Tips on deciding between a new or pre-owned car

Purchasing a vehicle is a major decision. The choice of a new car vs. a pre-owned car is a difficult one. Some people like the idea of being the first person ever own their car. This way, they know it has not been abused, and that it has had no previous damage. Some love that new car smell, or they have always wanted a brand new car.

A new car will lose some of its retail value as soon as you drive it off the lot, because it suddenly becomes a “used” vehicle. Ask yourself: do you plan on keeping the car a very long time? Think about why are you buying a new car, simply to keep up with the Jones’s, or is it to have the comfort of knowing that this vehicle will be reliable and safe? How much you can afford to spend? A new car will be more expensive than the same model car that is one year old with 25,000 kilometers on it.

Buying pre-owned has pitfalls as well. How was the car maintained? Was the oil changed every 3,000 miles? Has it been in a wreck before? When buying pre-owned, look at newspaper adverts to find an estimated price is for this vehicle.

Advantages of buying pre-owned are that if you are diligent in searching, you can find a great bargain. Buying from individuals can result in getting a great deal. Buying a used car from a dealer has advantages too. Most used car dealerships offer limited warranties. They also often perform inspections on the cars before they are sold, which offers some comfort to the buyer.