Benefits of Buying a Used Car

Whether you’re buying your first car or just looking for a new ride, you may be wondering whether you should buy a new vehicle or something used. Used cars can have one or many previous owners, which may make you hesitant to purchase one. Luckily, there are many advantages to buying a used car, and they often outweigh the downsides. Here’s everything you need to know about the benefits of purchasing a used vehicle.

Initial Savings

When buying a used car, you can almost always experience savings on its initial price. How much you can save compared to the new model may vary depending on the type of car and the age of the used car. For example, a seven-year-old car may be more affordable than a three-year-old car. Purchasing a used car instead of a new one might save you thousands of dollars and free that money up for something else. If affordability is your primary concern when purchasing a car, getting a used car may be the right choice for you.

Eco-Friendliness

If you’re conscious of your personal buying habits and their effect on the environment, buying a used car may help you rest easy. Because you’re reusing a car that someone else no longer needs, you’re lengthening the car’s life and getting more use from the materials used to make it. This means purchasing a used car is often more eco-friendly than buying a new one. If being eco-friendly is important to you, you can take this a step further by finding a used car that’s a hybrid or has great fuel economy.

More Useful Information

Another used car benefit is the availability of information about the vehicle you’re purchasing. Because the car has been available for at least a year, people are more likely to have discovered common mechanical problems and issues with the model than with newly released cars. This can help you better understand the vehicle you’re purchasing and learn how others enjoyed it before you buy it. For example, a vehicle may gain a reputation for being reliable and low-cost for maintenance, which may make it better as a used car.

Cheaper Monthly Expenses

If you’re prioritizing affordability in your car-buying process, purchasing a used car can help you save on many aspects of financing the vehicle. Though the initial price is lower, you may also pay less for expenses like insurance and registration. Because the insurance company is likely to pay less to repair or replace your vehicle, your premiums might be lower. Registration is also often less expensive for used vehicles depending on their year, so it’s important to check your local registration costs before buying a used car.

Higher Availability and Stock

Though new cars are often easier to customize, used vehicles have the advantage of potentially being discontinued models. Some used cars may also have features that new cars no longer include. For example, a used car may have a cassette player or rear-hinged doors. If you’re searching for a model that’s been discontinued, you can often purchase a used one when the new ones aren’t available.

Lower Depreciation

When you purchase a used vehicle, you often maintain more of your initial investment than you might with a new car. This is because most of the depreciation has already occurred. New vehicles lose a big portion of their value as soon as you drive them off the lot, while a used car may only lose a small portion of its value during the time that you own it.

Used Car Warranties

When you purchase a certified pre-owned vehicle from Classic Toyota, you gain access to our Limited Comprehensive Warranty. This warranty offers 12 months or 12,000 miles of coverage for the replacement of components because of normal usage. You also get the Limited Powertrain Warranty, which covers your vehicle’s transmission and major engine parts for seven years or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. This is a big benefit since these used car warranties can be extremely useful for older cars that have more wear and tear.

What To Look For in a Used Car

Here are some things to look for when purchasing a used car:

• Mileage: The mileage on a used car can be a good indicator of what owners used the car for and how much use you may get from it. Be sure to check the meter in the car yourself when looking at the car.
• Rust: Though rust on the body can be frustrating to fix, rust on the undercarriage and in the car’s frame may be more of a major issue. Always look under the vehicle and inspect the frame to ensure it’s not rusted through.
• Driving: Before buying, take the car for a test drive to ensure you like the way it feels. You can also check for issues with the transmission, power steering, and braking during a test drive.

Buying Used at Classic Toyota

If you’re ready to buy, you can figure out how to finance your new-to-you used car. Use our online Value Your Trade tool to learn more about how much your current vehicle is worth and what you may get if you choose to trade it in. Use the online credit application and payment calculator tools to get pre-qualified and determine how much you can pay each month. When you’re ready to drive off with your used car, our friendly associates will be there to help you through the process.

Since 1994, Classic Toyota has been your trusted Tyler, Texas, Toyota dealer. When you choose to shop with us for your new or used Toyota, you experience the difference. Our sales team is skilled in helping you find the vehicle you want, and our finance team can help you get it for the price you can afford. When you need an oil change or want to make a repair, the factory-trained, ASE-certified specialists in our collision and body shop are more than ready to help you out.

We hope this guide has been helpful if you’re trying to determine if you should purchase a used vehicle. Buying a used car can offer many benefits, from savings to availability. If you’re convinced buying a used car is right for you, check out our used car inventory to get behind the wheel of your next ride. For more information or to ask questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to one of our dedicated team members today.

Image by Brice Cooper Licensed by Unsplash