There are plenty of options within this budget that avoid any potential wet belt headaches. We would suggest looking at cars such as the Honda Civic, which has a strong reliability record, as do the Toyota Auris and Hyundai i30, all of which you should find examples of within your budget. As with any used car, look for an example with a good service history with regular maintenance, and if you are buying from a private seller consider getting a vehicle history check and an approved inspection for peace of mind.