Why Used Vehicles Can be a Better Choice For Buyers on a Tight Budget

Posted Friday, Aug 18, 2023

Repair and maintenance expenses are the biggest nightmares for a car owner. This is why many people prefer to buy a new car. Being a first owner means that there are no stains, scratches, or dents to deal with.

While everyone prefers to get their hands on a car in mint condition, it is not possible at all times. For greater affordability, many budget-conscious buyers prefer to save money and purchase a used car instead.

The good news is that there are many car dealerships that offer used cars of the highest quality. You only have to make sure that you are purchasing a car that fits your budget and your needs. The professional team at a dealership will also help you along the way.

Here are all the reasons why buying a used car is a great option for budget-conscious buyers.

5 reasons why budget-conscious buyers prefer to buy used cars

1. The Most Obvious Reason: A Lower Price

It is a common misconception that used cars do not hold their value longer than new cars. However, used cars have less depreciation than new cars, and that too comes with a lower price tag.

Car depreciation is the decrease in the value of a car from when it was purchased until the date of sale. Used cars larger in size can depreciate faster than smaller cars. However, the same is not the case with new cars. New cars will start depreciating the moment you start driving them. They depreciate almost 30% in the first year of their use.

When the car is almost 2 to 3 years old, the depreciation rate starts decreasing. It loses less than half of its value each passing year.

Used cars can be the right choice for budget-conscious buyers. They come at a lower cost than brand-new cars. With the right kind of dealership, you can buy almost brand-new used cars at a far lower price.

2. Lower Sales Tax on Used Cars

The sales tax rate on used cars differs from state to state. But it typically ranges between 3% and 8%.

The price of a used car might be attractive, but many people fail to consider the additional sales tax. However, the sales team at a used car dealership helps you calculate the sales tax from car to car. When you have the market value, vehicle model and dealership offer on the table, you can start negotiating the total amount you’ll pay to the seller.

Most car dealerships will allow you to negotiate the price of a used car. And since the sales tax depends on that amount, you can choose to pay less on sales tax when buying a used car.

Such is not the case with a new car. As new cars have fixed values depending on those decided by the manufacturers, you cannot negotiate on the price. And therefore, you are bound to pay a generally higher sales tax.

3. Flexible Financing Offers by Used Car Dealers

Private sellers ask their buyers to pay the total amount of their purchased car upfront. They also hardly ever accept anything besides cash. Used cars are also an expensive investment, especially for budget-conscious buyers. Therefore paying in full in advance for a used car may be a factor why many people avoid buying such cars altogether.

The used car dealerships understand this issue and offer an alternative option to their customers. This is due to two reasons; one, they want to ensure maximum customer satisfaction, and two, they want maximum sales of their cars.

Used car dealerships offer in-house financing to their customers. This means that they will use their own fund to finance their purchases. In this way, the customer is guaranteed that their money is in safe hands. And the dealership now has one less car in its inventory.

With in-house financing, you have the liberty to negotiate the monthly repayments and interest rates that the dealership is asking for. It is a much simpler and more direct process as compared to a third-party financier.

4. Lesser Maintenance Costs

Now this might come as a surprise to all, but used cars don’t ask for higher maintenance costs as compared to new cars. Car owners who purchase brand-new models have to pay a lot for extra services and add-ons. Furthermore, spare parts and maintenance costs for new models are extremely high.

Used cars that are even 2 to 3 years old are easy to repair and maintain. You can easily find their spare parts at a cheaper cost. Furthermore, vehicle depreciation is lesser, which means that you do not have to worry about your car losing its value right after the purchase.

Many used car dealerships offer add-ons to their customers. These include window tinting, nitrogen tires, anti-theft devices, splash guards, or chrome-plated wheels. You can always choose to opt out of these services if you want to lower the amount you will pay at the end.

5. Potential for Negotiation

Some used car dealerships can add hidden admin charges or add-ons to the final deal, which can hurt your wallet. Although it makes sense that dealers spend their money and resources refurbishing used cars and maintaining them. This is why used cars from dealerships may cost more than buying from other sources.

But the professional team at a dealership knows the real value of the car and prefers to negotiate with the customers rather than lose them. It is better that you check out the online ratings and reviews of every dealership you are planning to visit beforehand.

Furthermore, when purchasing a used car, take your time to go through the documentation fees, shipping charges, and dealer prep fees. There’s surely plenty of room for discounts when buying used cars from dealerships.

Secure the best deals on used cars in Springfield, MI, with Ghazal Auto.