Cars are a part of our lives and most people use them every day. However, they don’t last forever, meaning that you will have to replace your old faithful at some point. You can get a new car at a dealership, such as Edmunds. But the hard part is figuring out exactly when to get that replacement vehicle.
As a general rule, it’s better to get a new car too soon than too late. Over time and with use, a vehicle will suffer wear and tear, even if you drive perfectly and take good care of it. Eventually, it may become dangerous to drive, if it will run at all. Ideally, you want to replace your vehicle before this point.
- The Check Engine Light
As it turns out, the check engine light isn’t just there for decoration. Rather, it’s a sign that something is wrong. If this or another one of your car safety apps or features turns on, you don’t have to rush to the dealership right away. After all, it’s simply warning you that there’s an issue and that your car needs a service.
However, if the check engine light is lit up more often than not, then you’ve got a problem. It can indicate that something is going on with your engine or electronics. Even if the issue is relatively minor, then your check engine light can’t inform you of a more serious problem if it’s already on.
Long story short, get it serviced. If that doesn’t solve it, then it might be time to retire your vehicle.
- Too Many Miles
Even if your car seems to be running just fine, if you notice the odometer ticking north of 100,000 miles, it might be time to replace your vehicle. This is because of the aforementioned wear and tear.
By this point, most vehicles will start to have costly issues. If you haven’t noticed any major errors yet, then now is the time to swap your car out with something a bit younger, before it’s too late.
- Expenses Add Up
Whether your car has reached 100,000 miles or not, you can figure out how worn out it is by the cost and frequency of necessary repairs and services. If you regularly maintain your car, then you will also notice that certain parts and odd jobs need tweaking more often.
As your car gets more worn down, it becomes more expensive and difficult to take care of. Even your gas mileage will decrease, forcing you to spend more on fuel. Your car may develop a buildup of rust, which doesn’t just look unpleasant, but it can be dangerous too. You might start to break down more often than before, which is a sure sign of reduced reliability.
Simply put, by keeping track of the performance of your vehicle, you can determine when it starts to deteriorate. You don’t have to get rid of it straight away, but at some point, it will become more expensive to keep your car going than to replace it.