Guides & Tools
Guides, tools & answers
43 guides, calculators and free checks, from choosing the right car and understanding finance to road tax, clean-air charges and what your current car is worth. All in one place.
01 · Editor’s picks
Start here
The guides, calculators and checks people reach for most, plain-English, backed by live UK market data.
- ReviewsExpert car reviews you can trustHonest verdicts with real running costs, ratings and who each car is right for.Read now
- FinancePCP vs HP, which actually costs less?Compare monthly cost, total payable and final payment side by side in 60 seconds.Read now
- FinanceBad credit car finance in 2026Specialist lenders for thin or imperfect files, soft search, no score impact.Read now
- BuyingFirst-time buyer's finance guideA step-by-step walk through your first car finance agreement, from budget to keys.Read now
- FinanceCar finance explained, jargon-freeHow car finance works, the jargon decoded, and which option suits you.Read now
- Running costsULEZ & Clean Air Zones explainedCheck whether a car pays to enter ULEZ, CAZ and other UK low-emission zones.Read now
- ToolsWhat's your car worth today?A free, no-obligation valuation, see what your car is worth before you sell or part-exchange.Read now
- FinanceFinance rate monitorTypical used-car APRs by age and price band, updated as the market moves.Read now
02 · Buying a car
Find your next car
Start with the whole catalogue, narrow by budget, body or fuel, and read the verdict before you visit.
- Browse all used carsEvery make and model from approved UK dealers, filter by body type, budget and fuel.Open
- Expert car reviewsIn-depth verdicts with real running costs, ratings and who each car is right for.Open
- Search all carsSearch the full range and filter by price, budget, body type and fuel.Open
- Find a dealerBrowse approved UK dealers with live stock, finance and delivery.Open
03 · Buying advice
Buy with confidence
The full purchase journey, from where to look to what to inspect on the forecourt and what mileage should tell you.
- How to buy a used carThe complete step-by-step: budget, shortlist, checks, test drive, paperwork and payment.Open
- What to check when buying a used carThe inspection checklist, bodywork, tyres, electrics, history and the paperwork that matters.Open
- What mileage is good for a used car?Why 10,000 miles a year is only a starting point, and when high mileage is the better buy.Open
- Where to buy a used carDealer, online, private or auction, how the five routes compare on price and protection.Open
- Used electric carsLive electric stock from approved dealers, plus what to check on a used EV battery.Open
- Electric cars UK: your questions answeredRoad tax, charging costs, the 2030 deadline and how many EVs are actually on UK roads.Open
04 · Car finance
Understand your finance options
Plain-English guides to every kind of car finance, with worked examples and a soft-search check that won't touch your credit score.
- Car finance explainedHow car finance works, the jargon decoded, and which option suits you.Open
- What is PCP finance?Personal Contract Purchase explained, lower payments and end-of-term choices.Open
- What is Hire Purchase?Fixed payments, no mileage limits, and you own the car outright at the end.Open
- PCP vs HP calculatorCompare monthly cost, total payable and final payment side by side in 60 seconds.Open
- Bad credit car financeSpecialist lenders for thin or imperfect credit files, soft search, no score impact.Open
- What credit score do you need?Experian, Equifax and TransUnion bands, and what lenders check beyond the number.Open
- Car finance with a CCJ or defaultsHow adverse marks are actually read, and what genuinely improves your odds.Open
- Self employed car financeSA302s, accounts and bank statements, what lenders ask for and why.Open
- No deposit car financeWhat nothing down really costs over the term, with a worked comparison.Open
- Soft search car financeWhy a quotation search leaves no footprint, and when the hard search happens.Open
- Eligibility checker explainedWhat the check shows, what to have to hand, and how accurate the rate is.Open
- Settlement figure explainedThe formula, the 58-day interest rebate rule, and how to request yours.Open
- Van financeHP, lease purchase and contract hire for sole traders and limited companies.Open
- First-time buyer guideA step-by-step walk through your first car finance agreement.Open
- Finance rate monitorTypical used-car APRs by age and price band, updated as the market moves.Open
- Finance transparencyHow commission works, your rights, and how to compare a deal properly.Open
05 · Running costs
Know what it costs to own
Road tax, clean-air charges and the full cost of ownership sit on every model page. Here are a few to start with.
- Clean Air Zones & ULEZCheck whether a car pays to enter ULEZ, CAZ and other UK low-emission zones.Open
- Cars with free insuranceHow manufacturer free-insurance deals work, who qualifies, and the used-car alternative.Open
- Road tax: Ford FocusEvery model page shows its exact annual VED band, the Ford Focus is a good place to start.Open
- Cost of ownership: Audi A3Fuel, insurance, servicing and depreciation over three years, worked through on the Audi A3.Open
- MOT reliability: Volkswagen GolfReal MOT pass rates and the faults that most often fail this model at test.Open
06 · Tools & checks
Free tools & checks
Value your car, run its full history and see what your part-exchange is really worth, all free.
- Car valuationSee what your car is worth today with a free, no-obligation valuation.Open
- Part-exchangeGet a free, no-commitment part-exchange quote from an approved dealer.Open
- MOT & vehicle historyFull MOT history, mileage record and DVLA data from the registration.Open
- Tools & calculatorsEvery free Motoring Today checker and calculator in one place.Open
- Car tax checkerCheck the exact VED road-tax band and annual cost for any registration.Open
- Free MOT checkFull DVSA MOT history, advisories and mileage record from the reg.Open
- Car finance calculatorWork out monthly payments, total payable and APR before you buy.Open
- ULEZ & CAZ checkerCheck whether a car pays to enter London ULEZ or any UK Clean Air Zone.Open
- Vehicle checkerLook up DVLA tax, MOT and specification data from a registration.Open
07 · Reviews & guides
Read up before you decide
Expert reviews, monthly market insight and the story behind how we score cars and rank dealers.
- Expert car reviewsHonest verdicts with real running costs, ratings and standout trims.Open
- Market insightsIn-house monthly reports on used-car prices, demand and what to buy now.Open
- Motoring newsThe latest UK car news, EV launches and industry analysis, updated daily.Open
- How it worksHow we score deals, rank dealers and keep our reviews independent.Open
Ready to find the right car?
Every car comes with a real monthly payment from an approved UK dealer, with finance, ULEZ and history data built in. Browse the full range, or get to grips with finance first.