Looking for your next used car on a budget? These five picks could be the ideal choice, with each one widely available for less than £5,000. From a spacious family hatchback such as the Ford Focus and Vauxhall Corsa to the plucky city-going Toyota Aygo. 

The fully-electric Nissan Leaf was one of the cheapest brand-new electric models and their competitive price has now been transferred to the second-hand car market. Finally, the sporty Volkswagen Golf has been a favourite among first-time drivers for years and is still great value for the perfect runaround. This is Express.co.uk’s list of the top five best value second hand cars available in the UK today.

Vauxhall Corsa

The Vauxhall Corsa is one of the most popular models in the UK with thousands of examples available on the market at any one time. 

The Corsa has been praised for having good fuel efficiency, a comfortable interior and cheap car insurance. 

Parts are also widely available, making repairs fairly cheap in the long term, another big win for a second-hand purchase. 

AutoTrader, the leading online car marketplace, has plenty of Corsas on sale across the country for under the £5,000 mark.

Ford Focus 

This may be one of the best cheap cars on the market for families with plenty of interior space for everyone to feel comfortable with generous legroom.

The model is well-known for its responsive handling, making it a genuinely fun-to-drive model despite its more sensible credentials. 

Ford also packs its cars with a whole host of modern features, with later Focus models fitted with touchscreen infotainment systems and panoramic sunroofs.

Volkswagen Golf 

The Golf secured its place as the third most popular second-hand car in the UK last year with over 230,000 models swapping hands. 

Alongside its reputation for reliability, the VW Golf is also one of the sportiest picks with some models capable of reaching 0-62mph in just 4.8 seconds. 

It’s good reputation and dedicated following means that Golf models are also likely to retain their value well over time.

Toyota Aygo

The Aygo may look small, but this makes is ideal for a city runabout that motorists can enjoy on a budget. 

WhatCar? clearly agreed back in 2012 when it voted the Aygo best used city car, and it's easy to see why. 

The model’s cheap price tag, low running costs and budget insurance have seen this soar onto the list.

Nissan Leaf

Those interested in making the leap to an all-electric car in 2025 may want to consider looking at the Nissan Leaf. 

The model isn't the most stylish on the market, but was was one of the most affordable new electric models of recent times. The car has finally found its way into second-hand car dealers with many now below £5,000.

The model comes with strong reliability and can run up to 150 miles on a single charge.