Finding your next vehicle is often a difficult, time-consuming process. Not only is purchasing a car, truck, minivan, or SUV a major investment, it is a decision that you’ll experience the consequences of each day. Ultimately, making a decision you’re happy with will require plenty of research and consideration of your family’s transportation needs. One of the first – and also most challenging – is whether to get a new car or a pre-owned car. Which type of vehicle is better for you depends on a variety of factors.

Preowned Car

Purchase Price

The primary advantage of a preowned car tends to be the price; cars with more miles on them tend to be less expensive. Thus, even a relatively recently released model may have a dramatically lower price than you’d expect to pay for it new. So if you’re looking for a fully-loaded car but don’t want to make a massive investment, a preowned vehicle can allow you to have the best of both worlds.

Reliability

Preowned cars also tend to be reliable, despite having been used. Depending upon how old the preowned vehicle is, it may have already had damaged parts replaced. In addition, you are less likely to have a preowned car recalled due to defective parts – such recalls tend to occur soon after models are released. It is always important to have a preowned vehicle inspected before buying it, and going to a dealer with an on-site service center, such as Mazda 3 in Overland Park, provides both peace of mind and convenience.

Availability

With a new car, a dealership may have a limited supply and you may have to custom-order models with certain features or your favorite color. With preowned cars, what you see is what you get and it is available on the spot.

New Car

Quality

There is nothing quite like a new car, from the new car smell to the guarantee that everything is in prime working condition. Investing in a new car and being the vehicle’s first owner means you can likely expect to avoid having maintenance costs for a few years.

Warranties

Additionally, you’ll have the benefit of a manufacturer’s warranty in the event that anything does go wrong. And, if you really have difficult problems that offer no easy resolutions, your new vehicle will probably be protected by your state’s Lemon Laws, which would not provide relief for a preowned vehicle owner.

Value

You can also recoup the higher initial investment price of a new car through its life. Whereas you might have to buy another preowned car just a few years after your previous purchase, a new car will last longer. If you do not elect to keep your new car that long, you can count on a higher resale price than you would get with an older, preowned vehicle.

Although price is a significant factor in the decision of whether to buy a new or preowned vehicle, it should not be your only consideration. Ultimately, a vehicle’s value depends on how well it aligns with your needs.