New vs. Used vs. Certified Pre-Owned: Which Should You Choose?

New vs. Used vs. Certified Pre-Owned: Which Should You Choose?
Car Buying Doesn’t Have to Be Complicated
When shopping for a new car, there are few questions that come up right away:
- Should I lease or buy?
- How much do I want to spend?
- What is my preferred monthly payment?
Another question that’s often harder to answer is whether you should buy new, used, or Certified Pre-Owned. What are the benefits of each? Are there drawbacks? We’ll cover the pros of each below to help you decide whether you should buy new, used, or Certified Pre-Owned.
Rather talk to a professional about which is the best fit for you? Drive217’s family of locations and financial experts are here to help. No matter which Drive217 location you visit, our financing experts will help you find the right deal for your budget. So, stop by at one of our multiple locations and drive away in your next vehicle.
The Pros of Buying New
In some ways, the pros of buying new are straightforward. First, you get a new car that’s virtually guaranteed not to have any issues. After all, it’s new. You can be assured that your new vehicle is going to be dependable and that maintenance costs are going to be as low as possible.
Another benefit is that the technology of your given model is going to be the most advanced it could possibly be. New cutting-edge driver-assist safety and convenience features are released regularly today, so the newest model may in some cases have a feature that a previous model doesn’t.
Buying new also comes with the perk of potential warranties that often cover that new vehicle for the first 6-12 months of the vehicle’s life. However, as you’ll see, if you go the Certified Pre-Owned route you can often get a warranty that’s just as good with a pre-owned vehicle.
The Pros of Buying Used
The most obvious pro of buying used is that you’re likely to save money. With the speed that new vehicles depreciate, buying a used car can save you literally thousands of dollars immediately on the sticker price of your vehicle, which will then afford you a lower monthly payment.
Another thing to consider is that vehicles don’t always change or upgrade their features from year to year. Typically, they update major features every few years, with as many as 2-4 years’ worth of a model being mostly identical. That means if you’re purchasing a 2022 vs 2021 model, you may not actually be getting anything new in that 2022 model that isn’t already in the 2021 model, at a much lower price tag.
However, you can’t just buy used. The major con of buying used is that there is no guarantee that the used vehicle you purchase will be of good (like new, preferably) condition. That’s where Certified Pre-Owned comes in.
The Pros of Buying Certified Pre-Owned
Think of Certified Pre-Owned as kind of like buying a used car but with the guarantees you get from buying a new car. The biggest potential con of buying a used car is removed when you get the guarantee that a Certified Pre-Owned vehicle offers, while still saving the money from a used car purchase.
Certified Pre-Owned vehicles from Drive217, for example, undergo a rigorous selection process that ensures each and every Certified Pre-Owned vehicle is new. That includes tests performed by a certified technician for everything from safety to performance and wear. If a vehicle doesn’t make the cut, it doesn’t get the Certified Pre-Owned label.
New vs. Used vs. Certified Pre-Owned: Which Is Best?
Ultimately, only you can decide whether a new or Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle is a better choice for you. If you would prefer the latest, newest model, you know what to choose. However, if you’re looking for a like-new vehicle that undergoes many of the same tests that new vehicles must pass before landing on a lot while potentially saving thousands, a Certified Pre-Owned is the way to go.
No matter which you choose, Drive217’s family of locations and helpful sales teams are here to help. If you’re looking for cars for sale in Illinois, visit your nearest location to explore our large selection of new and Certified Pre-Owned vehicles to find one that’s a perfect match, for both your lifestyle and budget.
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