Fun & Facts   Tech
By Consumer Team | 13 Sept. 2023

How to Know When it's Time to Buy a New Car

steering-wheel-car

Even though you’re still driving your old vehicles, you suspect that doing so might not be the best move. However, it often takes more than an inkling to buy a new car, so consider the steps you can take to determine if the time has arrived for a purchase.

Step 1. Have an Inspection

Whether you’re due for one or not, you may want to take your car for an inspection at the local automotive repair shop. By doing so, you can learn if any serious issues exist. Keep in mind that the shop may be unable to release your car to you until you have the necessary work done for safety. In the event that you learn major repairs are in order, you may decide to put the money toward a new car instead. With an older vehicle, the same issues could arise again in the near future.

Step 2. Check the Mileage

The age of a car does play a large role in whether you should keep it or not, but so does the mileage. Cars with under 100,000 miles on them are usually in better condition; however, once you surpass that mark, the time may have come to start shopping around for a new vehicle. You should also take the make of your car into consideration. Some car companies are known to produce vehicles that last for a longer amount of time and miles than other ones.

Step 3. Review Your Bills

When you need to have minor repairs done to your car, you might not notice how much money you’re actually spending on it. Take a look through all of your credit and debit card statements in the past year to see exactly how much you spent on repairing the vehicle. When you add the numbers up, you might see that you would have been better putting those funds toward a new vehicle. Instead of making the same mistakes in the upcoming year, you can change your plans for your money.

Step 4. Consider the Future

If you and your partner are the only ones who ride in the car now, you might be less concerned about safety and space. When you’re planning to bring kids into the equation soon, however, opting for a bigger car is generally a necessity. Take into account how many kids you plan to have so that you don’t have to constantly purchase a new vehicle. Also, when you are going to have kids, you’ll want to look into the safest cars as well.

Step 5. Assess Current Safety

Plenty of people like to have cars that come with the latest entertainment features and technology for enjoying the ride. However, those components really aren’t the most important. Car crashes happen on a regular basis, and a number of them are deadly. Instead of focusing solely on the features that will make your ride more comfortable, assess how safe your current vehicle is. When you go to the dealership, let the sales representative know that you are interested in looking at cars with the highest safety ratings possible. If your current car doesn’t meet proper standards, the time has come to make a change.

You might love your old car, and you may have great memories of driving old friends around in it. However, that doesn’t mean this car is the right one for your future.