{"id":242698,"date":"2023-10-22T13:49:01","date_gmt":"2023-10-22T13:49:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/automotobuzz.com\/?p=242698"},"modified":"2023-10-22T13:49:01","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T13:49:01","slug":"im-a-car-expert-this-is-why-second-hand-vehicles-are-becoming-more-expensive","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/automotobuzz.com\/car-reviews\/im-a-car-expert-this-is-why-second-hand-vehicles-are-becoming-more-expensive\/","title":{"rendered":"I\u2019m a car expert – this is why second-hand vehicles are becoming more expensive"},"content":{"rendered":"

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A car expert has revealed the reason why second-hand cars are becoming more and more expensive – and it’s not just because of inflation.<\/p>\n

The cost of fuel, insurance, and roadside recovery means that motorists are losing more of their disposable income, while the\u00a0cost of living\u00a0crisis is making it harder for people to buy and own their own car, especially youngsters.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s more, the rise in cost means those who would like to get a car can\u2019t – which causes problems for people trying to find employment, too.<\/p>\n

Some have suggested that this means the cheap car in Britain is dead and that owners can\u2019t get what they need for not very much.<\/p>\n

Express.co.uk spoke exclusively to the motoring editor of Motors.co.uk, Steven Edwards, about whether the cheap car was still alive and well in the UK.<\/p>\n

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Mr Edwards said that one of the main reasons for the rise in prices isn\u2019t just inflation, but other global problems too.<\/p>\n

He explained: \u201cTaking inflation into account, a cheap car today would probably be classed as anything priced under \u00a36,000. Buying a car for a cheap price that\u2019s not very old and has relatively low mileage is not as easy as it once was, but it is still possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the main reasons for the increase in price for used cars was the lack of production of new cars. This was due to a chip shortage following the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe chips are essential to modern cars and almost act as the \u2018brain\u2019 of the electronic components. Since then the demand for used cars has increased and so have the prices.\u201d<\/p>\n

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As well as becoming more expensive to buy and own, cars are also becoming more expensive to repair. Mr Edwards said drivers could take some preemptive steps to save money.<\/p>\n

He said: \u201cWhen looking for a car, identifying which models are suited to what you will be using it for is key to prolonging the lifespan of your vehicle. For instance, don’t buy a car with a big diesel engine if you only need to drive to the shops occasionally and do the school run.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut on the other hand, don’t buy a small petrol car if you’re frequently driving long journeys. Buy the right car that is suited to your needs and you will get the most out of your vehicle as a result.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce you\u2019ve bought a car, the benefits of looking after it properly cannot be overstated.\u201d<\/p>\n