Why Buying a Used Vehicle Is Better
If you are in the middle of deciding what type of car to buy or truck to buy, the chances are you have browsed online for both new options, and second hand. Each choice has a range of pros and cons, for example, driving a new car is a pretty sweet drive. They have air-con, perfectly working heaters, inbuilt parking sensors and cameras. Some will even park for you now… Or in the case of Tesla – drive for you. And all of those things are great, but they come at a pretty steep price. If you aren’t a cash buyer, and most of us aren’t you might struggle to find a finance deal that is going to work for you. Or, you might not want to be locked into a contract for the next X amount of years.
Used cars come with much fewer strings. Unless it’s in the newer age bracket of ‘used,’ it’s usually within the grasp of most people to be able to afford it. But if you are shopping used trucks and cars online here are a few great reasons to buy used – not new.
Photo by Nikita Kachanovsky on Unsplash
Depreciation
No one who buys a new car ever says ‘well this was an investment!’. The moment it rolls off the lot, it loses a heap of value. And then over the following three years, they can lose up to 50%. Which is a lot if you are making a 30-40k investment. Used cars, however, you’re not likely to worry too much about that. You’re already getting a great deal on a car in perfect working order – just a few years under its belt.
Lower Insurance
Older car – cheaper to repair (in most cases). The value of your vehicle is one of the primary factors that is taken into account when determining the rates that you’re going to pay. It makes sense, right? The higher the value of the car, the more money the insurance company will have to pay out in the event of an accident. Of course, there are other factors, like how long you’ve been driving and how many seats are in the car. But mostly, they’re looking at the value.
Longer Life
While you can still find plenty of 20+-year-old cars trundling along, in general vehicles are designed to last longer now. Of course, they all have a certain amount of miles in them, and by no means in 100,000, the same as 200,000 but car designers and engineers have made incredible strides in the giving cars a longer lifespan.
This is one of the things that people who are buying used cars worry about, but with cars designed to last, it shouldn’t be a concern. Unless you are really going to buy that 20-year-old Volvo – of course.
Pick Of The Litter
Or something like that anyway. If you want an older model because it had a sweet shape, more boot space or a particular gadget they phased out then used is going to be your best friend. Each year, around 350 models of new car hit the market. Which might sound a little OTT, it’s just that some marketing is better than others – and we don’t always see the models that get released in other countries. So if that is what the new car market has each year, you can begin to imagine the range of the used car market.
Online Information
New cars come with a blank sheet. And that’s cool, but older cars come with a personality – and that is cooler. But, what is more – you have access to their history. You can check the plates of the vehicle too, has it been stolen? Do the plates match the make and model of the car?
If the car has been in an accident, has been repaired, or failed its last MOT you will have access to all of the information before you decide to purchase the car. Of course, a clean MOT one year isn’t a guarantee that it will pass the next – but if you know what some of the issues were, you will have an idea of what you can expect the next time.
More Motor for Your Money
A new car is going to run you a few thousand. Either upfront or a couple of hundred a month in a contract. If you have the cash to play with, then you’re going to be able to get a lot more car for your money. A new Land Rover, or a Volvo 4×4, are anywhere between $45,000 – $177,000. Which is pretty steep, even on finance. But a few thousand will get you second-hand version – with a few miles on the clock.
You aren’t tied to only purchasing something that has a heap of functions you might not use. You can buy any make, and model and any year of car that you like. In fact, if you have time, you can spend as long as you like finding the perfect second-hand sweetheart for you.
New Driver?
Obviously, no one wants this to happen, but in the first year of driving most people are more likely to have a crash. The insurance on a newer car is already going to be high, add in a new driver premium – and then an accident? It makes the car even more expensive. Having a slightly older car, and maybe even on the cheaper side is going to put you at ease just that little bit more when you start driving unaccompanied.
Cover
If you buy from a used car garage, the car will usually come with a decent warranty. One that will keep your covered for 3-6-9 months and the follow-up care is generally pretty nice too.
In general, there are pros and cons to both new and used. But, if you are looking to maximize what you can get with the money you have, and keep your insurance low, then used cars will win every time.
Tia, and TipsfromTia.com is trying to keep you looking good and
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