Available Car reviews & trust report

Mrs Helen Cross

1 review

Jun 29, 2025

Not great

Cecilia

1 review

Jun 19, 2025

Good customer service and salesmen are…

Mrs Anne Meadows

1 review

Jul 14, 2025

Test drive and initial information was…

Test drive and initial information was very helpful. Long delay when picking the car up on a very hot day. Valet was not finished.

Disappointed Customer

1 review

Jul 11, 2025

Disappointed

Had my new car no more than an hour, before it started to make a grinding noise when driving. Booked in straight away with the after sales team to get looked at. The team had my car for 3 days, and were unable to identify the issue. I had to chase the after sales team multiple times over the 3 days they had my vehicle for an update on its progress as none was provided. On multiple occasions I was informed ‘if you don’t hear back from them by 5.30, assume we’re keeping it’. The team knew on day 1, that they were unable to locate and recreate the issue at that time, but kept the vehicle for an extra 2 days to ‘ensure they weren’t missing something’, and only involving a senior technician on day 3. - then to be left waiting 25 minutes to be handed my key on collection. The customer service during this part of the process has been extremely disappointing and frustrating. The purchase process of the car however, went really smoothly. The sales team were very helpful, and could not fault them.

Lady driver

1 review

Jul 10, 2025

A mixed-bag.

Liked - plenty of stock, cars reasonably priced. Staff at the front-desk were welcoming and helpful. Collection process went smoothly, although I was left waiting way past my appointment time. Didn’t like so much - eye rolling from a young, male staff member. Yes, we DO notice. Staff member unable to give any real (basic) technical information about vehicles, More interested in trying to sell you very overpriced dash-cams, car mats, warranties, and paint protection…

C T

1 review

Jul 10, 2025

Although the staff were very nice all

Although the staff were very nice all be it a bit two faced I think because, The car I was buying had gone down in price but when I got home and was looking at the papers I realised I'd been charged the original prices. Admittidly sorted but after three phone calls. when I asked would the car be valeted as there were a few marks on the roof lining etc, I was told yes it will be valeted to a new standard we just give them a quick valet to get them out on sale. And also was told we'll try to get the marks off but they might not fully come off. When I collected my car clearly no one had even tried to clean off the marks etc because I myself got a wet clothes and wiped the marks and they fully came off. If anything had been done in the car it was just a hoover of the foot wells and that was all because it was not cleaned to a new standard.

Ym

1 review

Jul 9, 2025

Be aware of the e handover team!

Sales team are great, handover team need improvement! Booked my handover appointment at 1:40, arrived at 1:30 waited for 1 hour before the process started. I was running late for my school run and asked to be done as soon as possible. Handover team suggested to reschedule however I took my day off for this appointment and it’s not my fault for the delay. Why should I reschedule? The attitude was rude and arrogant trying to avoid the responsibility by blame the system error. I will not be so crossed if genuine apologies were made! The excuse was “ we are short staffed”. If you know you got appointments and have not got enough staff to meet demand then surely management need to rethink their cost saving activities! At least think of another excuse! Happy with the car but not the handover service AT ALL!!!!!!

Jennifer

1 review

Jul 5, 2025

The biggest handbook in the world

We would usually buy from a main dealer. We called at Available Car after seeing a car online, and the car was brought round quickly for us to look at. Be aware there is a process/script that the sales team follow, and it may seem quick and pressurised but if you are interested in buying just sit back and go with the flow. You can always say no. I had a short test drive in the unfamiliar e/automatic, was offered an ok price for trade in, so we decided to go ahead with purchase. There are many upsells to listen to - puncture repair, dent repair, bodywork and interior protection, many others. We went ahead with the Diamond Brite. All paperwork is dealt with by e mail so take your smartphone. I asked for some interior stains to be removed, and the salesman noticed a very slight bodywork ding which he said would be dealt with. We had a collection appointment but had to wait a while because the valeting was not complete. We did expect the handover process to be smoother. The stains and ding had been dealt with but I can’t say that the interior was actually valeted, as there was dust and scuffs in lots of places. The Diamond Brite bodywork looks gleaming. Before we drove away I realised that the handbook was not on the passenger seat as stated in the handover document, so I went back to enquire. Our handover person had gone for his lunch so I was assisted by other staff members. I was advised that as everything is online manufacturers don’t always supply a handbook. Having traded in my car with handbook and service record, it seemed like these were important, and I am disappointed and surprised that no sales team member had mentioned that the handbook was missing. Carl from the sales team kindly printed off the manual for me so at least I have a paper copy which just about fits into the glove compartment. All the staff we dealt with were friendly and polite. Would I recommend Available Car? Not sure. Don’t give in to the upsells that are really not for you or too expensive.

Matthew Chamley

1 review

Jun 18, 2025

Cars not very clean on collection

Cars not very clean on collection. Some sort of oil used to shine tyres which was all up the side of the white car when I got home. Car not charged before collection, good job we didn't live far away.

Phil Morris

1 review

Jun 14, 2025

On collection of the car the car hadn't…

On collection of the car the car hadn't been correctly valeted in particular the wheels were black with brake dust . The lady who was doing the hand over kindly found a member of the management team who washed them for us as the valeting team had left for the evening. We would like to say thank you to the hand over lady and the manger who apologised and washed the wheels .

Steve Lawrence

1 review

Jun 14, 2025

Staff very friendly and helpful but not…

Staff very friendly and helpful but not always very knowledgeable, probably due to the large variety of vehicles available. The interest rates are on the high side. Extras are sometimes not available at point of hand over ( car mats and boot protectors in my case, still waiting for them nearly a week after hand over). You never get to see the same member if staff twice, and everything is very much a conveyor belt system. The Castle Donington branch continually has loud irritating music played which causes great distraction particularly if you have hearing difficulties. You never seem to get a handbook with the cars. There is always, without exception, a hard sell for paintwork and interior protection products etc which are obviously highly beneficial financially to the company. Having said all this I have bought cars from Available Car on three or four occasions due mainly to the wide choice of vehicles on sale.

Stacey White

1 review

Jun 2, 2025

1st person you speak to everything is…

1st person you speak to everything is lovely, there’s a good selection of cars and what I felt were good prices. The sales add ons is quite pushy and lengthy to go through which personally I don’t like. Unfortunately it’s downhill from this point. Handover day is a very long process, I was called to see if I wanted to come in earlier than my appointment (which I thought was great). I was left sitting in reception for 45 mins which by this point was my original appointment time so made no sense at all! Then it was just let down after let down. Seems once the car is sold and commission is earned no one cares.

Mr. Ian Gibbens

1 review

Jun 2, 2025

Efficient handover when it happened

Efficient handover when it happened , made an appointment 4.30pm for the handover had to wait over 30 minutes, what is the point in making an appointment?after sales i had a issue that needed resolving VERY POOR called 4 times no response passed on to a manager ????

Miss H Prince

1 review

Jun 1, 2025

When they have your money they are in no rush to help you

When initially going to view/test drive the car, the service was excellent. Todd was very helpful with helping me to find the right car and test driving it. However when I went to collect the car, I was waiting for nearly an hour. I had a appointment for 14:00 but was not seen until close to 15:00. It made me feel as if they already had my money so we're in no rush to help with the collection, when other people waiting were seen first as they had not yet purchased a car. I was very disappointed with particularly the reception team who seemed to ignore me for the hour wait instead of providing updates. When I as finally seen, Dan was very helpful with the handover.

Simon Newbold

1 review

Jun 1, 2025

Its team work that gets you 5 stars

The selling of the car and the customer service Simon Curd and Alexandra Morrison was outstanding 100% and a credit to available car, orange team. Its when I received a phone call at work telling me I have to sign this and I have to sign that as my car is ready. I explain I am not signing nothing until I see the car and I can read what I'm signing for as only three blank boxes appeared. oh I did say to the gentleman who started to raise his voice to me. Don't raise your voice to me I'm at work. Oh when I showed the email to Alexandra she told me she had not sent the email to me with her name on it as she is not allowed to and not part of her job. After speaking to Jasmin, she told me, who ever sent that email sent information of who helped sell the car. As I explained my job is security and if you do send information from another source / person and you are referring to a document which involves another persons name then you should attach your own email with the name of the person sending it then use the document as a reference. As sending a document with out the persons knowledge or even putting who actually sent it is unprofessional. By the way, the number 4 states on the handover of the car. do not sign this document unless you have checked the car and are happy with it. Please explain to me why someone is ringing me telling me I should and have to sign for a car that I have not seen. The final thing is after all that experience, and I had addressed all my concerns I was promised an email the next day which was Saturday for proof of ownership and confirmation of my old car had been sold to available car / car tax, I did not receive an email. I have had to ring up again. yes I know you might be busy but try and put right the bad experience that customer had on the phone by doing what you promised the customer you would do. I would give 5 stars to the orange team Alexandra and Simon. After that you lost a star and half for the phone call and half a star for promising to do something for a customer that was not done. I know your busy but after a bad experience you should take the time to put it right.

Website User

1 review

May 31, 2025

On the whole my experience was good

On the whole my experience was good. But to have only one key was disappointing. I think you could at least contribute towards a second key. Also to only have 20 miles of fuel in the tank is frankly, disgraceful.