Major Pros and Cons of Buying Used Hybrid Cars

The pros and cons of hybrid cars that are purchased used are similar to the pros and cons of purchasing a traditional internal combustion vehicle used. Concerns about the car's prior history, ownership record, maintenance record and any undisclosed damage or repairs are weighed against the lower cost of acquiring a more fuel efficient vehicle.  

The decision to purchase a used hybrid car should be viewed with these pros and cons, particularly for a used hybrid that is a “certified pre-owned” (CPO) car.

Warranty

Having an extended care warranty on the used hybrid vehicle is a major plus in considering the purchase of this vehicle. It provides the buyer with a way to ensure that the car will be protected, even in a limited way should certain parts such as the drive train or engine fail before the end of the warranty period.

Cost

A CPO can be more expensive than a comparable used car that is not certified. This is because of the work that the manufacturer does in order to provide assurances to the buyer about the quality of the car. This cost may be a significant consideration for some owners and cause a few to decide against the purchase of the used hybrid.

Factory Incentives on Financing

A used hybrid offered by some manufacturers can come with some incentives and financing in place to ease the purchase of the vehicle. Factory incentives help to lower the cost of the car and offer the buyer with a way to get a good deal on the purchase. The use of a factory-financing program works to reduce the legwork needed to obtain financing and write the deal for the car. This can be especially good for a buyer who may have a problem going through a third party who may assign a higher loan interest rate to the used car loan.

Guarantees

A used hybrid car that is deemed certified does not mean that it is free of any potential problems should they arise. This may render the extended warranty or other incentives useless to the used hybrid buyer and create doubt as to the reliability of the vehicle.

Roadside Assistance

A used hybrid can come with a vehicle roadside assistance program that is offered on new vehicles. The roadside assistance program provides a way for the owner to benefit from no-questions-asked service 24/7 when needs arise when driving the vehicle. This service has a significant value to any car owner and can be a major advantage to the buyer of a used hybrid car owner.

Availability

The used hybrid car owner may be limited to their options for a car. This is because a vehicle that offers various options and incentives may require the purchaser to buy the car from a particular dealer or that dealer may not have a certain car in stock. The availability issue can be a major negative when dealing with a dealer’s limited used car stock.