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How safe a car is has topped the bill for what used vehicle buyers prioritise when buying a second-hand car, new research has revealed.
According to data from AA Cars, a quarter of used vehicle buyers rank the safety of a vehicle as their most important consideration, followed by the car's condition (23%) and how trustworthy the seller is (14%).
Perhaps surprisingly, just 12% of used car buyers rate an affordable price tag as their main priority when selecting a used vehicle.
At the other end of the scale, just 1% of drivers stated that low emission levels were their key concern, while another 1% said the car's speed and performance was a key factor, and just 2% stated its age was an important factor.
Meanwhile, less than 1% of the 18,077 AA members surveyed considered the convenience of the dealership a priority.
The AA's survey also found that women (31%) are far more likely to be drawn to a second-hand vehicle because of its safety record than men (22%).
"Just how influential the impact of online car shopping has been is born out in how few people are bothered about the convenience of a dealership," said Simon Benson, director of motoring services at AA Cars. "The typical car buyer no longer just hopes to chance upon the right car locally - evidence shows that drivers will do extensive research online before heading to a dealership that they can trust."
He added: "When buying a car, take your time and do your research. Arm yourself with information and get a gauge on what feels like the right price for the make and model you're after."
| Used car buying priorities ranked | |
| Reliability | 25% |
| Condition | 23% |
| Trust in dealer | 14% |
| Price | 12% |
| Mileage | 7% |
| Running costs | 5% |
| N/A | 5% |
| Other | 2% |
| Age | 2% |
| Style | 2% |
| Low emission levels | 1% |
| Speed/performance | 1% |
| Convenience of dealership | <1% |
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