I've just passed my automatic driving test — now I need a car.
I'm looking for a decent, reliable automatic car for under £3,000, and I'd rather buy directly from a real owner (or a small dealer) than go through a big forecourt markup. If you've got something that fits the criteria below, I'd genuinely love to hear from you — no time-wasting, no lowballing, just a fair deal for a car that does what it says on the tin.
What I'm looking for
Automatic transmission
No manuals — I've only just passed on an automatic.
£3,000 or less
That's my absolute ceiling, including any negotiation.
Under 60,000 miles
Lower is better, but this is the cut-off.
Everything working properly
No warning lights, no known mechanical faults.
Clean MOT history
No history of major/dangerous failures hidden behind advisories.
No outstanding finance
Needs to be genuinely yours to sell, free and clear.
Nice to have (not essential)
- Full or partial service history
- Two keys
- HPI clear (or you're happy for me to check)
- Reasonable distance from you, or you're open to me collecting
- Ready to drive away — no waiting on repairs first
I'm not fussy on make or model within these limits — small hatchbacks, superminis, older automatics, anything sensible and dependable. What matters most is that it does what it's supposed to, has a clean history, and is priced fairly for its age and mileage.
What I'll check before I buy
Not to be difficult — just sensible due diligence that any careful buyer should do.
I'll check the MOT history myself
Every MOT test and advisory is on the free gov.uk MOT history checker — I'll look up the registration before agreeing to anything, so please be upfront if there's anything in there.
I'll run an HPI-style check
To confirm there's no outstanding finance, it hasn't been written off, and the mileage isn't flagged as inconsistent.
I'll want to see it and drive it
In person, in daylight, before any money changes hands. That's normal, and if a seller won't allow it, that's a red flag for me.
I'll check the V5C matches
Name and address on the logbook should match who I'm dealing with, and the VIN should match the car.
Prefer to just email?
Send me the details and a few photos directly — this address comes straight to me.
Got something that fits? Tell me about it
Fill in as much as you can — photos really help me get a feel for the car before we speak.