Petrol cars for sale

Browse the best and biggest choice of used petrol cars for sale right here. Discover the best petrol-engined car for your needs whether you need the convenience of a hatchback or fancy something more rugged and spacious in the form of a fashionable SUV. Buy or arrange finance online, and have the car delivered to your home for free, all with BuyaCar. All cars are sold with a warranty, for additional peace of mind.

Why should I buy a petrol car?

Petrol engines are the most popular choice of UK car buyers right now, so if you’re looking to buy a used car, you’ll have more choice if you opt for petrol power. At the pumps, petrol is generally cheaper than diesel meaning a potential cost-saving even when factoring-in petrol engines’ greater thirst for fuel. Shorter trips in stop-start traffic can cause clogging issues over time for diesel engines and their exhaust components, such as particulate filters (DPFs).

Petrol engines burn much more cleanly, producing fewer harmful emissions than a diesel equivalent, meaning older petrol cars are more likely to comply with low emission zone rules such as those for London’s ULEZ than a diesel of the same age. Many newer petrol engines are even cleaner still courtesy of a tiny electric motor that’s part of a mild hybrid (MHEV) system. This turns the engine off completely for short distances at very low speeds, but it’s sufficient to reduce fuel consumption and lower CO2 emissions by around 5% depending on the model concerned.

What are the disadvantages of buying a petrol car?

If you drive more than 15,000 miles per year or regularly tow a heavy caravan, a diesel car is likely to be a better bet, as they offer superior fuel economy on longer trips, costing you less to run. Petrol cars emit more CO2 than diesels, which means they cost more to tax, but in general their engines heat-up more quickly, making them the more fuel efficient of the two for drivers who regularly cover shorter, lower-speed journeys. Petrol engines tend to wear a little faster than comparable diesels, so make sure you look for a low mileage used car that’s had plenty of regular maintenance.

Will petrol cars be banned in the future?

There has been much talk from the UK government about when the ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars will be introduced. Origanally set for 2030, it now falls in line with the EU having beeen pushed back to 2035. Regardless of the date, the ban would only apply to the purchase of brand-new petrol and diesel cars, and existing vehicles will continue to be legal to own and use well into the middle of the 21st century. What is more likely to reduce petrol (and diesel) cars’ availability before the 2035 ban is that many manufacturers have already announced their intentions to stop making them before the end of this decade. For drivers who don’t want to go fully electric, demand for well-maintained used petrol cars may well increase, causing values to rise.