Before you make the decision to buy a car, it's important to assess your reason for doing so. If you simply want a newer vehicle because you've recently earned a pay raise or received a significant inheritance, that's one thing. For the average person, however, it's generally common to buy a vehicle once the old one is getting toward the end of its life. Your current vehicle doesn't have to specifically break down and be unusable to prompt you to choose to buy a new-to-you one. If you find yourself facing these issues, it may be time to make the move:
You're Spending A Lot On Repairs
As a vehicle gets up in age, it often begins to require frequent repairs. For a while, it makes sense to fix the vehicle and continue to drive it. However, you'll commonly reach a point at which you're investing too much money into a vehicle that has little value and that is continuing to need repair work. For example, it's one thing to occasionally change a belt or a front-end joint, but if you're needing bigger work done that will prove to be costly, it may be a better idea to take this money and put it toward a vehicle.
Your Vehicle Is Unreliable
An unreliable vehicle can be a concern. Even if you have a vehicle that is old, it should ideally be reliable. One that fails to start, inexplicably dies while you're driving, and experiences other similar issues can leave you stranded. This is especially a problem if you have young children — the last thing you want is to be somewhere with them, especially if it's after dark, and begin to experience car trouble. A car that is repeatedly unreliable may be best to replace it.
You're Embarrassed About What You Drive
Being embarrassed about your car shouldn't exclusively prompt you to buy a new one, but if you're facing the above issues and you're embarrassed about how your car looks, you may wish to consider starting to shop for a replacement. For example, if your car has a significant amount of rust or is extremely loud, you might not feel very confident showing up to a business meeting or even a date. In such a scenario, you'll feel better behind the wheel of a new ride. If you've made this choice, head to a local dealership where they can help you buy used cars.