New, nearly new or used cars: which one should I buy?

If you’re in the market to buy a car, you may think your only options are used and new cars, but have you heard about nearly new cars?
If you’re wondering what ‘nearly new’ exactly means, we’re here to provide you with some more clarity, as well as the pros and cons of buying new, nearly new and used cars.

Nearly new cars, as the name suggests, are cars that are only a few months old. Everyone’s definition of nearly new varies, but on Auto Trader, a nearly new car is a car that’s up to one year old and covered fewer than 100 miles.
While these cars are called ‘nearly new’, it’s important to note that these cars are technically used. Car dealers register these cars under their name to meet sales targets set by manufacturers, and then sell them from their showroom. Some sellers also have ex-demonstrator cars (or ex-demo cars) that they use to show off the car to potential buyers in their dealership and exhibitions, or for test drives. So, while nearly new cars have a previous owner, these cars have been hardly driven so they’re almost ‘new’. This is why nearly new cars are often called ‘pre-registered cars’ or ‘pre-reg cars’ in the industry. Benefits of buying a nearly new car: 1. Car dealers usually sell nearly new cars at a discounted price compared to the original price of a brand-new car, as they’re technically pre-owned 2. You can buy a nearly new car at a low-to-no waiting period. These cars are often in stock and ready to go 3. Some of the initial depreciation on the new car has already been reflected in the price you pay However, there are some things to keep in mind: 1. As the car’s pre-registered, you may only get limited choices if you want to personalise the car 2. The manufacturer’s warranty and MOT period starts when the car was first registered, so you may lose out on a few months’ worth of warranty. However, the manufacturer’s warranty can be less of a concern on cars that have a long warranty period. 3. The resale value of a nearly new car can be less than that of a new car because nearly new cars have two previous owners whereas brand-new cars will only have one previous owner.

New cars, also referred to as brand-new cars, are ones that have never been registered before. As new cars are unregistered, they have no previous owners and zero mileage on the clock. These cars are usually fitted with the latest technology and features.
The benefits of buying a brand-new car are: 1. The car comes with full manufacturer’s warranty 2. Some new cars can also be made to order. These new cars are also known as factory order cars. They can be customised with bespoke features like the colour, trim and level of your choice. 3. You can get some attractive finance offers when buying a new car But naturally, there are some downsides too: 1. You’ll likely have to pay a premium to be the first owner of a new car 2. If you buy a factory order car, you’ll have to wait for the car to be built and delivered, which could take months from the initial order.

Used cars have one or more previous owners. The previous owner in most cases will be a private owner rather than the dealership itself.
Benefits of buying a used car: 1. There’s a huge choice of makes and models available from over the years 2. Used cars will almost always be much cheaper than new, having already gone through the largest depreciation in value There are a few things to keep in mind with used cars: 1. Used cars usually have little-to-no warranty period left on them but many retailers add a warranty on the car and you could also buy a third party warranty 2. Over the years, cars naturally wear down. The condition of a used car is dependent on its previous owners but service records can help give some visibility of its maintenance over the years. 3. Older cars will have older features and tech as compared to new and nearly new cars

Now that you know what the different options are when it comes to buying a car, it’s time to make up your mind so you can start your search.
There are a few things to consider when deciding what type of car to buy:

1.What’s your maximum budget to buy a car?

We all have a ‘fair price’ in mind when it comes to buying a car, so first consider which type of car would comfortably suit your budget. On Auto Trader, you can filter your search by price to help find a car within your budget.

2. Which car suits your lifestyle?

You may have particular needs when buying a car such as a big boot to carry goods, isofix points if you’ve got children, or a good range if you drive long distances. Looking for cars that suit your lifestyle can help narrow down your search.

3. How soon are these cars available to buy?

While nearly new and used cars may be more readily available to buy and drive away, the same may not be the case with new cars especially if you’re considering factory order cars. If you’re not in a rush to receive the car, then this would be a less of a worry for you. However, if you want an in-stock car available now, nearly new and used cars may be a better option for you.

4. What features do the cars offer?

You may have a ‘wishlist’ for the car you want to buy or lease. Maybe you’re after a particular fuel type like electric or hybrid, or you want a car in a specific colour. All these decisions can help narrow down your options when searching for a car. Now that you’ve got all the information for car buying, head to our collection of car reviews and advice to help you choose a car.