Are you one of the roughly 4.5 million Americans who will be purchasing a within the next year? Nothing beats the feeling of peeling off the dealership’s lot in a new set of shiny wheels, but the costs associated with maintaining a new vehicle, including the tax, title, registration, and insurance costs, can quickly chip away at that new car novelty. So really, is it all worth it?

In today’s modern times, things are more expensive than every. It’s hard to imagine that a new cell phone can upwards $400 or more, not to mention the high costs of other gadgets and gizmos such as tablets, smart watches, and other electronic devices. Furthermore, the costs of food, clothing, utilities, and other aspects of everyday life are higher than ever, not to mention the astronomical costs of going to college and student loans. When all is said and done, it’s easy to see how the costs of a new vehicle includes way more than just the sticker price.

If you’re in the market for a new vehicle, why not consider buying a preowned or used vehicle from a used car dealer? People have been buying preowned and used vehicles from used car dealerships in Rochester NY and across the United States for hundreds of years. For example, did you know that one of the country’s very first used car dealers dates all the way back to 1898 and was located in Catskill, New York? That means that Americans just like you have been experiencing the benefits of buying pre owned vehicles from used car dealers for hundreds of years, and you can too!

To say that used car industry is booming is an understatement. The used car industry represents a large portion of the U.S. auto retail market, with annual sales nearly toppling $370 billion. A good example of this is the fact that in 2005, an impressive 44 million preowned vehicles were purchased from used car dealers in the United States, compared to only 17 million new vehicles. There’s a reason for this! Buying a preowned or used vehicle has several benefits compared to buying a new car.

Once you get over the novelty of that addictive new car smell as the ego boost that’s bound to come along with a spic and span new set of wheels, you’ll begin to understand how beneficial it is to buy a preowned or used vehicle. First and foremost, it’s important to realize that new cars begin to depreciate in value from the minute you drive off the lot — literally. The worst part is, is that they continue to rapidly decline in value year after year. Used cars, on the other hand, have a tendency to hold onto their value much longer than a brand new vehicle.

In addition, it’s no secret that buying a brand new set of wheels can cause your insurance rates to spike, which is likely to be an unpleasant surprise. This of course, has very much to do with the kind of vehicle you buy and who will be driving it. Buying a cherry red Corvette for a young, inexperienced driver is a sure fire way to jack up your insurance rates. This is just one of the many hidden costs associated with purchasing a brand new vehicle.

Used vehicles have unfairly gained a bad reputation for being lemons, or in other words, unreliable. This may be the case when it comes to a few bad apples, but that doesn’t mean the rest of the entire bunch is spoiled! Some vehicle manufacturers may have gained a reputation for being more reliable or unreliable than others, but the truth is, all makes and models of used cars are far more reliable than their predecessors from earlier generations. You may even surprised at how reliable they are, with some able to run for as much as 100,000 miles of more with only routine maintenance such as regular oil changes, brake maintenance, and scheduled tune ups.

Buying a used vehicle can result in years of cost savings.