Last updated May 25 2021
Used and approved schemes offered by some dealers and manufacturers run comprehensive checks on vehicles to ensure they are in a good mechanical and aesthetic condition. Approved used cars will never have been written-off and will have no outstanding finance. Furthermore, cars with high mileage or in poor visible and mechanical conditions will be unlikely to qualify. By purchasing an approved used car, you are provided with the assurance that it has met the high standards set by the dealership or manufacturer.
The qualifying criteria is based on the individual manufacturer or dealership, but some that may be included are:
Not all vehicles sold on the forecourt of a dealership will be approved cars. As mentioned in the section above, the cars that qualify for approved used status have gone through comprehensive quality and mechanical checks. These cars will also qualify under a certain criterion of mileage and age, which are determined by the individual manufacturer or dealership. The standard used cars you may see on a forecourt may be cheaper, however, they will not come with the same level of guarantee as an approved car.
The benefits of purchasing an approved used car are within what qualifies it to be listed in this category. When purchasing a used car, your car may be missing some service history, may not have had MOTs completed at approved garages and the condition can vary. Some dealerships and manufacturers may offer warranties on their approved used range of cars, so you will be covered should there be any faults with the vehicle that are covered under warranty. Therefore, the primary benefit of buying an approved used car is that you’re removing the uncertainty around the vehicle you have bought without paying the premium price it could cost to buy a brand new car.
Although there are benefits to purchasing your car through an approved used scheme, this can mean you end up paying more than if you were to buy the same car without the guarantees. However, if you don’t want to pay a premium to buy a brand new car, but still want some guarantees on the vehicle, then an approved used scheme could be a valid option.
If you’re in the market for a new car, you can sell your car in under an hour by entering your registration plate at the top of the page and getting a free car valuation in less than 30 seconds.
Audi Approved Used
Alfa Romeo SelectedForYou
Aston Martin Certified Pre-Owned
Certified By Bentley
BMW Approved Used
Citroen Select
Dacia Approved Used
DS Certified
Ferrari Pre-Owned
Fiat Found
Ford Approved
Honda Approved Used
Hyundai H Promise
Isuzu Approved Used
Kia Approved Used
Jaguar Approved Used
Jeep SelectedForYou
Land Rover Approved Used
Lexus Approved Used
Maserati Approved Used
Mazda Approved Used
Mercedes Approved Used
MG Approved Used
MINI Approved Used
Mitsubishi Approved Used
Nissan Approved Used
Peugeot Approved Plus/Standard
Porsche Approved Pre-Owned
Renault Approved
Rolls-Royce Provenance
SEAT Approved Used
Skoda Approved Used
Smart Approved Used
Subaru Proven
Suzuki Approved Used
Tesla Approved Used
Toyota Approved Used
Vauxhall Network Q
Volkswagen Das WeltAuto
Volvo Selekt