Is it better to finance a new car?
Robert Guerrero
Published Mar 11, 2026
Financing a car may be a good idea when: You want to drive a newer car you’d be unable to save up enough cash for in a reasonable amount of time. The interest rate is low, so the extra costs won’t add much to the overall cost of the vehicle. The regular payments won’t add stress to your current or upcoming budget.
Is buying a new car a bad financial decision?
But according to financial expert Dave Ramsey, buying a new car may be one of the worst financial investments of your life. Research indicates that new cars (at an average of $35,000) lose between 9-11 percent of their value the minute it’s purchased. After just one year, the car’s value drops 20 percent or more.
What does Dave Ramsey say about car loans?
Dave doesn’t recommend buying a new car—ever—until your net worth is more than $1 million. If you’re a millionaire and you want to buy a new car that costs a very small percentage of your net worth, then go for it.
Is it better to buy a car outright or finance it?
Buying that same $8,000 dollar car outright can save you time, money, and headaches. Be careful though — you could’ve used that money for a down payment on a sweet ride. Yes, cash still rules the world. Many car dealerships will even give you a large discount on all their cars if you pay with cash.
Is it better to buy a new car or an used car?
Buying a used car, as a rule of thumb, means you’re saving money out of the gate. The reason: New cars depreciate as soon as buyers drive them off the lot. When you buy a used car, paying in cash also brings more savings on the offer price most times. That is, except pick-up trucks, which retain their value.
Is it better to buy a car with cash or loan?
Before we get into the question of cash versus financing, a little background is in order for shoppers who haven’t had much experience buying a new car. Here’s the deal: When it comes to buying a car, you can either finance the car with a loan and pay it off over time, or choose to pay cash.
What’s the best time to finance a car?
Most people finance cars for 48 months or 60 months. That means you can guarantee a large monthly payment just to drive around for the next five to six years. Down payments can be a tricky game, but if you have a large down payment prepared, the monthly payment will be a lot less and auto-pay is also an up and coming way to pay bills.