- Budget cars (under £5,000): The price difference is most significant at lower values. A £3,000 Marketplace car might be £3,500-4,000 on AutoTrader.
- Local buying: Marketplace shows nearby listings by default, making it easy to find cars you can view the same day.
- Negotiation: Private sellers on Marketplace are generally more flexible on price than AutoTrader dealers.
- Quick transactions: Message the seller, arrange a viewing, and buy in one day if the checks pass.
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Enter a Reg Plate
AutoTrader Safety Steps
- Get the reg plate from the listing (or ask the seller)
- Run a free check on CarCostCheck for MOT history, mileage, and reliability
- If buying from a dealer: check their AutoTrader reviews and Google reviews
- Run the £4.99 premium check before committing
- If buying privately on AutoTrader: follow the same precautions as Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace Safety Steps
- Get the reg plate from listing photos or ask the seller
- Run a free CarCostCheck report immediately, before messaging
- Run the £4.99 premium check before arranging a viewing
- Only view at the seller's home address (not a car park or meeting point)
- Check the V5C is in the seller's name at that address
- Never pay a deposit before viewing
- Pay by bank transfer, get a signed receipt
A 2018 Ford Fiesta, 1.0 EcoBoost, 45,000 miles, good condition:
| Platform | Typical Asking Price | After Negotiation |
|---|
| AutoTrader (dealer) | £10,500 | £9,800-10,000 |
| AutoTrader (private) | £9,200 | £8,500-8,800 |
| Facebook Marketplace | £8,500 | £7,500-8,000 |
The Marketplace saving of £1,500-2,000 is real, but you lose the dealer warranty and have higher scam risk. The £4.99 CarCostCheck protects against the major financial risks, making the Marketplace saving a genuine bargain if you do the checks.
CarCostCheck is not just a cheaper version of HPI. As well as the history check, it helps you judge whether a car will be a good one to own. Here is what you get that HPI does not offer at any price:
- Market valuation from £2.99, based on live UK dealer listings. See the local dealer value for your car and how quickly similar cars sell near you.
- Estimated vehicle lifespan: An estimate of how many years the car has left on UK roads and the probability of it still being on the road in 12 months.
- Insurance costs by age: See estimated annual premiums for drivers aged 20, 30, 40, and 50. Budget before you buy.
- Running cost breakdown: Annual fuel, road tax, MOT, predicted repairs, and total cost per month. All calculated for this specific car.
- Reliability score (0-100): one number based on the car's MOT record, including its pass rate, recent failures, advisory trend and mileage. Free.
- Common faults: the problems that keep coming up in the car's own MOT history. Free.
- 12 free checks: Full MOT history, mileage verification, reliability score, running costs, fuel costs, red flag alerts, common faults, recall check, ULEZ compliance, tax and MOT status, and more. All before you pay a penny.
The premium history check (£4.99) uses the same Experian database as HPI, AA, and RAC. You get the same core checks: stolen, outstanding finance and write-off. The complete bundle (history + valuation) is £6.99, still 65% cheaper than HPI's basic check.
Ready to Check a Car?
12 checks included free. Premium stolen, finance, and write-off checks for just £4.99. Market valuation from £2.99.
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