of the largest towns and cities in the UK.
Our team have worked out the average saving when purchasing one of the UK’s most popular cars, to reveal which cities are the best for purchasing a second-hand car.
The average price across the top ten second-hand cars in the participating towns and cities is £19,747.
Yorkshire is the cheapest county to purchase a second-hand car from, with three Yorkshire towns and cities appearing in the top five, including Bradford in West Yorkshire and York in North Yorkshire. John Brown 4×4 are based just north of York, in Thirsk. However, for those willing to travel, Northern Ireland is home to the cheapest car deals overall.
Topping the list is Belfast, with an average saving of 7.8%.
The average price across the most popular second-hand cars in Belfast is £18,212, a saving of £1,536 versus the average UK location.
Transferring your new purchase from Belfast to Great Britain is simple, with ferry prices averaging at around £150 each way to Liverpool, totalling £300 for a return journey (with a vehicle). The trip takes around 3 hours from London to Liverpool by car, with a ferry crossing time of approximately eight hours. There are no differences in car registration or ownership between Northern Ireland and the rest of the UK – the car will just arrive with a different plate.
Transporting a vehicle from Belfast to London could save you around £2,035 when compared to the average car price in London, including a reduction for travel costs.
For the ultimate second-hand car savings, enjoy a relaxing weekend in Belfast, come back with your new motor, and even have cash to spare!
In second place is Bradford, with an average saving on popular second-hand cars of 6.8%.
The average price of popular second-hand cars in Bradford is £18,396, £1,351 cheaper than the average price across the UK.
Travelling from London to Braford would take you approximately 4 hours, costing around £30.76 each way (based on an average speed of 50mph at 40mpg), and saving savvy buyers approximately £1,789 when compared to the average car price in London.
In third place is Huddersfield, with an average saving on the UK’s most popular second-hand cars of 5.4%.
The average price of motors in Huddersfield is £18,690, with a second-hand car costing £1,057 less than the average across the 63 towns and cities compared.
In fourth place is Stoke, with an average saving on the top ten most popular UK second-hand cars of 3.8% and an average vehicle price of £18,989, saving £759.
Stoke is the easiest top five place to access from London, with a train journey taking around 1 hour and 30 minutes, costing as little as £56.60 for a single fare.
After purchasing a single train ticket and travelling back by car from Stoke to London (3 hours), you could save approximately £1,177 in total.
In fifth place is York, with an average saving on the top ten most popular UK second-hand cars of 3.6%.
The average car price in York is £19,041, £706 cheaper than the average cost of a car across the UK.
Travelling via train from York to London costs around £40, and with a car journey of 3 hours and 30 minutes back to London, you could save approximately £1,138 when compared to the average car price in London.
So, what towns and cities should you avoid when looking to purchase a second-hand car? Analysts at John Brown 4×4 have revealed the most expensive towns and cities for purchasing a second-hand car.
All of the top five most expensive towns and cities are located in South East England.
Basildon is the most expensive town to purchase a second-hand car from, costing an extra 10.5% when compared to the average second-hand car across all participating towns and cities.
Purchasing a vehicle from Basildon could cost you an average of £2,081 extra if you’re looking to buy one of the most popular motors in the UK. When purchasing the same car model, with similar age and mileage, expect to pay £3,617 more than in Belfast.
Brighton is second, with the average second-hand car costing an extra 5.5%.
If you’re looking to purchase a vehicle around the Brighton region, you could end up paying approximately £1,081 extra than if you shopped elsewhere.
Chatham is third, with the average second-hand car price working out at around 4.7% extra.
If you live in Chatham, you could benefit from travelling to a cheaper area of the UK to save yourself around £1,012.
Luton is fourth, with an average second-hand car price of £20,680. Purchasing a vehicle from Luton could set you back £932 more than the average second-hand vehicle, that’s an extra 4.7%.
Fifth, is Southend. Picking up a car from Southend will set you back by approximately 4.2%.
If you’re looking to buy a car from Southend, you could end up paying an extra £824 than if you shopped elsewhere.
Greg Hendry, Marketing Manager at Classic Land Rover® supplier John Brown 4×4 said:
“When purchasing a second-hand car, factors that affect the price of the car include location. Many individuals may not want to travel to another town or city as it’s often seen as a risk – but the chance to save thousands on the same car might make you reconsider how far you’re willing to travel for your next motor.
You should always ask the seller to provide you with a detailed video specifying all of the car’s features, inside and out. A reputable seller will be more than happy to provide you with this, along with answering any other questions you may have.
When looking to purchase a second-hand motor, make your search nationwide and factor in the costs of travel to collect your car, rather than sticking to your local area. You’ll likely end up with a fantastic deal, and a road trip out of town to enjoy with your new motor.”
Here’s the full list of second-hand car prices across the UK’s largest towns and cities:
John Brown 4×4 are the UK’s leading dealer of Classic Land Rovers® and 4x4s. Operating from Thirsk, North Yorkshire, they provide a wide variety of vehicles, stocking the nation’s largest indoor collection of vintage Land Rovers®. All Land Rovers® for sale are thoroughly road-tested, have current MOT, and are inspected in-house with a detailed custom inspection.
John Brown 4×4 pride themselves on having an excellent reputation, providing an honest and efficient service to each and every customer. Contact our vintage Land Rover® specialists today to find your next classic Land Rover®.
The John Brown 4×4 team looked at Admiral’s Britain’s top ten most popular used cars from 202, and selected the most popular variant for each, to ensure price comparisons were fair between areas:
The 63 towns and cities were chosen based on their population size as recorded by the Centre for Cities.
The prices for three of each vehicle were recorded per location – totalling an index of thirty cars for each city.
All 1,890 vehicles compared were second-hand, under three years old with fewer than 20,000 miles on the clock.
Founder, Director & Classic Land Rover® Expert at John Brown 4x4
John is regarded as one of the leading experts in the Classic Land Rovers®. He is internationally recognised as a trusted authority in the restoration and preservation of classic Land Rovers® with over 30 years of industry experience. With his vast knowledge, John has created the largest indoor collection of Classic Land Rovers® for sale anywhere in the UK for enthusiasts across the globe to enjoy.
