When should you replace your car—and how do you finance it?

For many people, a car is a necessity. You need your car to commute to work, shop for groceries, get the kids to after-school events and take family vacations. You might even enjoy having a nice car to show off to your friends and family.

When you spend a significant amount time in your car, you want to rely on its dependability and learn its quirks. But at some point you will have to replace your car. The timing is likely to be based on financial, personal, and circumstantial considerations (like an expanding family).

What are your key considerations for car replacement?

Start with rational financial assessment:

• The bottom line perspective is pretty straightforward. You should consider selling your car before you start paying more in average monthly maintenance and repair amounts than you would pay for owning and maintaining a new car.
• Estimate a cost per mile breakpoint. Initially this ratio will be high to include a loan or depreciation. It declines as you pay off your loan, but rises again as you start to have mileage-based scheduled maintenance and post-warranty repair and replacement costs. You don’t have to guess at future expenses. Often a trusted mechanic and online research can help you predict the timing and costs for expected repairs.
• When any specific repair issue arises, if the repaired car would be worth less than what you’d have to pay for the repair, look for a new car. This is a common occurrence after a major accident. Or, if you expect this issue to arise periodically, it may be worth shopping around to explore your options.

Then, other personal reasons may come into play:

• You may want to upgrade for newer safety or environmental features. For example, you may need a newer car with side airbags if you have a baby who’ll be in a rear car seat. Or, you may want a backup camera for an inexperienced teen driver. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, you might want to shift to a hybrid or electric car.
• If you just can’t afford to be late to work again because your car won’t start or if you feel uncomfortable getting into the car despite the assurance of your mechanic, you might want to start shopping for something that feels more reliable or safe.
• You might be looking for a newer, better-looking car for personal or client comfort, depending on your individual circumstances.

How to get the best financial performance from your car

Use these tips to make sure you’re getting the most value from the car you have now or the one you’re going to buy:

• Buy your car used rather than new. A car loses 15 to 20 percent of its value each year. Assuming 20% depreciation, if you buy a car for $20,000, it might be worth only $16,000 after 2 years. You would lose $4,000. On the other hand, if you buy a used car for $10,000, you would lose only $2,000 by the second year with 20% depreciation. This difference in depreciation continues to accumulate through the years.
• Think about operating costs, not just upfront price when you make a purchase. If you buy a car that takes only high-octane fuel and has a low mpg rating, you’ll be paying a lot more per month than you will for a fuel-efficient car. This becomes especially important with high gas prices.
• Pay attention to the maintenance schedule or any panel alarms on your car. Spending $30 on an oil change is much better than spending thousands to replace the whole engine.
• Make small repairs and clean your car regularly inside and out. Think about minor replacements, like changing light bulbs or repairing small chips in the paint. Try to remove road salt to prevent rust.

How do you pay for your new car?

Once you make the decision to buy a new car, you might want to get rid of your old car as quickly as possible. But it may be beneficial to be patient.

• You might be leaving money on the table if you take the dealer’s first offer for a trade-in amount. Kelley Blue Book provides an estimate calculator for dealer trade or private-party sale, which can differ by thousands of dollars.
• Paying cash is an option. However, if you are able to keep your money in investments that offer higher interest than your best loan option, consider taking the loan.
• You’re likely to be offered to sign up for dealer financing. A car loan often uses the car as collateral and is considered a secured loan, so the rate will likely be lower than an unsecured personal loan. However, it is important to check all the terms as well as the reliability of the loan provider.