Three of the top 20 places in Britain to buy a used car are in Wales, shows a new survey.
The best value place in Britain to buy a second-hand car is the Hertfordshire town of Letchworth — because the used cars on sale there offer the optimum combination of age, price and low mileage, according to AA Cars.
Across the UK, the average price of used cars is falling. Official data from the ONS shows that prices dipped by 0.6% between September and October. Prices were also down on the same time last year for the first time since before the pandemic2.
However the AA Cars analysis of the used cars being offered for sale in 90 towns and cities across the UK found that prices and value can vary – and pinpointed where drivers can find the very best deals.
Letchworth now tops the list, as although its vehicles aren’t the cheapest in the country, they offer the best value for money when their low age and mileage are taken into account. The Hertfordshire town, which is home to Britain’s oldest roundabout3, has now notched up another accolade – the used cars for sale there are the youngest in the UK at an average of 3.3 years old, and have the lowest average mileage at 22,437.
Nearby Luton is home to the cheapest vehicles in the UK at £11,649 on average, but overall value there is brought down by the high average mileage (69,954) and greater age (eight years) of the cars for sale. Luton’s used cars are, on average, older than those anywhere else in the country, meaning the Bedfordshire town failed to make AA Cars’ ranking of the top 20 best value places to buy a used car.
Top 20 places offering the best value used cars
Overall rank |
Location |
Average age |
Age ranking (out of 300) |
Average mileage |
Mileage ranking (out of 90) |
Average price |
Price ranking (out of 90) |
1 |
Letchworth |
3.3 |
1 |
22,437 |
1 |
£19,748 |
61 |
2 |
Chester |
3.9 |
8 |
28,696 |
14 |
£18,496 |
47 |
3 |
Newport (Wales) |
4.2 |
22 |
29,050 |
15 |
£17,112 |
32 |
4 |
Harlow |
4 |
15 |
28,499 |
12 |
£18,322 |
46 |
5 |
Portsmouth |
3.9 |
11 |
27,404 |
6 |
£19,769 |
63 |
6 |
Basingstoke |
4 |
13 |
25,740 |
3 |
£20,098 |
67 |
7 |
Crewe |
4 |
14 |
27,405 |
7 |
£19,869 |
65 |
8 |
Belfast |
3.9 |
7 |
32,419 |
35 |
£18,260 |
45 |
9 |
Huddersfield |
4.7 |
40 |
31,364 |
29 |
£15,450 |
19 |
10 |
Aberdeen |
3.7 |
4 |
25,959 |
4 |
£23,804 |
84 |
11 |
Cambridge |
3.5 |
2 |
26,616 |
5 |
£24,508 |
85 |
12 |
Guildford |
3.5 |
3 |
22,647 |
2 |
£25,283 |
87 |
13 |
Bury St. Edmunds |
4.5 |
31 |
31,425 |
30 |
£17,381 |
33 |
14 |
Dundee |
3.7 |
5 |
27,499 |
9 |
£22,427 |
81 |
15 |
Swansea |
4.4 |
30 |
30,614 |
23 |
£18,036 |
42 |
16 |
Blackpool |
4.2 |
20 |
30,479 |
21 |
£18,943 |
55 |
17 |
Peterborough |
3.9 |
10 |
27,541 |
10 |
£21,320 |
77 |
18 |
Barnsley |
4.8 |
44 |
34,376 |
44 |
£14,690 |
13 |
19 |
Brentford |
4.1 |
16 |
28,669 |
13 |
£20,490 |
72 |
20 |
Bridgend |
4.3 |
24 |
33,119 |
39 |
£17,706 |
39 |
This table details the top 20 best places to buy used cars, calculated by looking at prices, age and mileage and assigning a ranking number.
Harlow in Essex was the best value place to buy a used car in 2021. Its cars remain good value, with the town coming fourth on this year’s list.
James Fairclough, CEO of the AA’s used car site said, “As the cost of living crisis squeezes everyone’s disposable income, shopping around to find the best deal on a big ticket item like a car has never been more important.
“Thankfully the average prices of second-hand cars are starting to cool. With prices varying across the country, it has never been easier to search for the very best deals, wherever they are, by using an online marketplace like AA Cars.
“You no longer need to limit your search to your local area either, as many dealerships now also offer vehicle delivery services. Consumers can also use the AA Cars Delivery Service to arrange for a car to be sent straight to their door.”
He added, “The great advantages of the second-hand car market when budgets are tight are the abundance of choice and variation in price.
“For those wanting to ensure their purchase really does offer the best value, we always recommend that buyers organise a pre-purchase vehicle inspection to make sure they can drive away with peace of mind that there are no hidden faults that could cost money down the line.
“You can also consider taking out a warranty to provide further reassurance that you will be covered if your car requires any unexpected repairs.”