Bag a car bargain online

More and more savvy car buyers are turning to the internet to find a bargain and benefit from the convenience and wider choice it provides.

Trading website, exchangeandmart.co.uk offers advice on the pros and cons of buying online and top tips to get the best price when selling.

“One of the major benefits of buying online is that buyers can use very precise search criteria,” explains Debra Healy, Digital Director of Exchange & Mart. “Online searches will only bring up relevant ads that match their criteria, including make, model, colour, fuel type and price, saving a lot of time. In addition, buyers can be specific regarding location, so they don’t have to travel too far. Alternatively, enthusiasts looking for rare or classic cars can search the whole country for the perfect purchase.

“On exchangeandmart.co.uk we send email alerts to buyers with details of new adverts as soon as they appear on the site. This enables them to move quickly and find their ideal car before somebody else snaps it up. Buyers can choose when to search and with the growth of internet-enabled phones, they can now choose where to actually search from. Our adverts are as up-to-date as possible, which means someone could search for a car while they’re out and about, view it, do the deal and drive home in a new set of wheels, all in one afternoon.”

exchangeandmart.co.uk prides itself on ease of use and getting users to where they want to be within the site as quickly as possible. As a trusted household name since 1869, Exchange & Mart is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction by continually meeting their changing needs and providing instant access to the products they want.

Nothing beats the speed and convenience buying online can offer. However, the growth of the internet has also caught the attention of fraudsters. Buyers need to be aware of the risks and follow the advice available on exchangeandmart.co.uk or vstag.co.uk, the website for the Vehicle Safe Trading Advisory Group (VSTAG).

Healy concludes, “The classified car industry, including exchangeandmart.co.uk, is doing all it can to minimise scams and set up VSTAG in partnership with the Metropolitan Police. So far, adverts for cars to the value of many £100,000s have been removed from VSTAG partner websites, making it safer for consumers. If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is, so stay alert and avoid the scammers.

“Ultimately, shopping online empowers consumers to find exactly what they want, where they want and when they want it. exchangeandmart.co.uk continues to be the first port of call for savvy consumers looking for a bargain from a brand they can trust.”

Exchange & Mart’s Top tips on selling online

Always include pictures with your ad that make your car look desirable.

Provide as many useful details as possible, including all the added extras that make your vehicle stand out from the crowd.

Make sure you’re available to take enquiries from buyers. If they have trouble getting hold of you they are likely to try elsewhere.

Beware of potential scams. If a buyer offers higher than the asking price, or if they’re asking you to ship your car to another country, walk away.

If a deal looks too good to be true, it probably is.

Always meet the buyer in person.

Check exchangeandmart.co.uk or vstag.co.uk for full details on how to protect yourself from scams.