Where is the best place to pick up a used car?

If you are in the market of looking for a new car then you may have to be on the lookout for a second hand one. Although owning a new car is a luxury that many of us would like to do, the hefty price tag attached to new vehicles often puts them out of budget for many people. Buying a second-hand car is always a bit of a risk as you do not know its full history and often you have little or no warranty with it (if it is an older vehicle and not bought from a main dealership).
When looking at any second hand car you should always carry out a HPI check on the vehicle which will check to see if it has outstanding finance on it, has been written off or had plate changed, amongst other things. If buying from a reputable garage, then they should have done this when they bought the vehicle or took it in part exchange, so you can always request to see it. If you are buying from a private buyer then you will probably need to do this yourself. You can do a HPI on any vehicle and it usually costs around £15.
Buying from a garage does often give you a little bit more security than buying a second hand car privately as you should get a three month warranty as minimum from most reputable dealers.