The Top Three Advantages Of Buying Used Cars

When you’re buying your first car, it’s natural to feel somewhat intimidated. After all, a car is a big commitment — you may be driving the one you choose for years to come, and for that matter, making regular payments on it. For the inexperienced buyer, a brand new car can be tempting. It’s bright and flashy and attractive, and for a number of reasons people sometimes feel like a new car is more trustworthy than a used one. This is due to our perception that new is better, and in some cases that’s true. You’ll probably want to buy a computer new in most cases, and many of us don’t want to buy used phones. But used cars are different — think of a car less like a gadget and more like a house. Are you going to buy a brand new home as your starter house? Probably not. For the same reasons, among many others that we’ll explore below, you aren’t going to buy a brand new car. Used cars have a lot to offer, and auto dealers are often willing to work with new buyers to help them find the right cars that will both suit their budgets and their needs. With that being said, let’s dive into the advantages of buying used cars versus new ones.

1. Used Cars Don’t Decrease In Value Like New Cars

A reputable car dealership will be honest with you about one thing: when you drive a new car off the lot, it will immediately begin decreasing in value. Those brand new tires are wearing down, the new paint job isn’t as shiny as it used to be, and everything new in that car is going to be used for the firs time ever. Therefore, if you ever want to trade that car in or sell it, it’s going to go for less than what you paid for. In other words, you’re definitely going to take a loss. Used automobiles, on the other hand, often maintain value or in some cases even increase in value. Why would a used car increase in value? Well, think about it — if you add any features to personalize the car, they will probably make it a better vehicle, and used car lots take that into account when you’re trading that car in. And yes, it’s fairly likely that you won’t keep your first car forever. With that being said, the average used vehicle in the U.S. is 11 years old; and some people buy used cars with the specific goal of keeping them until they become “classics” and thus very valuable.

2. Used Cars Are Less Expensive

If you’re buying your first car, chances are that you’re on a budget. In fact, the average search online was for cars under $5,000. While not all used cars are going to be that inexpensive, they’re certainly going to be cheaper than new cars. (Excepting, of course, those previously mentioned classic cars!) Like we said earlier, your new car is going to decrease in value very rapidly — but when you first pay for it, you’re most likely going to be paying the full price. Auto dealerships are not going to be willing to negotiate on new cars. You can often come up with a deal on a used car by haggling with the dealer — and therefore, you’ll be able to get the things you want at a price that is much more realistic.

3. There Is A Wide Variety Of Used Cars

When you think about it, there is a limited number of used cars out on the market; used cars are much more widely attainable. And you don’t always have to go to a traditional dealership to research a used car — in fact, 80% of people now research used cars online. With that being said, no matter where you do your research, you’ll want the comfort and security of buying from a reputable dealership. The availability of used cars at great dealerships is just another advantage of buying used versus new.