How to Shortlist a Used Car Without Getting Overwhelmed

Start with a short list of requirements you can test: your maximum purchase budget, the journeys you make most often, the space you need and where the car will be parked. Separate essential requirements from preferences. This helps prevent an attractive photograph or an unfamiliar feature from taking over the decision.

Use the inventory filters to narrow the field, then open the complete galleries of the cars that remain. Search can include a make, model, year or stock number. If a query returns nothing, remove one restriction at a time so you can see which requirement is limiting the results.

Select two to four cars for comparison. Record the asking price and mileage, but also note questions about servicing, equipment and condition. Two listings with the same year and model may be different cars, so use their stock numbers when you contact the team.

Arrange viewings around those questions. Bring a passenger or the luggage you regularly carry if that helps you assess fit. A useful shortlist is one you can explain in practical terms; the final choice should follow a viewing, a review of the records and a clear written quotation.