When buying a new car, there are a lot of things that you have to consider. What are you going to be using it for? How much space do you need? Whether are you going to be driving it? However, one thing that a lot of people often fail to consider is whether or not their new car actually needs to be a new car. A lot of people assume that, to get the best car, you need to go with one that’s brand new, fresh off the assembly line. This might apply to some things, but when it comes to a car, that’s not always the case. With that in mind, here are just a few reasons why a brand new car might not be worth it.

You’re paying for prestige

When it comes to buying a brand new car, one of the most important things to remember is that the added cost that comes with it is often simply there because the car is brand new. You’re often paying for the prestige of having a car that’s fresh off the assembly line. There may well be an nearly identical car from the previous year that’s a whole lot cheaper but simply doesn’t have the cultural cache of being brand new. A brand new car might be exciting, but that excitement is, by design, built not to last.

Used cars are often just as good

You might assume that the quality of a brand new car is always going to be greater than that of a used car but that’s not the case. The truth is that many used cars can offer you pretty much everything that a brand new car can at a fraction of the price. Some used cars are pretty much nearly new anyway so on a practical level there really isn’t that much of a difference once you’re behind the wheel and out on the road.

The value will go down pretty quickly

A very important thing to keep in mind about brand new cars is that they, almost exclusively, do not hold their value. The value of a new car will often drop more in the first year or two of its life than the rest of its lifespan put together. Because of this, you could find yourself in a position where, when the time comes to sell it on, you’re getting barely a fraction of what you paid for it compared to the kind of value you would get selling a car that you bought used.

This is not to say that there are no positive aspects to buying a brand new car. After all, you can be sure that it’s in perfect condition since no one else has ever driven it. Plus, a lot of those added bells and whistles that come with brand new cars can be incredibly positive. It’s just a matter of making sure that you know all of your options and which is right for you and your personal circumstances.