Overall the buying experience was positive, with helpful staff eager to solve any problems. However the car appeared to not have been properly checked over for any damage (which was more than just 'co... See more
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Review summary
Created with AI, based on recent reviews
What people talk about most
Reviews shaping this summary
Visited both the Norwich & Ipswich branches in the past 2 days. Test driving one car in Norwich & then a higher spec model in Ipswich, which I ultimately bought. Both Austin in Norwich & Rob in Ipswic... See more
Brilliant service from Jaden. Went for one car came out with another - totally happy. No pressure to buy, just information and given space to think. Very knowledgeable and reassuringly cars are... See more
Company replied
Given space to browse but offers of help by all staff when we arrived. Able to see as many cars as we wanted albeit one at a time (assume for security?) very quick to sort out a test drive and encoura... See more
Company replied
Company details
- #41 of 54 best companies in Used car dealer
Written by the company
Hammond Cars – East Anglia’s Leading Independent Used Car Dealership Hammond Cars is a family-owned business established in 1974, proudly serving customers across the East of England for over 50 years. With dealerships in Great Yarmouth, Ipswich and Norwich, we offer a combined group stock of more than 1,000 high-quality used cars, all handpicked to ensure the best value at the lowest prices. We take pride in providing a hassle-free, relaxed and transparent car-buying experience. Customers are welcome to test drive unaccompanied and drive away with complete peace of mind. We also offer the option to purchase a comprehensive 1-year warranty for added security. Rated EXCELLENT on TrustPilot, Hammond Cars is known for friendly, knowledgeable staff and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Discover why generations of motorists have trusted us to find their perfect used car.
Our promise to you
Written by the company
- We are committed to our customers!
- Rated EXCELLENT on TrustPilot, Hammond Cars is known for friendly, knowledgeable staff and a commitment to customer satisfaction. Discover why generations of motorists have trusted us to find their perfect used car.
Contact info
Helen House, Chequers Road, NR15 2WZ, Norwich, United Kingdom
- 01493 742920
- hammondcarsuk.com
4.4
Excellent
5k reviews
Asks customers to review
This company invites their customers to review, whether positive or negative
Replied to 54% of negative reviews
Typically replies within 1 week
How this company uses Trustpilot
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Faulty car
I purchased a car in November and since have replaced 3 shock absorbers, a suspension arm, 3 tires, back windscreen wiper and a cv joint. The left hand cv joint is now going and I have had a on going fault with the stop start which I was told was fixed.
I have emailed a complaint and I have now sent a letter and had no correspondence in return, I have also left a voicemail as no branch is available on the phone.
I feel I was sold a faulty car and now you are reluctant to resolve the issue.
It is something I will be taking to small claims court if not dealt with soon.
13 April 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for bringing this to our attention. We’re really sorry to hear about your experience and the issues you’ve encountered with your vehicle — this is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide.
We take concerns like this very seriously, and we’re also sorry to hear that you haven’t yet received a response to your previous attempts to contact us. This is not acceptable, and we understand your frustration.
Please could you provide your contact details and vehicle registration (if you haven’t already) so we can urgently investigate this matter and work towards a resolution for you.
I would certainly use again
The initial contact by telephone was a little shaky but the service once in Norwich the following day was without fault. Car seems okay during the 40 miles drive to Suffolk although one of the two keys supplied doesn't work (batter checked) so either faulty or possibly for the wrong vehicle.
9 April 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback.
We’re sorry to hear the initial telephone contact felt a little shaky, but we’re pleased the experience at our Norwich site the following day was faultless and that the vehicle seems to be performing well on your journey to Suffolk.
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your kind review!
We’re really pleased to hear that you found our team helpful and friendly, and that you were happy with the range of cars available. Providing great service and a strong selection is exactly what we aim for, so it’s wonderful to know we’re getting it right.
We hope to see you again soon!
Aaron (I think!)
Patient salesman who gave me time to consider options, reasonable prices, although don’t expect to haggle! Only negatives were the car could not be delivered to another branch and the price went up by £100 from when I saw online to when I purchased!
8 April 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re really pleased to hear that you found our salesperson patient and that you felt supported in taking the time to consider your options. It’s also great to know you found our pricing reasonable overall.
We appreciate your comments regarding delivery between branches and the change in price. We understand how important convenience and pricing transparency are, and we’ll make sure your feedback is shared with the team as we continue to improve our service.
Thank you again for your review, and we hope to assist you again in the future.
Terrible collection service after sale via Carwow
I sold my focus via Carwow and on auction day I was informed that my car had been 'sold' to Hammond cars £500 above the reserve price.
Hammond then contacted me to say they wanted to arrange an AA inspection which took a week to organise. The inspector turned up over 4 hours late! The Carwow collection service was arranged via driive me four days later. The driver had to get a train then a bus so turned up late. He then couldn't log into the driive me app but insisted he had to do this to upload more photos and documents. Carwow, Hammond and driive me were no help and completely inflexible regarding alternative options to the app but finally pictures were accepted via WhatsApp. The driver was here for almost 3 hours then I got a call from Hammond trying to knock £150 off the agreed price because the rear pads were worn! I told the dealer that I had declared this and it was noted on the MOT. He said he hadn't looked at this! I finally received the agreed amount.
Up to the point of the auction, I would give Carwow 5 stars. For all the problems and delay after that until collection and payment I would give Hammond 1 star.
7 April 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for taking the time to share your detailed feedback.
We’re really sorry to hear about the delays and frustrations you experienced during the collection process. This is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide, and we understand how inconvenient this must have been for you.
We also apologise for the issues around communication, timing, and the attempted price adjustment. We appreciate you highlighting that the condition of the vehicle had already been declared, and we’re glad to hear that the agreed amount was ultimately honoured.
Your comments have been shared with the relevant teams so we can review what went wrong and improve the experience for future customers, particularly around inspections, collections, and communication.
Thank you again for your patience throughout the process and for bringing this to our attention.
Price gouging
I test drove a car from the Norwich branch which had been price gouged to the tune of £400. This was due to the current fuel crisis quote unquote according to the salesman and the manager and although I was a cash sale there was no negotiating the price ( 3 defects on the mot) hence it is still for sale!
8 April 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your feedback.
We’re sorry to hear that you were unhappy with your experience at our Norwich branch. We aim to price all of our vehicles in line with current market conditions, and these prices can change from time to time.
We understand your concerns regarding the vehicle and pricing, and we’re sorry if this wasn’t clearly communicated during your visit. We always strive to provide a transparent and consistent experience for all customers.
Your comments have been noted and shared with the team as we continue to improve our service.
Thank you again for taking the time to leave a review.
Jamie was amazing
Jamie was amazing, so helpful both face to face and over the phone. Went above and beyond to help
8 April 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you so much for your wonderful feedback!
We’re delighted to hear that Jamie provided such helpful support both in person and over the phone. Going above and beyond for our customers is exactly what we strive for, so it’s fantastic to know Jamie made such a positive impression.
We’ll be sure to pass on your kind words – they’ll mean a lot. Thanks again for your review, and we hope to see you again in the future!
I bought by a car from the Norwich…
I bought by a car from the Norwich branch and within 24 hours it had broke down and had 3 separate problems which involved the car shaking, not starting and struggling to move in all gears. When calling o they weren’t very helpful when I told them I am broken down and they said they could arrange something to get the car in a few days. Not happy with how the situation was dealt with, made it even more stressful. Kurtis was great though!
23 March 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback.
We’re very sorry to hear about the issues you experienced so soon after collecting your car — we completely understand how stressful and frustrating that must have been, especially when you were left broken down.
This is certainly not the level of service we aim to provide, and we’re sorry that you felt unsupported when you contacted us. Your experience has been noted, and we will be reviewing this internally to ensure we handle situations like this with greater urgency and care in the future.
We’re pleased to hear that Kurtis made a positive impression, and we’ll be sure to pass your kind comments on to him.
Refusal to repair serious faults whilst under warranty.
We reported an abnormal noise from the clutch / gearbox area of the car 4 days after purchasing it at the start of September. The car also suffered a significant number of other serious issues shortly after purchase, one of these being a complete brake failure resulting in the car overrunning a junction and only through luck nobody was seriously injured.
We took the car to our local garage (the garage Hammonds also use) and they said the issue was most likely due to a faulty clutch / DMF. This garage recently replaced the clutch / DMF on this vehicle with parts supplied by Hammonds. The garage believed the fault was due to faulty components that had been supplied and as Hammonds had provided them, then Hammonds would have to pay for the repairs.
Hammonds wanted another opinion, so we had to drive the car to a Ford garage an hour away in Norfolk because they didn't have a good relationship with the Ipswich Branch for investigative work / repairs. They changed the timing belt and tensioners, but this did not cure the abnormal noises. We paid for the aux belt to be replaced at the same time.
We sent videos of the noises to Hammonds and they agreed for further diagnosis back with Ford. I was not happy for 2 of us to do another two x 2 hour round trips and lose the car for another week. Hammonds agreed to send it back to the local garage and they used a stethoscope and again stated there was an abnormal noise from the clutch area and would require a strip down to confirm the root cause. They also supplied videos of the noises. Potentially 8 hours labour for the strip down.
The warranty team offered to send it to Ford in Ipswich but later retracted this offer, potentially once they realised the labour hours and costs involved at a main dealer.
They have also tried to suggest the noises may be a “normal vehicle characteristic”. As a time served mechanic of 35 years I can confirm they are definitely abnormal.
Other issues with the car were:
1. Failure of both wheel bearings. 1st one failed within the first week.
2. Complete brake failure.
3. Intermittent loss of all instruments and lighting while the vehicle is cruising on the motorway.
4. Failure of the cruise control - it tries to speed the car up when you press the brake.
5. Repeated faults with parking assist and collision assist.
6. Brake pedal switch failure.
We were initially advised we could drive the car with the noise while they worked on getting it sorted in the background. As the noise deteriorated we then stopped driving the car for nearly 3 months in the hope they would repair it.
Due to the significant nature of the faults, number of faults and cost to investigate / repair – we believe the car they sold is not fit for purpose and we requested either:
a. Refund minus approx £500 for the miles we put on it prior to them saying it was fine to drive.
b. Swap it for another vehicle of similar value.
c. Repair all faults with the car.
They offered a refund minus £2,300 for the miles (£0.45 per mile) we put on it which we found unacceptable and declined. They insisted it was fine to drive, not us. I drive approx. 500 miles per week and I didn’t request compensation for the 12 weeks I couldn’t drive it at their £0.45 per mile rate.
We also tried to resolve this matter via their complaints department but have not had a response, just relayed messages from the warranty person via his area manager. Sometimes up to 3 weeks between responses.
We raised a complaint with the Motor Ombudsman but they were unable assist because Hammonds are not members with them. We suggested they become members so we could resolve this or direct us to their suggested Alternative Dispute Resolution process - no response to this either.
We have been advised that our only option is to pursue this legally via the small claims process.
My advice is to avoid this company as they are not to be trusted.
9 March 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for sharing your feedback. We sincerely regret the difficulties you’ve experienced with your vehicle and understand the frustration caused by the issues you’ve described.
We would like to clarify that three weeks ago, we reached out via email to invite you to our site to demonstrate the issues firsthand. Unfortunately, it appears this email went to your Junk folder, which led to a misunderstanding. Once this was identified, our team spoke with you directly and confirmed that you would be coming in to inspect the vehicle.
Our aim is to work collaboratively to resolve the problems and ensure your vehicle is safe and reliable. We are committed to assessing the issues thoroughly when you visit, and we encourage you to bring any further evidence or concerns so we can address them promptly.
We value your business and hope that this next step will help move toward a satisfactory resolution.
An excellent experience from start to…
An excellent experience from start to finish! The sales guys couldn't have been more friendly or helpful and there was absolutely no pressure into buying a car. Will definitely use again in the future. 5 stars 🙂
3 April 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you so much for your fantastic review!
We’re delighted to hear you had an excellent experience from start to finish. It’s great to know our team made you feel welcome and supported, without any pressure — that’s exactly how we want every customer to feel.
We really appreciate your kind words and your 5-star rating. We look forward to welcoming you back in the future — enjoy your new car! 🙂
Quick reliable service
Quick reliable service
Shame I couldn’t get more fuel for the car I bought when I had a full tank with the one I had , still a reliable service all round.
3 April 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your review!
We’re really pleased to hear you found our service quick and reliable — that’s exactly what we aim to provide.
We also appreciate your feedback regarding the fuel. We understand your point, and it’s something we’ll certainly take on board as we’re always looking for ways to improve our customer experience.
Thanks again for your feedback, and we hope you enjoy your new car!
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your great review!
We’re delighted to hear you found our service polite and efficient, and that you’re happy with your car. Your feedback means a lot to us.
Wishing you many happy miles in your new vehicle, and we hope to see you again in the future!
Benji was very helpful made us feel…
Benji was very helpful made us feel very welcome did not push us at all told us to take our time and make sure that it was the the right car for us, would fully recommend them.
3 April 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your kind review!
We’re delighted to hear that Benji made you feel so welcome and supported throughout your visit. It’s really important to us that our customers feel comfortable and never pressured, so it’s great to know he gave you the time and space to make the right decision.
We truly appreciate your recommendation and hope you enjoy your new car. If there’s anything else we can help with in the future, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Hammond Cars buying experience
Hammond Cars has a very large stock of used vehicles. I am sure that most car seekers will find a model to suit them. The staff are very friendly and willing to discuss customer needs. Cars are AA tested and given a full assessment of condition. Prices are reasonable and warranties are available. I was happy with my car buying experience. Just one complaint: the ceiling in the customer area is very reflective and the noise level gets very high - sometimes I could not make out what the salesman was saying to me. I think some sound deadening panels would be a good idea.
30 March 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for taking the time to leave such a detailed review.
We’re really pleased to hear that you were happy with your car buying experience and that our range of vehicles, pricing, and team made a positive impression. It’s great to know our staff were able to support you in finding the right car and that our preparation standards gave you confidence.
We also really appreciate your feedback regarding the noise levels in the customer area. That’s a very helpful observation, and we understand how this could make conversations more difficult at times. Your suggestion about sound deadening panels is noted, and we’ll certainly look into ways we can improve the environment for a more comfortable experience.
Thank you again for your feedback and for choosing Hammond Cars — we hope you enjoy your new vehicle!
Waited just over two weeks for a car to…
Waited just over two weeks for a car to appear that they were advertising at their Ipswich branch.
Thoroughly disappointed with its condition, poor paintwork and filthy front seats.
Originally advertised at £5900 the price now is £6500 seems like it’s risen by £100 every two days.
Apparently exploiting the Middle East conflict for economical vehicles.
I think it’s ethically wrong of this company, if it was good value at the original price why add to peoples money miseries with what’s going on in the world.
23 March 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your feedback. We’re genuinely sorry to hear about your experience and that the vehicle did not meet your expectations when you visited our Ipswich branch.
We understand how frustrating it must have been to wait for the car to arrive, only to find its condition disappointing. Cleanliness and presentation are standards we take seriously, and your comments about the paintwork and interior have been noted and will be shared with the team so we can address this internally.
Regarding the pricing, vehicle prices can fluctuate based on market conditions, preparation costs, and demand. However, we want to reassure you that we do not adjust prices in response to global events in the way you’ve described. We appreciate how the changes may have appeared and understand your concerns around fairness and transparency.
Your feedback is important to us, and we would welcome the opportunity to discuss this further and try to restore your confidence. Please feel free to contact us directly so we can look into your experience in more detail.
Pleasant experience
Pleasant experience, great service from Benji. Very helpful, very happy 👍
28 March 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you so much for your kind words! We're delighted to hear you had a pleasant experience and that Benji provided such helpful service. We'll be sure to pass on your feedback to him. We really appreciate your support and hope to see you again soon! 👍
Was very welcoming from the start
Was very welcoming from the start. George was great help throughout the whole process of buying the car. Would highly recommend to anyone.
28 March 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your wonderful feedback! We're so pleased to hear you felt welcomed from the start and that George was a great help throughout your car-buying journey. We'll be sure to pass along your kind words to him. Your recommendation means a lot to us—enjoy your new car, and we hope to see you again in the future!
Place to go the buy a car
Brilliant staff—quick, attentive, and couldn’t fault their service. They made the overall experience smooth and were very helpful throughout.
However, the policies they have to follow aren’t ideal. There’s no flexibility on pricing or discounts, even when there are issues with the vehicle that need addressing, which is a bit disappointing. Additionally, the valeting lacks attention to detail, as they tend to focus only on visible areas and overlook hidden spots although they sorted the water marks on the headlining.
Overall, great customer service from the team, but the lack of flexibility and finer attention to detail takes away from the experience. I’d still consider returning, but with some reservations.
27 March 2026
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for taking the time to share such detailed feedback. We’re really pleased to hear that you found the team to be quick, attentive, and helpful, and that they made your overall experience a smooth one—that means a lot to us.
We also truly appreciate your honest comments regarding our pricing policies and vehicle preparation. We understand how frustrating a lack of flexibility can feel, especially when there are concerns that need addressing, and your feedback has been noted. Likewise, we’re sorry to hear that the valeting didn’t meet expectations in terms of attention to detail, although we’re glad the team were able to resolve the issue with the headlining.
Your comments are invaluable in helping us improve both our processes and the finer details of our service. We’re grateful for your recommendation of the team, and we hope that, despite your reservations, we’ll have the opportunity to provide you with an even better experience in the future.
I purchased a car from Hammond Cars…
I purchased a car from Hammond Cars Ipswich and had excellent service Darnell was helpful went through all the details and there was no pressure selling when trying to purchase the car
Stuart W
24 March 2026
Unprompted review
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your kind feedback, Stuart!
We’re delighted to hear you had an excellent experience with us at Hammond Cars Ipswich. It’s great to know that Darnell was so helpful, took the time to go through everything clearly, and made the process comfortable with no pressure.
We really appreciate you choosing us for your car purchase and hope you’re enjoying your new vehicle. If there’s anything we can help with in the future, please don’t hesitate to get in touch!
Reply from Hammond Cars
Thank you for your great review!
We’re so pleased to hear you received excellent service and that you’re thrilled with your car—that’s exactly what we aim for. Wishing you many happy miles ahead, and we look forward to seeing you again in the future!
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