Buying a Brand New Car Vs Buying a Second-hand Car

If you have decided that it is time to change your car, that’s great but are you confused on whether you should purchase a brand new car or perhaps even look at second-hand cars? If so, this article is full of opinions and advice on car buying and it should give a clearer idea of which is best for you.

The Brand New Car Smell

It is safe to say that the perks of purchasing a brand new car that is straight out of a car dealership are that you get the new car smell that only happens to last for a few months. An interesting fact is that the season why brand new cars have a new car scent is because it is actually the smell of the brand new materials and chemicals on the materials that have been used in creating the new vehicle.

Look at Cost of Insurance

Usually, the cost to insure a second-hand vehicle is cheaper than insuring the latest version of that model, this is because as a second-hand car is usually lower in value, the insurance will be cheaper as the car is less valuable. However, saying that if you were to purchase a second-hand vehicle that is not in very good condition, it may not pass its annual MOT and this will cost you a lot of money to make changes to the vehicle so it passes.

What are you Going to Use the Car For?

If you are planning to purchase a new work van, for instance, it may be worth investing in a second-hand van, as work vans are usually used for day to day tasks and for carrying miscellaneous objects and they don’t need to have the latest technology and all the luxuries that newer vans have.

On the other hand, if you are looking to purchase a car for personal use, you may want to invest in a brand new car that has all the latest technology and safety features, as you will be using the car frequently and if you are ferrying your loved ones around, of course, you will want the car to have all the latest safety apparatus to ensure that everyone is as safe as possible.

How Long do you Intend to Own your Car?

If you are someone who likes to frequently change their car as soon as you get bored of it, then it is a good idea to look for used cars for sale. This is because if you frequently change a vehicle, the chances are that you will end up losing money because of the differences in price, but with second-hand vehicles, there is more leverage for better deals to be done, opposed to buying a brand new car that has a set price that cannot be lowered.

If you are looking to own a car for years and years then it is a good idea to purchase a brand new car, as it will be yours from now and it is very satisfying to own a car that has no previous owners. To some people, cars are very personal items, so if you are looking to make a long-term commitment to a car, then buying brand new may be the option for you. However, a second-hand car with low mileage is just as good as a brand new car and many car buyers prefer to buy a second-hand car with low mileage and you seem to get more value for your money that way.

Is a Manufacturer Warranty Important to You?

On brand new cars there is always at least a three-year warranty which ensures the owner is covered in case faults appear in the new car. Some second-hand cars come with a warranty, but not all. It depends on the car’s age and mileage so if you are going down the second-hand car route it is important to note that the car you purchase may not have a warranty.

Final Thoughts

Whether it is best to purchase a brand new car or a second-hand car varies from person to person. Everyone has their own budgets, needs, wants and requirements from a car and a second or brand new car can fit those requirements. If you are looking to have the best of both worlds, you could buy a relatively new second-hand car that is in immaculate condition, which will save you a lot of money and at the same time, it will give you the feel of driving a new car.