THE hunt for cheaper cars to offset rising running costs is well and truly on.

Anyone looking to downsize their wheels ought to consider selling their car through an auction if they want to get rid of it fairly quickly.

Some of the best deals are done at auction but many British motorists aren't aware of the procedures - or the fact that it is a lot easier, not to mention less stressful, than trying to sell a car privately.

There's no need to spend hours fretting over minor scratches and dents, as these can easily be repaired by major auction centres prior to sale. It also eliminates the slight risk involved with having strangers round to your house. Manheim, which has 18 car auction centres all over the UK, says buyers will pay fair market value for a vehicle and advises that anyone thinking of selling a car this way should first go along to an auction as an observer to see how the process works.

When taking a car in for sale make sure it is clean and in the best possible condition. Make sure you have all the correct documents, including the V5 document, service book, and MoT certificate, to help get the best price possible.

Sellers can set a reserve price, but check price guides to ensure your target figure is realistic. Andrew Shepherd, Manheim Auctions' senior group auctioneer, said: "Selling at auction is a great way of quickly getting fair market value for a car.

"It is also a simple, transparent process and specially trained staff are always on hand to help or offer advice."

Meanwhile, leading UK trade price guide publisher EurotaxGlass's reckons it will be tough for Subaru to make any kind of impact on fleets in the highly competitive D-segment, which has long been the core battleground for cars such as the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Vectra, BMW 3-Series and Audi A4.

Jason King, head of market intelligence for EurotaxGlass's, said: "Selecting a Subaru Legacy over a more familiar, mainstream product inevitably requires buyers to make an informed choice based on the car having clearly differentiated qualities.

"The Legacy has found a niche in the marketplace as a competent and well-specified range of saloon and estate cars and, with the addition of the Outback versions, has developed a strong following with the 'country set'.The arrival of a diesel engine for the range will no doubt further extend the car's appeal."