A Quick Guide to Buying a Used Hybrid Car

So the long waiting lists and high prices for the Toyota Pries and Honda Civic Hybrids have turned away from a new hybrid? Do not worry, because used hybrids are now starting to hit the market and it can be a great chance to grab a bargain. There are some very important things to take into consideration before you jump into a used hybrid, however.

Given that hybrids are new to the used car market, they have been somewhat of an unknown quantity. Figures from Kelley Blue Book now show that the depreciation of the hybrids are considerably more than others used cars with the Pries holding only 58% of its value after two years and 41% after five years, and the Civic Hybrid holding 60% after two years and 43% after five years. This compares to gas-engine Civic which retains 66% of its value after two years and 50% after five years. The good news is that buying a used hybrid will save even more money to buy a new model, but depreciation continues, and when you sell it, you'll lose more than other vehicles on the roads.

So why is depreciation on hybrids so high? There are a few factors at work here.

Firstly, the cost of replacing hybrid batteries is much more than other car batteries. The batteries in a hybrid store the energy produced by regenerative braking, and use it when the car runs on electricity. These must be replaced after 8-10 years or 80,000 to 100,000 miles and it is a great investment, costing between $ 2000 and $ 5000. If you buy a hybrid car that is ready for a battery change, you may not be slugged with a replacement value that make savings by buying a used hybrid redundant.

Another important aspect is that hybrids are increasingly expensive to maintain because there are a lot fewer mechanics who are qualified to repair the completely different mechanical system. On the other hand, overall maintenance is less than a conventional gasoline car because of the reduced stress on the engine and brakes in a hybrid.

The computer system of a hybrid are very sophisticated in order to manage the two power systems and switch between them at appropriate times. This is based on a system of sensors throughout the car, and a central computer and all computers, things can easily go wrong. If using hybrid is outside its warranty period for computer maintenance, it may end up being a very expensive investment to repair it.

Finally, the insurance of a hybrid is higher than other cars because of the high cost of maintenance.

In light of these issues with hybrids used, it is more important than the other cars to get the car completely checked before you buy it, to understand exactly what you buy and what costs you will be up to. Hybrids are still surrounded by a fair degree of hype, so vendors will often try to add a premium just because it is a hybrid. To avoid this, be sure to research the true value of the car in the Kelley Blue Book and other local sales guides, and as with any other used cars, the better your homework, the more likely you are to get a great deal.