Tips for Buying a Used Hybrid Vehicle

The idea of buying a used hybrid car -- or as the sellers say, "preowned hybrids" -- shows just how fast time flies.

Only a decade ago, the first new hybrids were just going on the market. Sales were as low as 5,000 per month in January 2004, according to U.S. Department of Energy statistics compiled by the website treehugger.com, and peaked at 45,000 in May 2007. But then the recession started to kick in, affecting hybrid vehicles along with traditional cars and trucks, and monthly sales this year are below 25,000 per month.

Still, nearly 2 million hybrid cars now are in use in the United States, so you have a wide selection.

If you choose to go "green" and consider buying a used hybrid, here's a top ten list of points to consider:

(1) You might not save a lot of money, especially in the short term. Used hybrid cars may cost more than the same non-hybrid models, and you won't necessarily get a big break on gas mileage.

(2) Some of hybrids actually get better gas mileage in the city than on the highway, the result of using electrical power that is generated through the braking system. Consider whether a majority of your driving is local, or on the highway.

(3) Family and friends may caution you may have a tough time finding a service center for a used hybrid car, or that you may have to pay more for service. By and large, this is a false red flag. The lion's share of maintenance is at the same cost, and if you have trouble with your used hybrid's special feature, you can go to a dealer's service garage.

(4) A dealer can also offer an expert pre-purchase inspection on the vehicle's hybrid aspects, accompanied by the typical vehicle report (such as carfax.com) that you would normally result, even when not buying a used hyrid.

(5) For that matter, dealers could be the first source you consult when buying a used hybrid, because they are gaining experience with the technology.

(6) Used hybrid cars have far less of a track record than traditional vehicles, which means even the experts are still studying the durability of hybrid components. This makes a low-mileage used hybrid car more desirable, although plenty of people are buying used hybrids with more than 100,000 miles.

(7) If you are buying a used hybrid, you need to make sure the odometer has not been rolled back, the same as for a traditional vehicle. But some used hybrid cars such as the Honda Insight have a second type of quantity device, this one measuring cumulative gas mileage over the life of the vehicle. Beware: The mileage gauge can be giggled even more easily than an odometer.

(8) The purchaser of a regular car is concerned first with the engine and the transmission, but if you are buying a used hybrid, you also need pay special attention to the battery. Replacement of a hybrid battery carries a typical cost of between $2,000 or $3,000 if the warranty is expired.

(9) You'll probably get a pretty good deal if you opt to sell your used hybrid car at some point, because demand is growing and it's a seller's market.

(10) Don't count on one of those $2,000 federal tax credits for buying a hybrid. Tax credits apply only to purchases of new hybrids, not for buying a used hybrid.

SOURCES

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2009/04/us-hybrid-car-sales-down-44-percent-march-2009.php?dcitc=TH_sbr_cars

http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/automotive/autoshow/la-fi-hybrid25jul25,0,4137231.story
http://www.carbuyingtips.com/hybrid-cars.htm

http://www.hybridownersofamerica.org/backpages/hoablog.cfm

http://www.roadandtravel.com/planetdriven/2007/used-hybrids.htm

http://www.greenhybridelectricvehicle.com/buy/