Nearly new cars: May 2025
Fancy the a brand new car but don’t want to pay the full recommended retail price? Save thousands by picking up one of these nearly new cars
If you want the best deal on a new car, buying brand-new is unlikely to get you the best deal, especially as the industry recovers from the pandemic and supply shortages. That's where nearly new cars come in.
The best way to save money on a new car is to look at a nearly new cars. They look and feel like the freshest new models on the market, not to mention still featuring that new-car smell, but they can cost substantially less to buy. What's not to like?
Nearly new cars will have been used to some extent and that might be a problem if you like to know exactly where your car has been.
You'll also have your choice restricted to whatever is available, relying on the taste of others. But, if you can find a car that ticks all of your boxes, you'll likely be able to buy it for far less than the list price.
Nearly new Fiat 500 from £254 a month
The Fiat 500 hardly needs an introduction, as it's been brightening up UK roads with its cheeky retro-modern looks since 2008. Naturally, the 500 has been updated a number of times, mostly to update the car's interior, and features just about enough modern tech to keep it feeling fresh.
Thanks to its tiny size, the 500 is still extremely easy to drive and, importantly, to park in small spaces, while it should be very cheap to run, too. The car's size does mean the 500 is a small on the inside, so look at other budget options like the Dacia Sandero if you carry more than two adults on a regular basis, but for cheap urban transport it's hard to beat.
Fiat 500 1.0 Mild Hybrid 3dr
Price: £14,995 or 47 x £254.41 per month PCP, plus £2,249 deposit
OTR Price: £16,800
Saving: £1,805
Mileage: 10
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Nearly new Hyundai i10 from £261 a month
The Hyundai i10 is a great choice if you're looking for a car that can do it all, but your budget may not stretch to a bigger car. For a start, the little Hyundai doesn't actually feel that small once you're up and running, as it can fit four adults without too much of a squeeze, and it drives comfortably, too, even at motorway speeds.
The i10 is also well equipped, with all models getting alloy wheels, smartphone-compatible infotainment and a rear-view camera, while going up the trims brings luxury features like ambient lighting, heated steering wheels and wireless phone charging. An automatic gearbox is also available, as with the car we've chosen here.
Hyundai i10 1.2 [79] Premium 5dr Auto [Nav]
Price: £17,790 or 47 x £260.97 per month PCP, plus £2,668 deposit
OTR Price: £19,350
Saving: £1,560
Mileage: 1,000
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Nearly new MG3 Hybrid+ from £269 a month
The original MG3 hatchback was one of the longest-lived new cars on sale in the UK, on sale from 2013 to 2024. During that time it established MG's smallest car as a paragon of strong value for money, high equipment levels and a surprisingly decent drive. Now the new MG3 has arrived to continue where its predecessor left off. Initially only offered as a hybrid, the new MG3 offers excellent equipment levels, while its hybrid system helps keep running costs down.
This car is one of the first versions of the new MG3 to pop up as a nearly new car. It's in top-spec Trophy trim, so equipment includes a heated steering wheel and front seats, keyless entry, LED lighting and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto-compatible infotainment. A reasonable saving over the £20,495 new price is included, too.
MG3 Hybrid+ Trophy 5dr Auto
Price: £17,990 or 47 x £268.52 per month PCP, plus £2,698 deposit
OTR Price: £20,495
Saving: £2,505
Mileage: 1
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Nearly new Vauxhall Corsa from £311 a month
The Vauxhall Corsa is so familiar in the UK that it's easy to overlook. Based on the same platform as the Peugeot 208, but a little more conventional to look at and drive, the latest Corsa is the best yet. A recent facelift, as sported by this nearly-new version, ensures that reputation is maintained.
Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 Turbo GS 5dr
Price: £18,495 or 47 x £310.63 per month PCP, plus £2,849 deposit
OTR Price: £22,075
Saving: £3,580
Mileage: 5
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Nearly new Citroen C5 X from £355 a month
The Citroen C5 X won't be to everyone's taste. But, in a motoring world where bland SUVs are king, the big, charismatic Citroen is a welcome breath of fresh air. Looking like nothing else on the road, the C5 X is spacious, practical and very comfortable, and has some decent tech, too. Downsides are that it's not the most fun to drive and the automatic gearbox could be smoother, but it's great value, especially when there's a nearly new discount available.
Citroen C5 X 1.2 PureTech 130 You 5dr EAT8
Price: £22,198 or 47 x £355.18 per month PCP, plus £3,329 deposit
OTR Price: £29,170
Saving: £6,972
Mileage: 1
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Nearly new Ford Puma from £336 a month
The Ford Puma is one of the UK's best-selling cars, and it's not hard to see why. Sharp to drive yet cheap to run, seriously practical for a relatively small car, and very well equipped, the Puma is a great choice of transport for any small family. This freshly facelifted model is in mid-range ST-Line X trim, so gets 18-inch wheels and a sporty bodykit, and has a decent discount thrown in.
Ford Puma 1.0 EcoBoost Hybrid mHEV ST-Line X 5dr
Price: £22,666 or 47 x £336.19 per month PCP, plus £3,399 deposit
OTR Price: £29,030
Saving: £6,364
Mileage: 102
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Nearly new SEAT Ateca from £351 a month
The SEAT Ateca has been around since 2016, but remains a seriously impressive family car. What's more, given the fact that its rivals are many and competition in the family SUV sector is fierce, there are often excellent deals to be had on the Ateca. The SEAT is well equipped across the range, and features a sporty look that's reflected in the way the car drives, too, with a firm ride allowing for precise cornering, albeit at as slight cost to comfort.
SEAT Ateca 1.5 TSI EVO Xperience 5dr DSG
Price: £25,161 or 47 x £350.56 per month PCP, plus £3,774 deposit
OTR Price: £35,510
Saving: £10,349
Mileage: 12
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Nearly new Hyundai Tucson Hybrid from £465 a month
The Hyundai Tucson is a top choice if you are looking for your next family SUV. The extrovert exterior design is certainly there to turn heads, while the interior is a very pleasant place to be and features lots of equipment - a power tailgate, sporty N Line wheels and bodykit, and heated steering wheel feature here.
The Tucson is also comfortable and easy to drive, spacious enough for families and should be cheap to run. When new, the Tucson is a little more expensive than some of its rivals, but this deal helps keep a few extra pennies in your pocket.
Hyundai Tucson 1.6T N Line 5dr
Price: £29,990 or 47 x £465.41 per month PCP, plus £4,498 deposit
OTR Price: £34,900
Saving: £4,910
Mileage: 157
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Nearly new Audi A5 from £497 a month
The new Audi A5 Saloon arrived to replace both the old A4 and A5 Coupe models. And while it looks a little more generic on the outside than both cars it replaces, the new A5 has a fantastic interior that feels well built, and most of the controls are exactly where you want them. The A5 is good to drive, too, especially on a long cruise.
This is the first nearly-new A5 we've featured. All models get heated sports seats, ambient lighting and rear-view cameras, while the S Line adds sportier looks and sports suspension.
Audi A5 2.0 TFSI 150 S line 4dr S Tronic
Price: £36,900 or 47 x £496.96 per month PCP, plus £5,535 deposit
OTR Price: £44,855
Saving: £7,955
Mileage: 1,000
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What are nearly new cars?
Nearly new cars differ from brand new models because they have already been registered by a dealer with the DVLA and have a registration number. A brand new car only gets registered once it's been purchased. What's more, a car that's already been registered by a dealer can't be described as new.
Dealers often register new cars and sell them as nearly new in order to boost sales figures at the end of a month or quarter. This will help them to meet their sales targets set by the manufacturer, which earns the dealer a bonus. Nearly new cars are also described as ex-demo or pre-registered.
The good news is that these cars often represent great value, as they are often heavily discounted to shift them from forecourts. The dealer will likely register very popular models it knows will sell quickly, too.
What is classed as a nearly new car?
There isn't a specific definition of what constitutes a nearly new car, but we categorise them as having fewer than 1000 miles on the clock, and being less than a year old. However, nearly new cars are referred to by a number of different names.
They can be called ex-demonstrator cars, which means the car has been used by the dealer to give potential buyers test drives. This can mean the car has been fitted with a new or particularly significant special feature that can be shown to people deciding on how to spec their new car, like a top-spec infotainment system, which you benefit from as the buyer of the ex-demo car.
Nearly new cars can also be called pre-registered cars. This name tends to be applied to popular models that a dealer knows they will be able to sell quickly that have been registered towards the end of a month or quarter in order to meet sales targets.
Do nearly new cars come with a warranty?
Nearly new cars are still covered by the initial manufacturer warranty, so even if you're looking at a two-year-old Kia, for instance, you'll have as much as five years of cover remaining. Essentially, you're getting nearly all of the benefits of buying a brand-new car, without losing an awful lot and saving huge amounts of money in the process.
However, the clock starts ticking on a warranty as soon as the car is first registered, so bear that in mind if you're buying a low mileage car that happens to be a couple of years old. It’s also worth remembering that some warranty and breakdown packages only apply to the first keeper, so check with the dealer that these benefits will be transferred to you.
Is a nearly new car the same as a pre-registered car?
Nearly new cars differ slightly from pre-registered models, in that 'nearly new' tends to be a term used for all cars that have been registered and are likely to have up to 1000 miles on the clock.
Pre-registered cars are a form of nearly new car that have been assigned a registration number but have almost the same amount of miles on the clock as a brand new car. Both options can mean you can save thousands of pounds - and benefit from a range of flexible finance options. You'll probably still get most of that new car smell, too.
How much can I save on a nearly new car?
The answer to this is hard to put a figure on, as it depends on the type of car you're looking for. As a rule, luxury cars and electric cars tend to lose a lot more value when they're registered, so discounts can be bigger.
If you're looking to save the most, we'd recommend looking for nearly new cars in March or September when the number plate changes. This is when dealers want to shift the greatest number of cars to earn their sales bonuses, so pre-registering cars is common to boost those figures.
Nearly new bargains can also be found when a particular model is about to be replaced by a new version. Dealers don’t want old generation versions hanging around and taking up space they need for the all-new car, so they’ll be keen to strike a deal on any nearly new cars. If you’re happy with the outgoing model rather than the very latest model, it’s an opportunity to haggle for a very good deal.
One other place to find nearly new cars are some of the larger car supermarkets. If a dealer has ended up with a large number of nearly new cars it needs to sell in a hurry, they sometimes pass them on to car supermarkets to save themselves the hassle.