June - July Car Buying Guide

My Car Check top tips for UK used car buyers in June and July 2015, including car of the month: Audi Q5 2.0 Tdi S line

• June is traditionally a fairly quiet month for used car buying

• More good condition two to five year old cars across all sectors

• Never pay cash, trust your gut feeling and check before you buy

"The Audi Q5 2.0 TDi S line continues to outperform most of its rivals"-Gavin Amos

My Car Check- the UK's No.1 consumer vehicle data provider - has saved millions of people from making an expensive used car mistake. In these monthly bulletins its used car experts reveal significant trends in the UK market andchoose a ‘car of the month'.

Head of Valuation Services at My Car Check, Gavin Amos, said:"The Audi Q5 2.0 TDi S line has been a star performer in the used car market for some time. Even though it is ageing now, it continues to outperform most of its rivals and still sits proudly at the top of many wish lists. Remember, when looking at any newish second hand car, it is always worth checking that it is free of debt, i.e. that it actually belongs to the seller and not a finance company."

As to market trends, Amos said: "June is traditionally a fairly quiet month for used car buying, although the old soft top cliché is true to a certain extent - demand does increase for something to enjoy during the summer months, and values always reflect this.

"With virtually all manufacturers now having an SUV option, it is no surprise that this sector remains especially strong, with the Nissan Qashqai leading the mid-size market.

"Looking ahead, there are some stunning new cars on the way across several key market sectors. This should benefit the new market in the short term and the used market as they filter through.

"There is currently plentiful stock in the used market and this trend looks set to continue. This is largely a result of the boom in PCP finance deals over the past few years. We are seeing more good condition two to five year old cars across all sectors.

"While PCP deals have caused nearly new values to suffer, they have also created a guaranteed supply of used cars. The shift to a regular change cycle has certainly eased stock shortages, so often the bane of the used market. The key issue looking forward will be increased scrutiny in terms of condition, mileage and specification. Demand is likely to remain firm for used cars, though the difference in value between high and low mileage examples is likely to grow."

My Car Check's parent company, CDL Vehicle Information Services, performs over a million look-ups a day for companies including AutoExpress, CompareTheMarket, Confused.com, Go-Compare, Moneysupermarket, Swiftcover, Tesco Compare and WhatCar?.

It uses up-to-the-minute data from the police, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and all major finance houses, including Lloyds TSB and Santander.

To help UK consumers make the right choice, My Car Check can confirm in seconds whether your potential pride and joy has ever been scrapped, stolen or written-off, has any money owing on it, has had a plate or colour change and much more.

Know what you're getting into: My Car Check