Should You Buy A New Or A Used Car?

For first-time car buyers, picking the make and model of their maiden vehicle is only half the problem. They would also need to consider the amount of money they have to allocate as well as the frequency of maintenance checks they have to conduct.

Typically, first-time car buyers have the option of buying a new or a used car. Each decision comes with its own distinct advantages and disadvantages that can make it difficult for the buyer to come to a conclusion.

Equipping yourself with adequate information on the advantages of each option would help you make the right choice.

Should you buy a new or a used car?

On the surface, one could easily say that buying a car has an advantage in terms of acquiring the new models. While this may be an aesthetically-sound choice, it is not budget-friendly for potential buyers. Used cars, on the other hand, are much cheaper and are still highly functional.

Continue reading to learn more about the advantages of each option.

Advantages Of Buying A New Car

When you think about buying a new car, you already have an idea of the benefits you’ll get from it. Aside from built-in specialized features, you also have freedom of choice when it comes to options. Furthermore, you’ll be guaranteed a warranty and a high resale value once you sell it in the future. Here’s why you should keep these advantages in mind:

Freedom Of Choice

One advantage of buying a new car is the availability of many automotive options at your disposal. Popular car manufacturers regularly introduce newer models of their vehicles with upgraded and specialized features. You have the freedom to choose a car with a more advanced entertainment system, or a vehicle that has more built-in safety features.

High Resale Value

While this may prove to be true for only vehicles that are in great demand, you can be assured that buying a new car would eventually help you in selling it at a more competitive price point in the future.

Selling used cars is not only much more difficult to accomplish because of the quality, but there is a possibility that you might not find a market for them.

Available Warranty

Depending on the kind of agreement which has been stipulated between you and the manufacturer, you can have your car serviced at a discounted rate because of the availability of a warranty.

In the first few years of owning your vehicle, you would not need to focus too much on making major repairs, but only on low-cost maintenance repairs which can give you better financial outcomes.

Advantages Of Buying A Used Car

Buying a used car is not an uncommon practice. With the rising cost of newer models of vehicles, a used car seems to be a viable alternative. Luckily for you, buying a used car is not only affordable, but you can also be assured that the vehicle has been thoroughly inspected and has already undergone most of its depreciation. Here are the advantages of buying a used car:

Affordability

From the get-go, one apparent advantage of buying used cars is that they come at a much more affordable price. Especially if you’re eyeing a particular older model of the vehicle that you’ve always wanted. Buying it would be easier since you won’t have to allocate a higher budget allowance.

Thoroughly-inspected

Used car dealerships ensure they’re getting only the vehicles that have passed their necessary quality checks and inspections. So when you’re in the motions of buying a used vehicle, you won’t have to concern yourself about its functionality. Furthermore, the dealership would likely become more transparent about the different components of the vehicle as it is used.

Lower Depreciation

While the depreciation of a vehicle’s value is not something desirable, it would be in your best interest to know that a car’s depreciation happens only during the first year of its ownership. You won’t encounter the same problem among older vehicles because they cannot depreciate in value which is far too vast compared to how much you paid for it.

For this reason, you can potentially re-sell the car in the future similar to its purchasing price point.

Key Takeaway

Being on the fence about buying a new or a used car is perfectly within reason if you don’t know the benefits of each choice. While buying a new car is advantageous because of the new built-in features, it can be more expensive. On the other hand, used cars come cheaper – but you’d have to concern yourself with the constant maintenance repairs.

The guide above has hopefully provided you with several advantages of each choice. Take these factors into consideration when choosing between a new or a used car.