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Vauxhall has announced that cars bought through its Network Q approved used scheme will now carry the same lifetime warranty it provides with new cars.

This means you can buy a used car and enjoy a warranty that runs to 100,000 miles, with no time limit.

As long as the car is less than 12 months old and has covered less than 30,000 miles when sold through Network Q, it will be eligible for the warranty. This covers key areas such as the engine and transmission, brakes, steering and electrics.

Any car bought from 4 January 2011 will automatically come with the new warranty, but it isn't transferable. As a result, once the car is sold on it will carry the standard manufacturer's warranty that runs to three years or 60,000 miles.

Network Q, launched in 1990, was the first approved used scheme in Europe. Set to sell around 100,000 second-hand cars this year, around 80 per cent of the cars sold through the scheme will be eligible for the 'lifetime' warranty.

For the warranty to be honoured, the car will have to be serviced according to Vauxhall's schedule. Up to three years and 60,000 miles this can be done at an independent workshop, but from this point it will need to be maintained by a 'Vauxhall-approved specialist'. Which means a franchised dealer.

Any model is eligible, whether it's the Agila, Corsa, Astra, Insignia or even the VXR8 super-saloon.

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