Advice buying/renting a cheap car for short-term use

[Angela123]

Hello,

I am looking for some advice. I need a car for this summer only - July to September 2022. It will be for occasional trips. Any make or model is fine.

I need something as cheap as possible really (under £400). But it will need to run and be covered by MOT until September 2022.

I would be grateful if anyone has any advice on this.

Thank you 🙂

[Pebbles167]

Just search ebay, and filter your price and distance.

£400 is pushing it these days, you'd be better to up your budget if possible, you'll probably get it back when you sell.

You'll struggle to rent anything for even close to the same price as buying a runabout.

[georgeyboy12345]

Here's a Mini One for £500 with an MOT until November
https://www.autotrader.co.uk/car-details/202206287...

[edc]

Join a pay as you go car club if in your area and just use the car when you need it.

[babelfish]

edc said:

Join a pay as you go car club if in your area and just use the car when you need it.

Doesn't that depend on where you live?

If I was to do that and wanted one now I could pick it up at 10:45am on Monday...... or I could get a taxi but 8 return trips would have paid the OPs £400 limit anyway......

[georgeyboy12345]

Another thought - probably worth getting in contact with bearman68 on this forum. He should be able to sort you out with something

[Chromegrill]

It's a really good question. People selling at that price are probably doing so for a reason and you could inherit a major bill to keep the car running, not overheating etc even if it has an MOT.

People selling after a couple of months might well be offloading a lemon so you might struggle to attract any buyers after such short ownership.

Once you advertise it for sale, you are paying tax and insurance every month its on sale for, so you have to weigh up a quick but low offer versus hanging on.

Did it a couple of times myself, once when working abroad and came home for three months' furlough needing a runabout. Then again a few years ago as needed a seven seater for the summer holidays, it was a pain (yes thr car needed significant repairs immediately after purchase and dealer offered a ridiculous bodge that had naught to do with the issue) and it took a few weeks to sell later. But still cheaper (just) than hiring equivalent and without the nervousness of losing a mega deposit if it got the slightest scratch.

Feels like there's a gap in the market for something bridging short loans and short purchases but I'm clueless how you could ever develop it as a business model.