Looking for a New Car? Don’t Break the Bank When You Buy a Used Car!

Sometimes you need a new vehicle, but can’t quite afford one right off the brand new lot. Luckily, there are plenty of used vehicle options and excellent used vehicles available both online and in physical lots for you to choose from. Many of these used vehicle options are in great condition and may have only been used lightly before being put up for sale. They could be just as good as a brand new car off the lot, in some cases! Obviously you need to shop for your used vehicle wisely and be choosy about what you buy, but there’s a way to preserve your budget and get you a great deal that’s safe, reliable, and with plenty of miles left in the tank. New vehicles are nice, but they’re certainly not everything! There are a few things you’ll want to keep in mind as you conduct your research and look at your options, which we’ll cover below.
What Are Some of the Best Used Car Models Available?
Fords tend to make an excellent used car, especially Ford Focuses. They’re compact with a nice interior and a sporty feel to steering and driving. You’ll often see them advertised as used cars and are perfect for college kids or people who don’t need four wheel drive or a lot of space in their vehicles. With this in mind, it’s probably unsurprising that Ford’s F-series is the top selling pickup truck in the United States for almost the last 40 years in a row! Nor would it be surprising to hear that the F-series has been the best overall vehicle for over 30 years in a row.
Subarus also tend to be pretty reliable, mostly due to their longevity. You’ll find some Subarus on the road after 150,000 miles are put on them! They’re also a great car if you’re looking for more space and good handling in snow or other tricky weather conditions.
Why Buy a Used Car?
If you’re wondering why some people might want to buy a used car instead of just saving up a little more or taking out a loan to get a brand enw car they know they’ll have around for years, the answer is simple.
In some cases, people don’t have the luxury of waiting until they have enough money to purchase a new car. The car might break down beyond repair, there might be an accident, or they know they can get a great running car with plenty of life in it yet, for a fraction of the cost. Used cars can be models from that year that have been returned or exchanged — don’t think of used cars as just being models that are ten or fifteen years old! The used vehicle options are a lot better than they might have been a decade ago, and there are plenty of style, size, and price ranges to choose from.
Insurance costs and how much your car depreciates as an already “used car” also decline. Additionally, your registration fees for a used car could be significantly less than if you’d bought a brand new vehicle.
What Should I Keep In Mind While Inspecting My Used Vehicle Options?
Be smart about your choices and where you’re looking. Check out Kelley’s Blue Book to see the actual cost of a new and used vehicle and what to expect. If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Make sure you test drive the vehicle before purchasing, just like you would with a new car. If possible, see if you can find the history of the used vehicle (and why it might have been returned, exchanged, or sold). Make sure you research car models that are proven to be good as used cars — you don’t want to purchase a model to later find out that it’s a bum used car.
If you take your time and do your research, you could buy a used car or truck that costs a fraction of what a brand new vehicle does, including insurance, registration, and other additional costs and fees. Save money now and look at a used car lot!