Advice for buying a used car

• Used car: buy from a private seller or a dealer?

  Legal guarantee of conformity, hidden defects, withdrawal, documents: what French law gives you depending on whether you buy your used car from a private seller or a dealer.

  Updated on 19 October 2026

• Crit'Air and low-emission zones: which used car to buy for city driving?

  Electric, hybrid, LPG, petrol or diesel: which Crit'Air sticker each used car gets, what French low-emission zones (ZFE) ban in 2026 and which models to choose to drive everywhere.

  Updated on 19 October 2026

• Test-driving a used car: the points to check

  Cold start, clutch, automatic gearbox, brakes, hybrid or electric: the complete checklist for a successful test drive of a used car and for spotting faults before you buy.

  Updated on 19 October 2026

• Used car mileage: how many kilometres is too many?

  Petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric: how to judge the mileage of a used car, when the big repairs come due and how to check that the odometer is telling the truth.

  Updated on 19 October 2026

• How to negotiate the price of a used car

  Market price, roadworthiness test, upcoming maintenance, known faults of the model: the method and the costed arguments to negotiate a used car without bluffing.

  Updated on 19 October 2026

• Which used car can you buy for €5,000?

  Age, mileage, costs to budget for, Crit'Air, models to consider and versions to avoid: what €5,000 buys in a used car, with the figures from our guides.

  Updated on 19 October 2026

• Used diesel or petrol: which should you choose today?

  A buying guide to choosing between a used diesel and petrol: at what yearly mileage a diesel pays off, Crit'Air stickers, low-emission zones (ZFE) and common problems.

  Updated on 18 October 2026

• Used 1.2 PureTech engine: should you avoid it?

  Wet timing belt, oil consumption, 10-year warranty extension: the problems to know about and check before buying a used 1.2 PureTech.

  Updated on 18 October 2026

• Which used hybrid SUV is the most reliable?

  Full, plug-in or mild hybrid: how each affects the battery and warranty, and the best-rated used hybrid SUVs in our buying guide, plus those to check first.

  Updated on 18 October 2026

• Used electric car buying guide: battery, range and pitfalls

  State of health, manufacturer warranties, leased-battery Zoe, home charging, purchase grant and common problems: what to check before you buy a used electric car.

  Updated on 18 October 2026

• Which used car can you buy for €10,000?

  Age, mileage, registration document, roadworthiness test, petrol or diesel: a buying guide to what €10,000 gets you in a used car, with specific models to consider.

  Updated on 18 October 2026

• Buying a used car: the documents to demand from the seller

  Crossed-out registration certificate, transfer certificate, administrative status certificate, roadworthiness test: the list of papers to ask for when buying a used car from a private seller.

  Updated on 9 October 2026

• How to read a used car's roadworthiness test

  Minor, major and critical defects, re-tests, recorded mileage: how to decode the roadworthiness test report before buying a used car.

  Updated on 9 October 2026

• Used car: how to spot a scam before you pay

  Price too low, seller unreachable, deposit demanded before the viewing: the warning signs that should make you drop a used car listing.

  Updated on 9 October 2026