Second-hand cars currently account for a significant proportion of sales in the global car market. More and more buyers are turning to this option when they want to buy another car. What is the reason for the growing popularity of used cars?
Buying a functional vehicle for cheap
The vast majority of buyers who turn to buying used cars do so for economic reasons. The price difference between a new and a used car is not negligible. Indeed, a second-hand car can cost up to half as much. However, you can easily find second-hand cars that are still in very good condition.
Some people might think that used cars always have defects. If you are buying from a private person, you may have to deal with this kind of problem. However, you can try to use these small defects in the car to bring the price down. Indeed, if you need to make repairs to a car you are considering buying, you are entitled to ask for a discount. Sellers are usually willing to compromise if it helps them sell their car more quickly.
Before buying a second-hand car, you should always do some checking. Ideally, you should be able to test drive the car to see if there are any problems. If there is nothing wrong with the car after you have tested it, you can buy it with peace of mind.
Used cars are a real opportunity for people who want to buy a new car without breaking the bank. If you buy a new car, for example, you will have to take out a loan from the bank and pay it back over several years.
Ease of maintenance
Used cars are easier to maintain than new cars. New cars are usually the latest models and service parts for them may not yet be available on the market. Indeed, even if you buy a vehicle that has never been used, you will still have to maintain it and you will inevitably have to change some parts. For example, the oil filter should always be changed during a simple oil change. If your car is new, you will probably have a hard time finding this part at an ordinary car parts dealer.
With a used car, you can avoid this problem. You don’t have to go through so much trouble to find spare parts because they are available on the market from authorised dealers and have been for a long time. If you need to change the air filter or the oil filter, for example, you don’t need to go to a specialist dealer or to a car dealership. You can easily find these parts at a petrol station, a garage or in a simple hardware store.
Extending the life of vehicles still in working order
Buying a used car can also be considered an ecological attitude. The production of new vehicles is a process that pollutes the planet heavily as it requires the mobilisation of many natural resources such as iron as well as the production of waste. By buying new cars, consumers encourage car manufacturers to increase their production and thus further exploit the planet’s resources.
Moreover, a large proportion of the cars sent for scrapping are still in working order. Extending their life would significantly reduce the amount of waste from car scraps. Indeed, the carcasses stored in such places are not recycled immediately. It can take several years before they are taken to a foundry and reused.
Where to buy a used car ?
When buying used cars, users often recommend looking at a car dealership because the cars on offer are usually in very good condition. However, they are also quite expensive. In general, the price difference between a new and a used car does not exceed 30%. So it is not always worth buying a second-hand car from a dealer.
Nowadays, it is possible to find websites specialising in the sale of used cars. The sales platforms are particularly interesting because the buyer is free to set his budget. By searching, they can easily find all the cars that meet their price range.