Car Shopping: Is Buying New Really Worth It?

Last updated 03/21/2024 by

Looking for a new car?

Car shopping can be fun, yet frustrating. There are so many makes and models, all with differing options. After you have decided what kind of car you want and what options you need, you then must decide if you are going to buy a new or used car, or lease one. So many decisions it can nearly make your head spin. Let’s take an in-depth look at the pros and cons that come along with each type of purchase.

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General Tips

Year-End Deals Increase Savings. Fall is a great time of year to go shopping for your next set of wheels, and the time of year that you are most likely to get a good deal. Why is that? New cars for the next model year typically start making their way to dealerships in the late summer or early fall. This means that car dealerships need to make room for new inventory.

Steer clear of first year models.Whenever a company comes out with a new make or model, it is usually more expensive, especially if it has been highly anticipated. Car makers also refine and make changes to design after a car has been on the market for a year or so that could affect safety, performance, or usability in future models.

Dealer cars are nearly new, without the new price. Dealer-driven cars are basically new cars, except they will have a few miles on them. These cars may be driven by someone from the dealership or used as courtesy cars for a year and then sold. You can really get a good deal on these because they are considered “used” cars when it comes to pricing, but title has never actually been transferred to anyone.

Last year’s model will get a discount. Just like any other retailer that needs to clear out old inventory to make room for the new, car dealers are willing to discount last year’s models to move them off the car lot. These cars are brand new, except for a couple of test-drive miles on them. You may not have a lot of choice in color or options because you will be limited based on what is left in inventory, but you are sure to save thousands of dollars as compared to the new model year vehicle. This typically holds true for buying or leasing.

Fuel

Obviously, the cost of fuel is not a factor that you can control. However, the type of vehicle that you choose can make a huge impact on the amount of fuel that you will need to buy. To save on gasoline, you may want to look at smaller, more fuel efficient cars. Hybrids and electric cars also help to increase fuel efficiency. When looking to buy or lease a new car, it can be helpful to check out the list of the most fuel efficient and least fuel efficient, as rated by the U.S. Department of Energy.

Maintenance

The older a vehicle gets and the more miles it travels, repairs are going to be necessary. When looking at an older vehicle as compared to a new one, an older vehicle may end up costing you quite a bit in repairs—depending on the type of repair you are looking at, it could end up eating up any cost savings that you had over buying a new car or leasing one. Typically, a newer vehicle will not have costly repairs, or if something does need repaired, many times, it is covered by the warranty.

Regular maintenance is important for any car, but especially if you plan on keeping the car, you will save yourself money in the future by taking your car in for regular oil changes, tire rotations, and fluid checks. These are relatively small expenses for maintenance that can save you, literally, hundreds of dollars in repairs due to lack of maintenance later on. Take advantage of coupons and specials to save a few bucks when going to a dealership service department or other auto shop.

Insurance Costs

Insurance can be quite costly and can vary greatly between companies. It is easy to think that a new car will cost more for insurance than an old car, but that is not always the case. Some factors that go into the cost of insurance remain constant though:

Cars that are more expensive to repair are going to cost more to insure
Newer cars have safety features that can actually lower the cost of insurance
Older cars are more likely to be theft targets, due to the lack of anti-theft devices or GPS tracking ability, and that can essentially lead to higher premiums
Higher deductibles can help to curb monthly costs
Keep a good driving record; fewer accidents and claims means lower premiums
Bundle insurance policies; having multiple policies with one company can qualify you for additional discounts
Young drivers can lower insurance costs by earning good grades and not having a car in their name.

Depreciation

Everyone knows that as soon as you drive a new car off the lot, it is worth less. In order to avoid that hit in value, there are a few things you can do:

Drive your car longer— Most depreciation occurs when the car is new and decreases at a slower rate the older the car gets. Buying a car and trading it in after only two or three years can put you in a negative-equity situation, whereas, keeping the car and driving it for six or seven years allows you to pay off the auto loan and, typically, get past any negative equity.
Lease a car—leasing a car will allow you to avoid worrying about depreciation at all. Once your lease is up, you turn your car in and you don’t have to worry about the value versus the residual value. You do have to think about mileage when leasing though, because this can be costly to you if you go over on miles.
Buy used car— With lease programs still being popular options, many good vehicles are returned to the dealerships after a few years with less than 50,000 miles on them. Often, you are able to buy an extended warranty up to 100,000 miles, making these much less expensive choices, but still backed by the manufacturer.
Take care of your car— Take your car for regular oil changes and tire rotations. Regularly wash your car, some environmental factors can actually be corrosive to your car’s paint over time.

Cost of Financing

While most financing is dependent upon your credit score, dealerships frequently offer special financing rates if you finance with certain banks. Typically, you will get better rates in the following circumstances:

new cars rather than used cars
shorter lease/loan terms get better rates
longer terms, get higher rates
when buying, check the rates of your local bank or credit union

Gina Young

Gina Young is an accomplished finance writer who has written for publications including Examiner.com, Lexington Law, Talk Markets, CreditRepair.com as well as her own blog (Money Savvy Living), giving budgeting and frugal living advice. With a bachelor’s degree in Accounting and Finance from Ashland University and a MBA from Indiana Wesleyan University, Young has impressive credentials in many aspects of investing, retirement planning, and personal finance.

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