Finance Or Buy In Cash?

Should I Finance Or Buy a Car in Cash?

When buying a new car, probably the main consideration for any buyer whether you are young and it is your first car, you want something sporty or are looking for a large family car is budget. This is what you can afford whether it is per month for a finance payment or outright for a cash car. This being just one consideration we will go deeper into money then explore other reasons.

Money

If you finance a car, you need to consider whether you will go for a new or used car. Before you do any of this, look at what you can afford to pay per month, this will give you an idea as to what you should be looking at. If you are looking for a new car, the spec of car may be less fancy than that of a used car, for example, a new Ford Focus may cost the same per month in finance as a 5 year old Audi A3. There is often still a deposit to be paid so make sure you can cover this as part of the overall initial spend. If you have the cash to spend on a car then that may be a bonus, if you do not wish to be paying out every month and in debt to a car dealer then this could be your option.

Interest

With a cash payment, you are generally paying market value for the vehicle, once you have shopped around and found a deal that suits you and your budget, done some research on the appropriate price. That is where finance can be a less attractive option. You are paying smaller amounts for your car but you are paying more than the value at the time of buying for the privilege. Some interest rates can even make you end up paying thousands over the market value at the time so do you research and shop for a reasonable finance deal. You must also be very mindful of taking on debt - consider what you can comfortably afford and do not over stretch your budget for a car that is just beyond your reach.

Repairs

Going down the financing route might mean you can afford a new model of car, less miles can be beneficial in the long run even if you are paying monthly for the vehicle. Buying in cash might mean you can afford a limited amount of money which will buy you a car that may be older have a higher mileage than what you could afford through finance, and as a result you could end up paying more in repairs in the coming years for an older car. If your car costs $5,000 to buy but over the next 3 years cost you $3,000 in repairs this could hamper your safety net of money.

So, there is no right or wrong answer here but much to consider. Ultimately you never know what will happen when it comes to car maintenance, you could buy a 2 year old vehicle that might break down after 6 months, and alternatively you could buy an 8 year old car that would give you no headaches for years. The best thing you can do here is to stay within budget and make sure you are still living within your means. Whether you are financing or buying in cash, you want to make sure that you have other money put aside in case you should need it.