New car prices are at near-record levels, and many drivers consider older\u00a0used cars\u00a0to meet their commuting needs. But how old is too old for a reliable car? While there are no rigid rules to follow when shopping for vehicles of a certain age, there are a few key factors to consider. Below, we\u2019ll examine the most important things about purchasing an older used car.<\/p>\n
As vehicles age, their safety features can become outdated. With modern technological advancements, consumers may discover older cars don\u2019t meet their personal safety standards. This is often true for buyers shopping for family-friendly vehicles like full-size sedans and SUVs.<\/p>\n
Additionally, maintenance costs can quickly add up as cars age. Parts are harder to find, and labor is more time-intensive. If these concerns make you uneasy, avoid cars over 20 years old. This rule of thumb may help ensure your vehicle choice is still safe, reliable, and affordable.<\/p>\n
Also see: <\/strong>How long you can expect an electric car to last<\/p>\n While vintage charm and potential lower purchase prices lure some shoppers, critical factors come into play when buying an older car. As mentioned above, many of the safety features and technologies we\u2019ve gotten used to in modern vehicles weren\u2019t even on the radar as recently as 12 years ago, the\u00a0average age of cars\u00a0on the road today. Before you commit, pause to consider what matters most to you.<\/p>\n Many used car shoppers have two ideas regarding safety: The more expensive the car was originally, the better it will be. And the newer the vehicle is, the better it will be.<\/p>\n Keeping those two notions in mind, here are a few general guidelines.<\/p>\n Although it depends on the car, we believe the early 2000s are an excellent place to start your search if you\u2019re interested in safety. You\u2019ll have other\u00a0now-standard features\u00a0like front airbags, anti-lock brakes, and side airbags. Check your car\u2019s equipment list to ensure those items are included.<\/p>\n New vehicles have included rear-view cameras since 2018, though the feature was often included in premium cars earlier in the 2000s. Automatic emergency braking is standard in 90% of new vehicles in 2023; you can find it in about 65% of cars from 2015 and later. Both of these features improve safety and are incentives to seek out a newer used vehicle.<\/p>\n Check out: <\/strong>10 top used sedan models for a $20K budget<\/p>\n If reliability is your top priority, you probably don\u2019t want to buy a vehicle that\u2019s too old. After all, the older a car is, the less reliable it\u2019s likely to be, even if it\u2019s a well-maintained, low-mileage vehicle with a good reputation, such as a\u00a0Toyota Reliability depends on the vehicle and how many miles it\u2019s covered. We wouldn\u2019t go beyond the early 2000s for any daily driver because parts can be harder to find once a car crests 20 years of age. For higher mileage vehicles with more than 150,000 miles on the odometer, we might recommend trying to find a newer model year than the early 2000s.<\/p>\n See<\/strong>: The most and least reliable car brands, according to Consumer Reports<\/p>\n What if you want the latest and greatest technology from your used car? Once again, this depends on your chosen vehicle, but generally, newer vehicles will be better than older ones.<\/p>\n For example, 10 years ago, heated rear seats were considered a tremendous luxury reserved for only the most expensive cars. Today, the feature is on the options lists of most family sedans and even some compacts. It\u2019s the same story with automatic climate control, adaptive cruise control, and ventilated front seats. A panoramic sunroof and many other items once considered luxuries have become relatively commonplace today.<\/p>\nWhat to consider when buying an older car<\/strong><\/h2>\n
Safety<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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Reliability<\/strong><\/h4>\n
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\n \u00a0or\u00a0Honda
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\n Equipment<\/strong><\/h4>\n