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Often, buying a car can be a stressful process. Many buyers are unsure what type of car is right from them. For most college students, a car is one of the biggest purchases they will make. The choices are to buy a used car, new car or lease a car. Each choice comes with advantages and disadvantages to both sides. Here are some things to consider:

New

The first plus to buying a new car is that there is no history, and everything in the vehicle is factory fresh. There is no need to go in-depth with research on the history of the car when the car has yet to be driven. This also means that a bumper-to-bumper warranty should most likely be included or purchased with the vehicle.

“Having that warranty is one of the biggest advantages to buying a new vehicle,” said Joshua Morrow, a car salesman at Deery Brothers Chevrolet in Pleasant Hill.

Deery Brothers Chevrolet is a car dealership that offers new and used cars, as well as a college discount.

Another advantage would be the financing available on new cars. For used cars, banks are not as willing to take a risk financing when there is no warranty present and there is a much higher chance for problems to arise.

“At certain times a year you can finance a new vehicle with 0 percent interest depending on the specials running,” Morrow said.

The cons with buying a new car begin with the cost. No matter which dealer a new car is bought at, it immediately depreciates in value as soon as a purchase is made.

“As soon as you drive that car off the lot there is usually at least $10,000 depreciation,” said Lea Carreon, a car salesperson at CarMax in Urbandale.

CarMax is a dealership that sells a variety of used cars and differs from others because it allows a person to purchase a vehicle in another state and have it brought to them via its transfer service.

Along with the depreciation value, new cars carry a heavier sales tax. The sales tax of new cars ranges from 3 percent to as high as just over 8 percent according to TaxAdmin.org.

A new car can also only be sold at dealerships. This means that a person is not as likely to be able to negotiate, which is unlike most privately sold used car situations that allow bargaining.

Used

The biggest advantage when purchasing a used car is not having to pay the depreciation cost.

“There is so much depreciation on new cars. I think for any individual looking to buy a car, a used car is a smarter route to go,” Carreon said.

Another plus is that searching a car’s history is simpler now than ever before with technology and apps available on the Internet. Many dealers also offer a full page dedicated to the history of a used vehicle, including when and where work has been done on the car.

“You want to make sure you have the history report of the used (vehicle) so you can see all the information, as well as compare prices,” Carreon said.

The disadvantages of used cars can seem pretty obvious. A person buying a used car is getting someone’s discard, and the vehicle usually has a good amount of mileage added onto it.

“Sometimes there’s going to be more problems that come up on a higher mileage car just because it has been used longer,” Morrow said. “And sometimes (used cars) don’t come with any warranty at all depending on how used they are.”

Finding a used car that suits the needs of a specific person can also take some time. It can include trips to many different dealerships and private sellers. As for Grand View students, many have chosen to purchase and drive a used car.

“I’m really happy with my car,” said Alexis Colon, a GV student who purchased a used car two years ago. “It’s been a really good experience so far.”

Other students haven’t been as happy with their used car purchase.

“In the summer, I’m probably going to have to get new brake pads,” said GV student Maggie Bormann, while discussing her used vehicle. “I’ve even had to replace the transmission in it.”

Whether you are planning to purchase a brand-new car from a dealership or settle for a pre-owned vehicle, it is important to have a down payment in place.

“For anybody in a car situation, having a down payment is going be your best option,” Carreon said. “It helps get you better approval and helps lower your interest rate in the long run.”