6 Reasons To Feel Good About Buying Used Cars

Whether you are shopping for used cars because of preference or necessity, it presents a unique set of challenges. If you are shopping used due to personal preference, you may appreciate the simplicity and reliability of an older car or be on the hunt for a discontinued model. If your search is born of necessity, you are probably drawn to the lower prices of pre-owned vehicles. You may need an affordable second car, transportation for a new driver in your family, or simply a cheap way to get around town.

Either way, finding the perfect pre-owned vehicle from the extensive selection of used cars on the market can be daunting. Not only are you faced with the challenges posed by your unique circumstances, but you’re now taking on the additional burden of performing due diligence that may not have been necessary if you were shopping for a brand-new vehicle that comes with factory warranties. It can be exhausting, but you can also feel good about your decision because there are a lot of great reasons to shop for a used car. Here are six reasons why a used car might be a better choice for you.

#1 – Variety Is the Spice of Life

That’s right. Think about it. Every year, car manufacturers line up their offerings for the new model year and parade them in front of you, telling you how each one is better than its predecessor and its competition. While there are bound to be countless improvements and advancements in everything from safety to tech features, it doesn’t negate the quality of the model that preceded it. Or the one before that. Or the one before that. Or any of their rivals, for that matter.

At the end of the day, an estimated 350 new models are ushered into the marketplace every year, demanding that you choose your favorite among them. While it may sound like plenty, let’s put it into perspective. If you are comfortable looking at used vehicles from the last five model years, you’ve now expanded your options to include around 1,750 models. With that kind of selection, you’ve increased the odds of finding something that really suits your tastes. Plus, with more and more technology becoming standard, you’ll find you have to sacrifice less and less when you buy used.

#2 – Life Expectancy (The Vehicle’s…Not Yours)

While people argue every day about how “things aren’t made to last anymore,” it could be argued that vehicles are a bit of an anomaly. With proper maintenance, modern cars are lasting longer than ever, meaning that vehicles are living long enough to change hands multiple times. If you buy a used car from a reputable dealership and partner with a skilled service center to keep it maintained, it is not unreasonable to expect it to last for 200,000 miles or more. These days, a car that is a couple of years old is really only starting to be broken in. Just remember that most of the burden is placed on how well you maintain it. Even the best car will have a short life if you neglect oil changes and other routine services.

#3 – Get the Cutting-Edge Features You Want for a Fraction of the Price

There has often been an unnecessary stigma attached to pre-owned vehicles, suggesting that a used car will not get you access to all the desirable features you want in a modern car. This is far from the truth. In reality, the current pre-owned market offers a plethora of recent model years that feature all the fancy bells and whistles you’d expect from their brand-new counterparts. One look at a reputable dealership’s inventory, and you’ll notice that many of the used models they have for sale are very up-to-date technology-wise. In fact, many of our used vehicles were recently returned after a lease expired. That means you can get all the cutting-edge convenience and safety features you desire without the price tag of buying brand-new.

#4 – Show Me the CARFAX Vehicle History Report

Every shopper considering a used car should take a minute to appreciate the existence of third-party vehicle history reports as they have done wonders for the pre-owned market. Back in the Dark Ages (aka the mid-1990s and earlier), you had to trust the seller was telling the truth about the history of a used car for sale. Nowadays, you can get a complete vehicle history report with the click of a mouse. We include a free CARFAX vehicle history report with every used vehicle we sell, and you can access it from the online listing anytime you desire.

The automotive equivalent of getting a CIA dossier on someone before you agree to go out with them on a first date, a CARFAX vehicle history report provides a wealth of added assurance. Documentation of the number of previous owners, open recalls, maintenance history, accident history, and significant repairs is invaluable. While there can be no guarantee that a vehicle history report will be entirely devoid of error or omission, CARFAX recognizes this and offers a Buyback Guarantee if your used car’s vehicle history report contains a significant mistake. Whether from CARFAX, AutoCheck, or another entity, a vehicle history report can empower a car buyer to make the best possible decision.

#5 – Pay Less (We’re Not Just Talking About the Price of the Car)

That’s right. In addition to paying less for the vehicle itself, you can expect it to cost less to insure a used car. Not only do insurance companies charge less to cover less expensive vehicles, but you may not feel the need to take out low-deductible full coverage insurance on an older used car like you probably would for a new car. In some states, you can also expect it to cost less to register a used vehicle. Here in Colorado, you will pay 2.1% of a new vehicle’s value to register it, but only 0.45% of a five-year-old car’s value. If your car is ten years old or older, you only have to pay a flat $3.00 tax assessment. While this alone is unlikely to sway your decision one way or another, it’s certainly worthy of note.

#6 – Appreciate the Depreciation

Despite having a longer life expectancy than in years past, a vehicle’s value still rapidly diminishes with time. In fact, most of it disappears very early on in its lifespan, with many new cars losing 50% of their value within the first 36 months of being driven off the lot. In fact, they can often lose 20% of their value in the first 12 months alone! That means buying a gently used vehicle will let you sidestep all of that initial depreciation. When it comes time to trade your used car for a newer model, avoiding depreciation means getting far more of your money back in trade-in value. A more extensive selection of vehicles, a longer life expectancy than ever, tons of modern tech features, exhaustive vehicle history reports, lower operating costs, and a better return on investment? Do you feel better about shopping for used cars now? You should.