What Are The Pros And Cons Of Buying A Used Car?

If you are planning on visiting a local dealership for a car, your first decision is choosing between a new or used car. There are naturally benefits and drawbacks of both new and used vehicles. New cars have that new car smell and zero miles, but used cars are less expensive and may be in good condition. If you are leaning more towards a used car, the following pros and cons list can prove useful to you.

Pro: Used Cars At Dealerships Are Often Certified

In most cases, when you buy a used car from a dealership, they are going to be certified. This means they are carefully inspected by a mechanic, go through the necessary repairs, and made to be as new as possible. They are often called "certified pre-owned," because while they were owned by another driver before, they are now in excellent condition. The car might not be very old, which is another big plus for used cars.

Con: You Don't Know How The Other Person Drove

One of the drawbacks is that while the vehicle might be in good condition and certified, you have no idea how the previous owner drove the vehicle. They might have caused some wear and tear that was not made evident during the inspection. You will have to rely on this inspection and certification of the pre-owned vehicle, because you don't know the person who drove it before. This is also a drawback when comparing dealerships to private sellers.

Pro: You Get A Warranty

Many used car dealers offer warranties for their pre-owned vehicles. If you buy a used car, and something happens to it within the warranty period, you can return it to the dealership for necessary repairs. They might also have a period of time where you can drive the vehicle and trade it in for another one if you are not happy with it. This reduces the worry about the condition of the used car, offering you extra protection.

Con: They Have Higher Mileage

While many used cars at dealerships aren't very old and don't have a lot of mileage, it is not going to be at zero. Even if the car is only two years old, the previous owner might have traveled a lot or had a long commute and put several thousand miles on the car. The more miles on a car, the higher the risk that it won't last as long as one with less miles on it. Miles mean wear and tear, even with certified pre-owned vehicles. When shopping for used cars, look for those with less miles on them.

Also keep in mind that when you buy a used car from a dealership, as opposed to a private seller, you also get the option of financing it. Since it is used, the price is lower, so your monthly payments when financing it are also going to be lower. For more information, go to http://www.usedcarsinlehighvalley.com.


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