Shannon Bradley

2 months ago | nerdwallet.com | Shannon Bradley

When buying a used vehicle, getting a standard vehicle history report is an important first step, but it may not tell the whole story. Sometimes reports omit information about a car’s history, so you may want to dig deeper. For a more thorough investigation, consider these eight additional ways of uncovering a car’s past. 1. Get a professional inspection A pre-purchase inspection by a qualified mechanic is essential for detecting hidden damage or mechanical problems.

2 months ago | nerdwallet.com | Shannon Bradley

Many if not most of those in the market for a car will consider whether to buy new or used. The best choice between a new car versus a used one depends on your goals and needs. New vs. used: factors to considerBudget and affordability. Used cars do typically cost less than new ones. But before buying either, determine how much you can afford to spend. Our car affordability calculator lets you start with the monthly payment to arrive at the maximum car price you can afford.

2 months ago | nerdwallet.com | Shannon Bradley

If you’re new to buying a hybrid vehicle, you may find the term “hybrid” to be somewhat confusing. At a high level, hybrid refers to vehicles that use some combination of gasoline and electricity for power. However, from there, vehicles called hybrids use very different technologies to put and keep a car in motion. An increasing number of car owners are buying hybrids as a way to reduce gas costs and fuel emissions, without having to make the leap to a fully electric vehicle.

2 months ago | nerdwallet.com | Shannon Bradley

You can find car reliability rankings through several sources, but one of the most comprehensive is the Consumer Reports (CR) annual car reliability survey. CR collects data about more than 300,000 vehicles from the nonprofit organization’s members. Survey recipients are asked about vehicle problems they experienced in the past 12 months, covering 20 different aspects like engine, transmission, body hardware, paint and trim. For EVs, batteries and charging are included.

Dec 12, 2024 | nerdwallet.com | Shannon Bradley |Elizabeth Renter

Your total car costs include a lot more than your monthly loan payment. Use NerdWallet’s cost of ownership calculator to see how much you’re really spending.