Buying from a car supermarket

The price

Like a normal supermarket, the car versions rely on selling large volumes of cars at good prices to make their money.

Their prices are likely to better than a dealer's - and you won't get far trying to haggle as prices are usually already low. But check what's included in the price (such as road tax).

You're also restricted to what they've got in stock - although this could be thousands of cars available at different sites.

Your legal rights

When buying from a car supermarket, as with a dealer, the car must be:

• of satisfactory quality (taking into account how old it is and how many miles it's done),
• as described (so the car supermarket must answer any questions truthfully)
• fit for the purpose (so it should be capable of being driven safely)

(When you buy privately, the car only need be "as described").

If a used car turns out not to meet these requirements, you can reject it (if you act quickly) or claim for the cost of repairs.

Should you buy from a car supermarket?

Car supermarkets are a great way to get a good-value car - and you can usually drive it away. But you may have to compromise on exactly which features or model you want.

You may have to act quickly to get the car you decide on (in case someone else buys it), so find out what the conditions for a test drive are (e.g. which forms of identification you need) before you get there.

Compared with a single-brand dealer, options for trade-ins and warranties are likely to be limited. But you get more rights and protection than when buying privately.