Investing
Should I Invest in a New Car or a Used Car?
Published by Jessica Weisman-Pitts
Posted on February 3, 2022
3 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
Global Banking & Finance Review®
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Published by Jessica Weisman-Pitts
Posted on February 3, 2022
3 min readLast updated: January 28, 2026
Deciding between a new or used car involves considering cost, depreciation, warranties, and sustainability. Current market trends also play a role.
There have been many reports in the last few months about the buoyancy of the second-hand car market with used vehicles fetching significantly higher prices than they did for comparable models a couple of years ago. What this comes down to is a mixture of disruption to the new car sector with regulatory changes plus the impact of the pandemic. Equally, demand for private transportation soared during lockdown when more and more people were keen to avoid public transport.
Therefore, the gap between the asking price of a brand new car and one that is a few years old isn’t as great as it used to be. That’s why many people now think that purchasing a new model makes more sense than opting for a used one. Does this really make sense, however? To begin with, let’s look at it this way – used cars are still cheaper than new ones. In other words, you can get a bigger, classier model for your budget if you buy second-hand compared to a new car.
Equally, second-hand cars will still not drop in value as much as new ones. When you buy a second-hand car and then sell it, the likelihood is you will see a drop in its worth due to the increased age and the number of miles you have driven. This will not be anything like the drop in value of a brand new car, however. These vehicles can lose thousands simply for being registered with a new owner and driven off the dealer’s forecourt.
There again, some motorists think that the warranty you get with a new car makes brand new models more appealing. This may be so if you were to buy a used car from a private seller with no warranty. Nevertheless, you can get your hands on fully inspected KAP used cars with 100% warranties at affordable prices. In this sense, the used car market still offers the same advantage of a guarantee but at a lower price point.
Finally, used cars tend to be the more sustainable option. Unless you buy a very old, heavily polluting car, it is greener to effectively recycle a car by giving it a new lease of life. These days, there are plenty of cars with low emissions on the second-hand market and even some which emit nothing at all given how many all-electric and hybrid models you can opt for these days.
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The article discusses whether investing in a new or used car is more beneficial, considering factors like cost, depreciation, and sustainability.
New cars often come with warranties and may have the latest features, making them appealing despite higher initial costs.
Yes, used cars can be more sustainable as they recycle existing resources and often have lower emissions compared to older models.
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