New vs used car
Buy used when your goal is the lowest total cost, because a new car loses the steepest part of its value in the first two or three years and a lightly used one lets the first owner absorb that drop.
Comparison guides
Car-buying comparisons, decided side by side
What car-buying decisions should I compare before I buy?
The three forks that move the most money are new versus used, buying versus leasing, and dealer financing versus a loan from your own bank or credit union. Each guide below lays the two options side by side on cost, ownership, and the fine print so you can pick the cheaper, lower-risk path for your situation.
Pick a decision
The big forks in buying a car
Buy vs lease a car
Buy when you want the lowest long-term cost and plan to keep the car well past the loan, because once it is paid off you drive it for years with no payment.
Dealer financing vs a bank loan
Get pre-approved by your own bank or credit union first, then let the dealer try to beat that rate.
Keep going
After you have decided
Once you know whether you are going new or used and how you will pay, the next step is getting real numbers in writing. Our guide on how to buy a car online walks through requesting out-the-door quotes, and the auto financing guide covers getting pre-approved so you can compare a dealer's rate against your own. You can also find a dealer by state or request quotes and dealer offers directly.