We think DriveSure is the best place to buy a used car in Blackwood, and we'd rather prove it than just say it. So here are ten things that set a good used car dealer apart, each one something you can check for yourself before you spend a pound, and how we measure up on every one of them.
Use this list on any dealer in South Wales, not just us. If a forecourt can tick all ten, you're in safe hands wherever you buy.
1. Every car has a full history check, and you get the certificate
Every car we sell has been through a full HPI check for outstanding finance, insurance write-off records, stolen markers, mileage discrepancies and plate changes, and the certificate is handed to you with the keys. A car that fails doesn't go on the forecourt. How to check: ask to see the certificate before you view the car, not after. What an HPI check covers.
2. Serviced and MOT'd before it goes on sale, with advisories fixed
Every car gets a service and a fresh MOT before it's offered for sale, and MOT advisories are put right rather than left on the certificate for you to deal with. How to check: run the registration through the free GOV.UK MOT history service. You should see a recent pass, and the advisories from the previous test shouldn't still be there.
3. Warranty cover included, with longer options if you want them
Every car leaves with warranty cover included in the price, and you can extend it when you buy if you'd like the extra peace of mind. How to check: the cover levels are on our warranty page; ask any dealer for the same in writing. Used car warranties explained.
4. One cash price, no admin fees, nothing added at the desk
The price on the windscreen and on our website is the price you pay. There is no admin fee, no "preparation" charge and no documentation fee, and we don't sell finance, so there is no monthly figure designed to make the total look smaller. How to check: ask "is there anything on top of the advertised price?" and get the answer before you travel. Ours is on the FAQs.
5. Open seven days a week, 9:00 to 18:00
Most people can only look at cars at the weekend, and not every forecourt in the area opens on a Sunday or stays open past lunchtime on a Saturday. We're open every day from 9:00 to 18:00, no appointment needed. How to check: our opening hours are published, and the top of every page tells you whether we're open right now.
6. We buy cars outright, paid in full the same day
You don't need to buy a car from us to sell us yours. We make a straight offer, collect the car for free if it drives, and pay the full amount by bank transfer the same day once it's checked. If there's finance left on it we settle it and pay you the difference. How to check: how selling to us works, step by step, with nothing hidden in the small print.
7. A local, family-run business with a name on the door
DriveSure is independent and family-run, based on Sir Ivor's Road in Pontllanfraith, Blackwood. The person who sells you the car is the person you ring if anything isn't right afterwards, and our reputation depends on what people say about us in Blackwood, Oakdale, Newbridge and Ystrad Mynach. How to check: read about us, and look up the registered company: Drive Sure Motors (Blackwood) Ltd, company number 17507368.
8. Real reviews from real local buyers
We ask every customer to leave an honest Google review, good or bad, and we don't filter them. How to check: read them yourself, then look at the dates and the detail. Reviews that mention a specific car, a specific member of staff or a specific problem that was sorted are worth more than a hundred one-line five-stars. See what our customers say.
9. Thirty minutes from Cardiff and Newport, without the city overheads
A forecourt on a Valleys road costs a fraction of one beside the M4 or in a city centre, and that difference shows up in the price of the car, not just the rent. We're around 30 minutes from Cardiff, 25 from Newport and 20 from Caerphilly. How to check: compare our price on any car against the same model, age and mileage at a city dealer, then plan the drive.
10. Your consumer rights, explained before you buy, not after
When you buy from a dealer, the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you the right to reject a faulty car within 30 days and puts the burden of proof on the dealer for the first six months. We'd rather you knew that walking in. It keeps us honest, and it's the reason a dealer price is worth paying over a private one. How to check: our terms set it out in plain English.
How the three ways to buy compare on these ten points
| DriveSure | Car supermarket | Private seller | |
|---|---|---|---|
| History check certificate | Included, handed over | Usually available on request | Only if you pay for one |
| Serviced + fresh MOT before sale | Every car, advisories fixed | Varies by site and car | Rarely |
| Warranty included | Yes, extendable | Often short, sometimes paid extra | None |
| Admin fees on top | None | Common | None |
| Open Sundays | Yes, 9:00–18:00 | Usually | When the seller is free |
| Consumer Rights Act protection | Full | Full | Minimal |
| Same people before and after the sale | Yes | Rarely | Not applicable |
The honest version: a car supermarket will beat us on sheer choice, and a private seller will sometimes beat us on headline price. On everything that matters once you've handed the money over, a prepared, warranted car from a local dealer is the safer buy, and we've built the business to be the best example of that in the area.
Your questions answered
What makes DriveSure different from other used car dealers in Blackwood?
Every car is HPI-checked with the certificate handed over, serviced and MOT'd with advisories fixed, and sold with warranty cover at one cash price with no admin fees. We're open seven days a week, we buy cars outright with same-day payment, and you deal with the same small family team before and after the sale.
Is it cheaper to buy a used car in Blackwood than in Cardiff or Newport?
Often, yes. A Valleys forecourt carries far lower overheads than a city or motorway site, and that feeds into the asking price. Compare the total cash price of the same model, age and mileage and you'll usually see the difference.
Do you add any fees to the advertised price?
No. The price on the windscreen and the website is the full price. There are no admin, preparation or documentation fees.
Are you open on Sundays?
Yes. We're open every day of the week from 9:00 to 18:00, and you don't need an appointment to call in.
Can I bring my own mechanic to look at a car?
Of course. Let us know when you book and we'll make sure the car is available for as long as you need.
In short
- Judge any dealer on ten checkable points: history check, preparation, warranty, pricing, hours, buying cars, who you deal with, reviews, location and your rights.
- DriveSure ticks all ten: HPI certificate, service and fresh MOT with advisories fixed, warranty included, one cash price, open 7 days, same-day payment when we buy, family-run, real reviews, 30 minutes from Cardiff and Newport.
- Supermarkets win on choice and private sellers sometimes on headline price; on protection after the sale, a local prepared car is the safer buy.
- Don't take our word for it: run the reg through GOV.UK, ask for the HPI certificate and read the reviews.
