Buying a used car can be a long process, but by the end of it, drivers can benefit from purchasing an older vehicle. Fred (Fayez) Farah has learned this first hand from operating his own dealership, North Star Motors. On average, used vehicles are cheaper than new ones, but the benefits do not stop there. There’s a variety of ways that you can take advantage of your vehicle being a bit older, as Fayez Farah can explain. 

Vehicle Data

New cars shouldn’t come with any defects when you drive them off the lot, but you also may not know what could go wrong with the car in the future. For used cars, vehicle history data is available to help make that a bit easier. Fred Farah prodives this data to his customers, often through a service like CarFax, allowing you to take a look at what the car you’re interested in has been through. “You get that rundown and you can see the accidents, what work has been done at the shop, and on and on, so it makes things a lot more simple,” he said. 

Information Available Online 

Used cars also have a lot of information on them across the internet. Looking up the make and model of the car you’re looking for on Google can let you see what experiences people have had with the vehicle. This can also allow you to be more informed when going to dealerships, something Fayez Farah has seen at his lot. 

Variety of Vehicles Available 

The used car market offers a variety of vehicles to choose from. New car models are released yearly, but there’s usually only a few hundred at most to choose from, compared to the thousands of older models available in the used market. Fred Farah has seen this be a big advantage for buyers who aren’t exactly sure what they want in their purchase. 

Vehicle Certification

Used cars often come with Certified Pre-Owned labels, letting buyers know that vehicles have been inspected and quality is assured. Fayez Farah knows that any kind of certification can help buyers have peace of mind when making a purchase. “It’s just that extra layer of protection that makes you feel good when you make the purchase,” he said. With new cars, certification is not offered, leaving room for recalls and defects. 

Additional Fees 

When people buy a new car, a variety of fees can be added on to the initial purchase, including the cost of shipping. Fred Farah knows this firsthand from operating his own dealership. Used cars usually do not carry these hidden fees, which allows you to get the car at or near the price you expected to pay walking into the dealership.

Customization Costs

When a vehicle becomes yours, you often want to make sure that it comes with the features and add-ons that suit what you like. Fayez Farah often has customers who wanted to purchase those add-ons at his dealership. By buying used, drivers often save money, which can be used to purchase those additional features to make the car just right for you. 

The Cost of Insurance 

Fred Farah also knows that used cars usually come with lower insurance rates. “I see a lot of people go the used route because of that,” he explained. Those rates are determined by a car’s value and since used cars have already depreciated in value, those insurance rates will come at a lower cost. 

Vehicle Registration Fees

Whether you are purchasing a new or used car, you’ll have to get the vehicle that you purchased registered, but the age of your car could determine how much those registration fees cost. Fayez Farah operated his car dealership out of Texas, where drivers are charged a flat rate plus local fees to register their vehicle. Other states, like New Jersey, factor in things like age and weight to determine the cost of registration. 

Fred Farah hopes this information is useful to drivers looking to purchase a used vehicle. He knows how difficult the purchasing process can be, but he also realizes how beneficial a used purchase can be. 

Fred (Fayez) Farah is the owner of North Star Motors, an independent car dealer in Houston, Texas and Okley Construction.