Though the UK has finally emerged from its recession, the numbers are far from encouraging. The economy expanded by a paltry 0.3 percent in the last quarter of 2009, which was less than expected. This news has done little to inspire confidence in consumers who have been cutting back on spending any way they can. As you might expect, this often means putting off large purchases like homes and cars. But what do you do when your vehicle breaks down and you desperately need a replacement? Well, really there are only two choices — buy a new one or find a used one. In this article we are going to discuss the many benefits of used car buying . For starters, used cars are much cheaper than new ones, obviously. This is due to the fact that new vehicles depreciate at an alarming rate. According to industry reports, the average new car will lose over half of its value in the first five years of ownership. Perhaps that is why used car sales are on the rise, while new car sales continue to struggle. Another great reason to buy a second-hand vehicle is the dealer warranty. Before these warranties, buying a used car was a gamble since there was always the chance that drivers would get stuck with a lemon. But nowadays when a used car doesn’t work or needs to be repaired, the dealership is often responsible. As you might expect, these warranties also encourage better quality control and inspection standards from the dealerships, since the last thing dealers want is to have to pay for repairs. A word of advice: if you choose to purchase a cheaper vehicle in the private market, make sure you have it properly inspected by a qualified mechanic beforehand. These cars rarely include a warranty, so if you pick a bad apple, you will have to pay for the repairs.
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