Ex-demo cars: Should you buy one?

Ex-demo cars are a great way to get behind the wheel of a nearly-new car at a price lower than the original list price.

Should you consider one as your next car? This guide explains.

What is an ex-demo car?

An ex-demo car is a car previously used by a dealership for test drives and display purposes.

As a result, they tend to have been driven often and by many people. They’ll probably only have a few thousand miles on the clock by the time they’re listed for sale, though.

Ex-demo cars are usually loaded with tech to show off features to potential customers. Add these optional extras to a brand-new car and you’d end up paying significantly more than for a comparable ex-demo car.

Benefits of buying an ex-demo car

• You’ll have a significant discount on buying an equivalent new model
• Demo cars are usually kitted-out with loads of features to show off to customers
• It’ll have likely been well looked after, with any damage or mechanical issues sorted as soon as they cropped up.

Drawbacks of buying an ex-demo car

• Though still essentially new, ex-demo cars will have been exposed to some wear and tear.
• The car’s warranty will have started from the date of registration, which could be potentially months before you purchase it. This will leave you with a shorter warranty compared with a brand-new model.
• Although ex-demo cars are typically well-kept, you should still be wary of excessive wear as a result of the variety of drivers. It’s worth asking for a record of work undertaken by the dealership if it’s not already present

Should I buy an ex-demo car?

An ex-demo car can prove a great way to get behind the wheel of a nearly-new car at a much lower cost than buying an equivalent brand-new model.

That said, you won’t be the first owner and, unlike pre-registered cars, ex-demo cars will have been used.

You should also be wary of the car’s warranty. This starts the day a car is registered, so you’ll have a shorter period of coverage compared with buying the car new.

Reasons to buy an ex-demo car:

• You’re happy to pay a bit less for a lightly-used car.
• You’re happy to have a higher-mileage, higher-spec model at the same cost as a lower-spec new model.

Reasons to avoid an ex-demo car:

• You want a brand-new car with no more than delivery mileage
• You want a full warranty period from the day the car was registered
• You want to specify a new car to your choosing

FAQs: Ex-demo cars

Why are ex-demo cars sold?

Once a demo car has served its purpose, dealers will usually sell them at a discounted price to make way for new models.

Where can I buy an ex-demo car?

Most new car dealerships in the UK will have ex-demo cars for sale. You can check the latest nearly-new cars available through carwow.

When is the best time to buy an ex-demo car?

The best time to buy an ex-demo car is when an updated version of that particular model is set to be released. Dealers will want to sell the old car to make way for a new demonstrator.