What is the best age to buy a used car?

For most buyers the sweet spot is three to five years old. A new car loses the steepest part of its value in the first three years, so by then someone else has absorbed that depreciation, while the car is still modern enough to have current safety equipment and is usually inside or close to its manufacturer warranty.

Three years is also when a car faces its first MOT in the UK, so a three-year-old car with a fresh pass has just had an independent check.

The trade-offs by age:

• Under 3 years — lowest risk and often still under manufacturer warranty, but you pay a premium for very little extra life.
• 3 to 5 years — usually the best balance of price, condition and remaining life.
• 5 to 8 years — noticeably cheaper, and fine with a solid service history, but budget for wear items like tyres, brakes and possibly a cambelt.
• Over 8 years — can be excellent value if maintained, though finance options narrow and some lenders limit the age of car they will fund.

Two things worth checking against age rather than mileage: cambelt intervals, which are often specified in years as well as miles, and ULEZ compliance if you drive into London — most petrol cars from 2006 and diesels from September 2015 meet the standard, but always confirm for the specific vehicle.