According to the NHTSA, more people die in car accidents involving old cars than those driving new ones.
That’s largely due to enhanced safety features included in newer models, but it’s also related to mechanical failure and structural decay.
There’s no doubt that a new car can save your life, but there are many other reasons you might need a new car sooner than later. Keep reading to find out if it’s time to kiss your faithful vehicle goodbye.
1. Frequent Repairs or Breakdowns
All cars need regular maintenance and occasional repairs, and it’s reasonable to expect more frequent repairs if you own an older vehicle.
However, if your car is starting to spend more time in the repair shop than on the road, it’s time to trade it in. If you’re going to pay for expensive major repairs with alarming regularity, you may as well buy a new car with all the money you’re spending.
By major repairs, we mean functional fixes, like radiator repairs, exhaust replacements, and engine overhauls, not minor things like windshield wiper blades.
If your car breaks down every six months or less, or repairs cost more than the car is worth, it’s time to move on.
2. You Need a New Car if Safety’s Becoming an Issue
No matter how frequently you maintain your car, it’s going to become unsafe over time. Not only will you need to worry about inconvenient breakdowns at dangerous times, but you’re missing out on safety features that could save your life, e.g. airbags.
Modern cars also feature many additional safety enhancements, as follows:
- Rear-view camera
- Blind-spot Monitoring
- Electronic stability control
- Forward collision alert
If you have a general feeling of uneasiness when driving your car, rather look into buying a newer model. Likewise, if your family has grown and your family can’t travel comfortably anymore, it’s time to invest in a larger model.
3. Your Car Can’t Pass an Emissions Test
Newer vehicles have built-in features that limit their environmental impact. These drive-clean technologies are fast-becoming legal norms, too.
If your car billows smoke and smells bad when it’s running, it’s polluting the environment and won’t pass an emissions test when you renew its license plate.
In this case, you have two choices. You can either spend a small fortune adding new technology to rectify this or buy a new car that already has these features.
A little research will soon reveal purchasing a car makes more sense than paying ever-increasing insurance premiums and excess costs.
4. Your Insurance Costs are Escalating
Insurers charge higher premiums for older cars. That’s because they’re much more likely to break down or become involved in an accident.
If you drive an older car, your insurer will overlook your immaculate driving record and increase your premiums regardless. Plus, with fewer safety features, you’re more likely to end up in an accident and spoil your no-claims history, anyway.
Like increased repairs and maintenance, higher insurance costs make it more expensive to continue driving an older car instead of buying a new one.
5. It’s Hugely Uneconomical
One of the most important car-buying tips is comparing fuel consumption before you commit. A gas-guzzling vehicle will cost you thousands more to fill up over a year.
New cars come with a host of fuel-saving extras that will ensure you can go sailing past the gas station instead of filling up every day. These include hybrid features that are fast becoming the norm and may soon become law, too.
Older models don’t have these features, plus they become less efficient over time. So, while you might have paid the loan on your old car, you could probably buy a new car with all the money you’re spending on gas.
6. Increasingly Shabby Interiors
By the time you can see the road through the floor of your car and the roof covering starts peeling off in strips, your car has passed the point of no return.
Leaks, broken knobs, malfunctioning windows, and interior mold are all telltale signs your car is probably wracked with mechanical problems, too.
If you don’t feel comfortable and safe inside your vehicle, you need to start looking at cars for sale. Sometimes, the best reason to buy a new car is simply that you want and deserve one.
The car you drive is an important part of the first impression you create, so if you want to go places, it’s best to do so in a new car.
7. Your Car Is a Source of Embarrassment
Do your friends and family refuse your offer every time you volunteer to drive them somewhere? Do you always park your car as far out of sight as possible?
Often, car owners aren’t fully aware of how ugly and unsafe their vehicles are. So, take a long, hard, and objective look at your car and make the call.
Rusty bits, different colored doors, duct tape, and dents aren’t cool, no matter how much you tell yourself they are.
Does your car tick all or most of the above boxes? Don’t let money worries stop you from financing a car.
There are many innovative and affordable car loan plans available nowadays. Click the following link to explore your car loan options.
Travel With Confidence
Cars aren’t getting any cheaper, so if you need a new car, it’s best to explore your options now. Remember, you must take the latest laws and guidelines regarding carbon emissions into account, too.
In the years to come, global governments may clamp down on fossil-fuel-powered vehicles. So, it pays to think ahead when choosing a new vehicle.
Would you like some more lifestyle and travel advice? Browse our blog for more.
