Used cars don’t always have the best reputation. After all, several people have bought lemons over the years that simply didn’t last.
These days, though, that’s fast becoming not the case. A lot has changed in the world of used cars over the past two decades, and not only are the cars more reliable than ever but there are many benefits of buying a used car you’ll certainly want to consider. Why should you purchase a used car? Take a look.
You’re Going to Save Money: The single best reason to buy a used car is the amount of money you’re going to save.
Today, new cars start at around $30K, whereas the same model and make used car will be at least $10K-$15K cheaper.
And if you are in the habit of buying a new car every few years, you can potentially save $50K-$75K in your lifetime by buying a used car.
It’s about so much more than that sticker price, though. When you buy a new car, you never know what the real take-home price will be.
The sticker price for new cars is meaningless. In most cases, you have to pay for all the extras like the transport charges, shipping fees, dealership fees, all extra features, warranty, and so on.
A new car that is often advertised for $30K often costs more than $37 by the time you get it on the road. Hidden fees are dime a dozen with new cars.
When you buy a used car, there are no such hassles. You pay the listed price and in fact, you can even haggle the price down.
More than that, though, you don’t have to worry about depreciation. The value of a new car drops by thousands of dollars the moment you drive it off the dealership.
This depreciation value happens to all new cars and is a key reason why today a used car purchase is a better option. For example, say you buy a new car for $30K and decide to sell it after 3 years.
Rest assured, you will most likely not get more than 20K for that car. However, if you purchase a used car for $15K and decide to sell it after 3 years, you will probably get $10K or more.
The depreciation of a new car is significant, especially if you decide to sell it within the first 5 years.
The maintenance tends to be cheaper too. While all cars require regular maintenance, the cost of maintenance of a new car is exorbitantly high compared to a used car.
The maintenance of a new car depends on the make but in most cases, it can range between $200-$500. On the other hand, most used car maintenance services can be done for under $100.
Serious Reliability: Over the past 2 decades, the reliability of cars has significantly improved.
Most cars today will easily reach 150,000 miles without any issues and there are many more used cars on the road with twice that mileage.
If you’re buying a used car, even one with fairly high mileage, you can expect to get several years of reliable service from it.
Lower Insurance Premiums: New cars are very expensive to insure. The same make and model car that is 5 years old will be several hundred dollars cheaper to insure, which can add to your overall savings.
Less Stress: Many people buy a new car and constantly worry about small scratches or dents.
They park the car a mile away from the grocery store so that no one will cause a dent by parking too close. With a used car, those worries are almost completely eliminated.
Lots of Extras: When you buy a new car and want any extras like tinted windows, a better audio system, or a safety package, it all costs a lot of money.
On the other hand, there are so many used cars on the market that you can pick and choose what you want. And if you find the car with all the features you want, there is no extra fee.
At the same time, when you buy a used car, you are not forced into buying the expensive add-ons which dealerships always force on new car buyers. You can customize your used car according to your needs.
Added Warranty: While new cars do come with warranties, today many used cars will also have their original warranty or you have the option of extending the warranty. That can mean peace of mind as you make your purchase.
Ready to buy a used car to meet your needs? Reach out and contact us today. We have the makes and models you want most.
