5 Reasons Your First Semi-Truck Should Be Used

There are many reasons to be a truck driver, but before you do anything, you need to overcome the initial obstacle of getting your first semi-truck. You could lease one or purchase a new or used one, but buying a used semi-truck is really the best option when you're just starting. Check out these five reasons your first semi-truck should be used.

You Can Get a Name-Brand for Less

Just like buying any used vehicle, you're sure to save money when purchasing a used semi-truck. A new semi-truck costs between $100,000 and $150,000, but used semi-trucks cost between $15,000 and $100,000. The exact price will depend on many factors, such as the manufacturer and mileage, but you can still expect to save money. If you're just starting your trucking carrier, you may not be able to afford a new $150,000, name-brand truck, so if you do purchase a new truck, you may end up with a cheap manufacture. However, you might be able to find a model that is a few years older from that same trusted manufacturer for a lot less.

You Own the Truck and Can Use it as You Like

Another option for truck drivers if they can't afford to buy a new truck is to lease a truck. On the one hand, you can get a nice semi without paying much, but the truck doesn't really belong to you, so you can't always use it like you want. For example, if you want to modify some equipment on it, you may not be allowed to do so. Another huge disadvantage of leasing is that if you do end up purchasing the truck, you may actually end up spending more money than if you just purchased it in the first place.

You Won't Pay for Expensive, Unnecessary Features

New semi-trucks have all the latest features and technology, but that doesn't mean you need all those expensive features. When you purchase a new semi-truck, you can choose to buy it with or without these special features. If you're new to trucking, you may not know which features you need and which ones you don't need, so you may end up spending a lot of money on a truck with expensive features you don't need. Plus, if you do want some of those unnecessary features, buying a used one is cheaper, so you may be able to afford those features if you want them. 

You'll Save Money on Operating Costs

Just like newer cars have better gas mileage, so do newer semi-trucks, so you may save on gas if you buy new. However, the operating cost savings end there. In most cases, a used truck will save you more in operating costs. Used trucks are worth less money than newer trucks, so your insurance will be lower than if you purchased a new truck. Registration and sales tax are other operating costs that are usually higher when you purchase a more expensive, new semi-truck.

You'll Experience Less Depreciation

New semi-trucks depreciate fast. Soon after you pay the expensive purchase price, the car is worth significantly less. If you're a new truck driver, how do you know you'll actually like trucking? How do you know something won't come up that prevents you from trucking? What if the truck gets totaled? If something does happen, and you have to sell the truck, you won't get as much as you paid for it. In fact, you may still have to keep paying the monthly payments after you sell it. Used trucks depreciate a lot slower, so you'll be out less money if something does happen.

When you're new to the trucking business, it's a lot wiser to purchase a used semi-truck instead of buying a new one or leasing. You'll still own the truck, but you'll pay a lot less. For more information about used semi-trucks, contact a dealer, such as Arrow Truck Sales, today. 


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