Skip advert
Advertisement

New, used or nearly-new: which is best for you?

Deciding which is best for you is a tricky thing to do. We summarise the pros and cons to help you choose

Pros of buying a second-hand car

Cost – the price of a used car will almost always be lower than that of a brand new version. A car that has previously been used by someone will be less valuable than one that is fresh off the production line.

Proven – buying a car that’s just been released could expose you to technology and engineering that has not been extensively tested in the real world. While most cars are pretty reliable these days, being an early-adopter of a certain model doesn’t always pay off. It can take months for issues to present themselves, and sometimes years for them to become widely known. Issues like corrosion might not be immediately identifiable and could only materialise after the model has been on sale for a few years.

Carbuyer Best Used Car Award 2024Best used cars: our 2024 Best Used Car Award winners

Lower depreciation – a second hand car will lose its value more gradually than a brand new one. In fact, if you choose a car that's close to the bottom of its depreciation curve, it may be possible to run it for a long time and barely lose any money. In fact, you might be able to sell it for the same figure you bought it for. This won’t be the case for a new car, because it loses value as soon as it’s been driven.

Advertisement - Article continues below
Skip advert
Advertisement
Skip advert
Advertisement - Article continues below

More choice – there’s a huge range of second-hand cars on the market, far more than are available new. You may find that an older model that is no longer in production makes more sense for you, or that a previous-generation of a current model is better suited to your needs. You may simply prefer the styling of an older car.

Your money goes further – if you have £15,000 to spend on a New Ford Fiesta, you could buy a brand new Zetec model. But with a bit of legwork you should be able to find a nearly-new top-spec Fiesta Titanium X, which is far better equipped, for a similar amount of money.

Cons of buying a used car

History – you have no way of guaranteeing every element of the car’s history. It may have been clocked (tampered with so that the odometer reads a lower number of miles than the car has actually covered, thus making it seem more valuable) or it may even have been previously written-off in an accident. Reputable dealers shouldn’t be involved in either of these practices, but some unscrupulous sellers have been known to take advantage of naïve car buyers. You should always pay for a vehicle history check,

Skip advert
Advertisement

Andy is Carbuyer's managing editor, with more than a decade of experience helping consumers find their perfect car. He has an MA in automotive journalism and has tested hundreds of vehicles.

Skip advert
Advertisement

Most Popular

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?
Polestar 4 Prototype drive front quarter
News
22 Mar 2024

New Polestar 4 coupe SUV – how is the £60k EV shaping up?

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers
Carbuyer best new car deals hero
Deals
28 Mar 2024

Best new car deals 2024: this week’s top car offers

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Tips & advice

View All
Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide
Car dashboard symbols and meanings
Tips and advice
26 Mar 2024

Car dashboard warning lights: the complete guide

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide
Public EV charge point
Tips and advice
11 Jan 2023

Electric car charging stations: a complete guide

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?
PCP vs HP
Tips and advice
17 May 2022

PCP vs HP – which type of car finance is right for you?

Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Average speed cameras: how do they work?
Tips and advice
21 Mar 2024

Average speed cameras: how do they work?

Best cars

View All
Top 10 best car interiors
Peugeot 208 hatchback
Best cars
25 Jun 2021

Top 10 best car interiors

Top 10 best electric cars 2024
best electric cars
Best cars
28 Mar 2024

Top 10 best electric cars 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024
The best cheap-to-run cars 2023
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

Top 10 best cheap-to-run cars 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024
Fastest hot hatchbacks hero
Best cars
2 Jan 2024

The UK's top 10 fastest hot hatchbacks 2024