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Guides for buying a car on the Isle of Wight

Plain, local advice for island drivers: what to check, what to avoid, and what your money really buys. Written for the island's hills, lanes, salt air and ferries.

An illustrated map of the Isle of Wight with a car, a ferry and guide pages
Start here Buying a used car on the Isle of Wight: the complete checklist Everything to do before you hand over money, in order, with the checks that matter most for island cars. 5 min read · Read the checklist →

Buying well

Checks, test drives, MOT history and buying safely.

Buying well Buying a used car on the Isle of Wight: the complete checklist Everything to do before you hand over money, in order, with the checks that matter most for island cars. 5 min read Buying well Test drive checklist for island roads A test drive route and a checklist that finds the faults island roads bring out. 6 min read Buying well How to read a car's MOT history Free, public, and the best ten minutes you'll spend before viewing a car. Here's what to look for. 5 min read Buying well Buying a used car privately: how to do it safely Private sales can be good value, but you have fewer rights. The checks that keep you safe. 5 min read Buying well Your first car on the Isle of Wight Cheap to insure, easy to park and up to island hills. What new drivers should look for. 4 min read Buying well Buying a campervan or motorhome on the Isle of Wight The checks that matter on a camper, and what its size means every time you take it on the ferry. 6 min read

Island driving

Salt air, steep hills, short trips and the ferry.

Island driving Why buy a used car on the Isle of Wight, not the mainland A mainland car can look cheaper. Add the ferry, the time and the trips back, and it often isn't. 4 min read Island driving Salt air and rust: checking an island car Sea air is hard on metal. Where to look, what's normal, and when to walk away. 5 min read Island driving The best kind of car for island roads Short trips, steep hills and narrow lanes. How island driving should shape what you buy. 3 min read Island driving Diesels, DPFs and short island journeys Most island trips are too short for a modern diesel to clean its filter. What that means for you. 4 min read Island driving Electric and hybrid cars on the Isle of Wight The island is small enough that range rarely matters. What does matter, and how to check a used battery. 4 min read Island driving Automatic or manual for island hills and traffic? Ventnor's hills and Ryde's summer traffic make a good case for an automatic. The types, and what to check. 4 min read

Money and paperwork

Your rights, warranties, finance, part exchange and running costs.

Money and paperwork Used car warranties and your rights What dealer warranties cover, and the legal rights you have whatever the warranty says. 5 min read Money and paperwork Car finance explained: HP, PCP and loans How hire purchase, PCP and personal loans work, and how to compare them on the total you'll pay. 5 min read Money and paperwork Part exchange or sell privately? Part exchange is easy, selling privately usually pays more. How to value your car and decide. 4 min read Money and paperwork What a car really costs to run on the island Fuel, tax, insurance, MOT and servicing, added up for a typical island year. 5 min read

Tools that do the work for you

Price guide on every carEach car page compares the price with similar cars on the island, and shows its price history. MOT history and mileage checkCar pages with a registration show every MOT, advisory and mileage reading. Compare side by sideSave cars with the heart, then compare running costs, age and miles. Plan a viewing tripA route round the dealers that have the cars you’ve saved. Email me new matchesSet an alert on any search and hear about new cars or price drops first. Sell your car freeIsland sellers can list a car for free, with scam checks on every advert.