The trials of buying a second-hand car in Portugal

My bad luck with vehicles in this country.

In the UK, buying a secondhand car has many implementations and checks to ensure what you are buying. It was something I had become quite experienced in and had brought several vehicles that proved excellent value for money and, more importantly, reliable and trustworthy. It was quite a shock to the system at how expensive secondhand cars were in Portugal, and I soon realised that buying one was like a lucky dip. Trying to find one that was reliable and affordable was an extreme challenge. As a single mum, I needed one that would not break down with the children. I also realised quickly that I would have to buy quite an old car as my budget wouldn't allow me to get a newer one. Even if I did have the budget, it would still be quite a challenge or risk that the car wouldn't need work done.

When I arrived, a lovely friend rented me theirs; while it was old, they had done a lot of work. So, when I started to look, I knew I needed one that would tick all the boxes. And I also knew that it was not going to be easy. I looked at several before finding one that was worth the risk. I got every check I could to ensure I got a good one. But my luck was not in my favour.

Within two weeks and due to a lack of experience on the so-called "roads", I had a minor accident, hitting a rock and damaging the steering. While it was only a minor accident, it did enough to shake me up. It also cost me over 1000 euros to get it repaired. The initial garage did some repairs, but the car still didn't feel right. So, I deiced to take it to another garage. The mechanic there was good, cheap and ensured it was safe to drive. And I believe that he was right However, because it was over twenty years old, it was inevitable that things would go wrong. Now there are several issues that this causes for me;

1- Not being to get my children to school

2- Having to cancel appointments (not good while trying to establish a business).

3- The worry that the car would break down and we would be stuck in a new country and have a language barrier

4- The cost of every repair. But I decided to keep going, and, fingers crossed, it would be okay around every corner (pardon the pun).

First, it was the breaks, then the injectors, which happened twice, and finally, another noise that couldn't be identified. After this, I thought it was all okay and drove about, thinking; the car was now safe.

However, one evening after stopping at the supermarket with the children, it finally didn't start. It was dark, the children were crying, and it would take breakdown at least an hour to get to us. I ordered a taxi, and the mechanic picked up the car in the morning.

So, now I am in a position where I will need to get rid of the car and try again. But my loss of faith in secondhand cars and the expense holds me back. I am in desperate need of a vehicle that is reliable.

It would be great to hear from anyone with any ideas of finding something to get me around and not break down!!

My experience in the UK with a secondhand car is good, and I may have had luck on my side; however, in Portugal, it appears my luck has been left behind.