---
title: 'Should You Buy a New Car or a Used Car?'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=Em94q78Q1yE'
video_id: 'Em94q78Q1yE'
date: 2026-08-27
duration_sec: 90
channel: 'Doug DeMuro'
---

# Should You Buy a New Car or a Used Car?

> Source: [Should You Buy a New Car or a Used Car?](https://youtube.com/watch?v=Em94q78Q1yE)

## Summary

The video discusses the decision between buying a new or used car, highlighting the advantages of each option. It emphasizes that buying used can be a smart financial choice if done carefully, with tips on how to avoid common pitfalls.

### Key Points

- **New car for long-term ownership** [00:03] — If you plan to own a car for 20+ years, buying new makes sense because the car will fully depreciate anyway, making the initial price difference less significant.
- **Used car for stress-free buying** [00:16] — Buying used can be less stressful if you approach it correctly, and there are significant advantages, primarily the lower price compared to new cars.
- **How to inspect a used car** [00:42] — Before buying, research online, listen for engine knocking or ticking, check suspension sounds, read the Carfax report, and bring a friend with mechanical knowledge.
- **Buy the seller, not just the car** [00:55] — Choose a car that is relatively new, has low miles, and was cared for by an owner who clearly cares about the vehicle. Avoid sellers with lazy listings, like bad photos with a thumb over the license plate.
- **Certified pre-owned advantage** [01:07] — Automakers offer certified pre-owned programs that extend the new car warranty, providing an automaker-backed experience that makes buying used easier and more tenable.

### Conclusion

The video concludes that buying a used car can be a great option if you do your homework, inspect the car properly, and consider certified pre-owned programs for added peace of mind.

## Transcript

You should really consider buying a new car if you are truly going to own it forever. If you're going to get 20 plus years out of a car, the five or eight or doesn't matter quite as much. You're going to fully depreciate the car
anyway. You should probably buy a new car if the idea of buying used just stresses you out to a really, really high level. You don't have to be stressed out by it. There are ways to make your used car buying experience
better. And there are some significant advantages to buying a used car. So, the biggest advantage is obviously price. Used cars are cheaper than new cars. Before you go and buy a car, you try to read a lot of stuff online about what to
knocking or ticking that which could become a problem, suspension sounds, that kind of thing, how to read a Carfax report. Try to bring along a friend who has some mechanical knowledge. Do research on makes and models and years
of cars that are generally pretty reliable. Buying a car that is relatively not that old, with relatively low miles, cared for by someone who cares about the car. You're buying the seller. Buying from someone who takes
bad Craigslist photos with their thumb over the license plate, you're talk that's someone lazy. To make used cars even more attractive, automakers offer this thing called certified pre-owned, which is basically a used car warranty
that extends the new car warranty and gives you kind of automaker backed piece experience a little bit easier and a little bit more tenable.