Buying a second-hand car induces a huge amount of overwhelm for mums – from trying to find the best fit for our families to making sure we’re not getting taken for a ride.

So we’ve put together the best advice for buying a quality second-hand car that doesn’t involve dealing with pushy salespeople or kicking tyres.

In fact, you don’t even need to leave home to find your next ride (because who wants to drag the kids through car yards?!). These days finding your perfect second-hand car is easier than it’s ever been.

A Mum’s Car Buying Dilemma

If you’ve ever walked into a car dealership, you’ll know how overwhelming it can be – especially as a woman. Sometimes we’re made to feel as though we’re out of our depth. Even if we’re pretty car savvy there’s a perceived bias that’s hard to shake – that women don’t really know the first thing about cars.

But the thing about women (and particularly mums) is that we are the masters of research. If we’re going to be parting with our hard-earned money, we want bang for our buck. What we don’t want is to feel pressured and as though we’re not in control of what is a very large purchase.

Buying A Quality Second-Hand Car The Carma Way

If you’re looking for an easy, reliable and fuss-free way to buy a second-hand car, it’s Carma. There’s no need to rely on the word of a salesperson (or have any awkward conversations), because all of the research, testing and hard work has already been done for you.

Carma is like a virtual car showroom, and the first of its kind in the used car industry. Use any device to search for your perfect second-hand car via Carma, and you can take a 360° tour of the interior and exterior of the vehicle. And here’s the kicker – every car has already been heavily vetted to make sure it’s up to Carma’s exacting standards.

The Carma Car Check Difference

Every car is rigorously tested against Carma’s comprehensive custom checklist which includes safety and driver comfort. All cars listed on Carma are examined and tested at its purpose-built facility, where advanced diagnostic equipment is used to check everything from wheel-alignment to suspension and brakes.

If there are any issues flagged during all of the checks, the dedicated, fully-certified team is able to resolve a wide range of potential issues across all makes and models of cars.

Carma only purchases and offers the best, highest quality second-hand cars for sale. All of the cars are owned and completely reconditioned by Carma, and each one is inspected and test-driven by the team. It’s complete peace of mind.

Buying A Carma Car

Once you’ve found your perfect second-hand car on Carma, you’re able to reserve it and it will stay on hold while you get your financing sorted. And you’re completely in control – you can opt to apply for flexible finance options through one of Carma’s finance partners, or you can pay for the car outright or bring on your own financier.

Then it’s just a matter of time before you get your hands on your new ride! You’re able to track your purchase and manage all of the documents online, and the Carma team will get your car ready for delivery. This includes a final inspection, clean and premium detailing.

Once your car is ready, you choose a day and time that suits you for it to be delivered to your door, completely free of charge. The Carma team members who deliver your car will take you through your new car’s main features, and then you’re ready to hit the road!

Carma Peace of Mind

But that’s not where the service from Carma ends. Every car comes with a seven day money-back promise. Drive the car around for a week, get a feel. If it’s not right for you, you’ll get a refund and Carma will help you find a replacement.

“Buying with Carma means rather than having 20 mins for a test drive and having to decide, you have a whole week to drive, and check that it really is the car for you, and if you decide, return it. I wouldn’t know how that part works, because my car is still just as perfect as when it was delivered to my door step.” – Sarah, Carma customer

Every one of Carma’s quality second-hand cars comes with a comprehensive three month warranty, plus you get a full year of NRMA roadside assistance membership.

Buying a second-hand car from Carma means there’s no ‘leap of faith’ – no hoping that as you drive off the lot your car is going to live up to everything you’ve been promised. Because Carma has your back. Every car is reliable, impeccable quality and ready to become a key part of your family’s day to day life.

Purchasing a car the Carma way is an absolute no-brainer for busy mums who pride themselves on making informed, empowered decisions that make mum life easier.

Second-Hand Car Purchase Advice

Making a big financial decision like buying a second-hand car is all about ticking the right boxes. And, take it from someone who has purchased her fair share of cars, all you need is this list of tasks, and you’ll feel so much more in control.

Work out your budget: Do this FIRST. I know the most exciting part is finding a car, but you don’t want to fall in love with a set of wheels and then find out you can’t afford it after crunching the numbers.

Work out what you’ll be using the car for: Is it mainly to ferry the kids? Is it just to run you to work each day? This will help you narrow down the size and style of car you’re after.

Safety: These days it’s really easy to see at glance what safety features each car has. Head to How Safe Is Your Car? and plug in the make or model of car you’re sussing out.

Insurance cost: Once you have a shortlist of cars you’re interested in, it’s worth getting some insurance quotes.

Economy: With fuel prices as high as they are, it’s worth checking a car’s fuel consumption.

Find the best deal on the car you want: Now that you’ve narrowed down your search, it’s time to find your dream car!

When buying a great quality second-hand car, the research doesn’t even need to involve stepping into a car dealership. You can find out every detail about the second-hand car you have your eye on, from the comfort of home with Carma.

Mouths of Mums is proudly working together with Carma to bring you this article. Carma is pre-loved cars without the leap of faith, because now you can buy a quality used car, without having to trust randoms you’ve only just met!

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