Most of us buy used cars, so if you only want something to run you about from A to B, you may only want to spend up to £1,000. That can seem like quite a lot of money, especially if it’s your first car, but you have to be careful. It’s possible to buy a decent used car for under £1,000 but it’s also possible to buy one that has many hidden problems.

It’s important to get your car inspected no matter how much you’re willing to spend, but especially when you’re spending your life savings. If you have a family member or friend who knows about cars, you may want to take them with your for the viewing, perhaps letting them have the test drive. Alternatively, you can pay a garage to come out to inspect the car for you. They’ll be able to tell you whether the car is in good condition and where there could be some potential problems in the future. They charge per callout though, so you may spend money calling them out to look at a car that’s completely useless. Whatever you choose to do, do you homework when buying a car, it’s a big investment.