Police are ensuring...

Police are ensuring they dispose of their cars with reasonable mileages. Most are less than three years old and have some manufacturer warranty left

Gone are the days when buying an ex-police car was an all-white affair! Former patrol vehicles are growing in popularity – as there’s now a more colourful selection.

Many UK forces have relaxed the rules on running only white cars, and the stream of silver, blue and grey used vehicles is far more attractive to customers. Despite high mileages and hard lives, the chance to own a bargain Volvo, BMW or Skoda is tempting for many buyers – we spotted a blue 2002 51-plate Volvo V70 with 114,000 miles on the clock for only ?4,700.

Jeff Paterson of Glass’s Guide said: “The police are also ensuring that they dispose of their cars with reasonable mileages, so most of these vehicles will be less than three years old and still retain some of their manufacturer warranty.”

Greater attention to detail is boosting values, too. “Electrics are usually upgraded to handle the devices police use,” added Paterson. “But forces have been trying to maximise resale prices by looking after interiors. They no longer have holes where the various aerials used to be, and with the greater variety of colours, it’s now harder to identify a former patrol vehicle.”

Gareth Brooks from specialist dealer Expolicecar, based in Brighouse, W Yorks, backed the move away from white paintjobs. “I have to pay a premium for silver luxury and executive models, but they sell faster and for more money,” he said.