Buying Advice
How to check if a used car listing is a good buy (UK)
Assess a listing’s history, condition and total cost. Choose the evidence you need and know when to continue, resolve concerns or leave.
Articles & Guides
Practical used-car advice and market intelligence from the UseRalph team.
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Salvage & Repairs
Cat S and Cat N auction cars: what the category means for your bid
Understand Cat S and Cat N, distinguish current damage from earlier salvage history, and keep valuation, repair costs and target saving separate before bidding.
Bidding & Costs
IAA and SYNETIQ UK fees: work out the total before bidding
Use the UK IAA fee schedule to check buyer fees, admin charges and VAT, then add collection and repairs before setting your auction ceiling.
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Latest Articles
MOT & Mileage
Recurring MOT advisories: what to check before bidding on an auction car
Read repeated MOT advisories, failures and retests in context. Turn the findings into inspection priorities and a repair allowance before an auction bid.
MOT & Mileage
Free MOT check or paid vehicle history: what an auction buyer needs
Understand what free MOT history reveals, which questions need paid vehicle records, and what remains to calculate before bidding on an auction car.
Bidding & Costs
Market value when repaired: why it is different from your maximum bid
See how repaired market value, repair costs, auction fees, transport and target saving combine to set an auction bid ceiling.
Vehicle History
The story behind an auction car (Copart): what the records tell you
Read previous adverts, keeper periods, MOT mileage and salvage history together before an auction bid, using an illustrative Ralph report.
Bidding & Costs
What’s the most I should bid on a Copart car?
Set your Copart bid limit from repaired value, repairs, fees and transport, with a worked example and clear reasons to walk away.
Buying Advice
What to check when buying a used car: full checklist (UK)
Check a used car's identity, MOT, mileage, history and total cost before buying privately, from a dealer or at auction. Know what online records cannot tell you.
Auction Buying
Buying a car at auction: how it works, costs and risks (UK)
How to buy a car at auction in the UK: what you actually pay after the hammer drops, the risks of bidding blind, and the checks to run before the lot ends.
Buying Advice
After the online car check, viewing and walk-away rules (UK)
After an online check, match the car’s identity, inspect its condition and know which unresolved concerns are reasons to walk away.
