Why You Should Buying a Used Green Hybrid Car

Given the newness of green hybrid electric cars, you might not think it's easy to find a used one for sale. They are out there, though. Many people who are financially fortunate enough to be able to do so tend to swap out cars every 2 or 3 years so that they're never faced with a car that needs repair, and apparently some still do this with the new hybrid cars. Look around in your local paper and weekly sales papers like penny savers or that type of local swap and sell publication. You can also search online for used green hybrid cars in your area, and you can look at dealerships for used green hybrid cars.

The big benefit of purchasing a used green hybrid electric car is the price. Some new hybrid cars are high-priced enough to make it unlikely the average American consumer will ever own one. If you can find a high-priced used green hybrid vehicle that's used, you'll pay much less to drive an environmentally friendly car.

While some green hybrid cars like the Prius are priced in a more moderate range, a used one will still cost less and so it's easier for most families to own. It's also even more environmentally friendly than purchasing a new green hybrid car. A certain amount of energy goes into the production of a hybrid vehicle, and that requires a certain amount of fuel and, let's face it, pollution. Rather than purchasing a new car with that “carbon debt” that has to be paid off, when you purchase a used green hybrid electric car, you're inheriting a carbon debt that's already partially paid. The same holds true for purchasing any vehicle—it's always greener to go used that new.

You'll need to use the same common sense when searching for used green hybrid car that you use when looking for any kind of used car. Find out about who owned it before, the car's history, and why the owner wants to sell it. Have it checked out by a mechanic—one familiar with hybrid car technology.

The advantage of purchasing a used green hybrid car from a dealership is that there may be a warranty attached that you won't get from a private seller. Just because you purchase from a dealership, though, you're not guaranteed that there won't be problems, or that you're getting an honest deal. But the likelihood of problems is usually reduced. A private seller just wants to sell a car, but a dealership selling used green hybrid electric cars consider, and will do what they can to protect that reputation to ensure future business.

Also, do some research. You might end up deciding to buy a new model if the first generation model had some significant drawbacks, for instance. Or you could decide to wait, if it turns out the manufacturer is about to unveil a new green hybrid electric car that seems far superior to the used one you're considering.