8 Signs You Need a New Car

However, every car has a lifespan, some longer than others, but they all hit the end of the road at some stage.

While you can brush off some car problems, there are signs you might need a change from frequent breakdowns to repair costs, outweighing the actual value of the vehicle.

Are you worried that it could be time you need a new car but unsure if you're just overreacting? Read through this list of the warning signs we've written. If you're experiencing one or more of these problems, it could be a signal that you need to start shopping around for a new car.

You're Spending All Your Money on Repairs

A car repair here or there is totally normal for every owner, but when it gets to the point where you're spending more than the value of the car, that's a major red flag.

Does it really make sense to spend a couple of thousand dollars on a head gasket replacement when it is only $1000? You might say, oh, it's a once-off, which is a fair argument, but when it becomes a repeated cycle, your car becomes an unsustainable money pit.

Your Insurance Premium Becomes More Expensive

Newer cars are always cheaper to insure than older cars because there's less of a chance of them being involved in a situation where your insurer has to pay out.

While you may not have any claims against you, and your license has been clean for the past 20 years, insurers don't care. They'll increase your premium when they start seeing that your car is becoming more riskier the older it becomes.

The Car Is Drinking More Fuel Than Usual

As a car gets older, it's normal for it to become less fuel-efficient than it once was. A couple of things cause this, like the engine aging over time because it has been driven so much, and deposits can start forming around in the injectors if not appropriately maintained.

If you're only using your car for short distances, you may not notice it that much. But if you're driving, say, 20-30 miles to work and back home a day, the fuel station visits will start to add up.

You're Starting to See Smoke Regularly Come from Your Car

It's not necessarily a bad thing when you start to see smoke coming from your car, but when it's frequent, grey or white, and there's lots of it, that's when you need to start worrying because it could be your engine.

Black smoke is usually nothing too serious; it's usually caused by a fixable problem with a car's fuel system. If you're seeing a blueish kind of smoke, that could indicate that your car is burning engine oil. This can be a big or small problem, depending on the cause, so getting it checked out is necessary.

The Car Is Starting to Look like It Fits in at a Junkyard

A car might have a bit of wear and tear and still be perfectly fine to drive, but when it starts looking like it would fit in at a junkyard, that's when a change could be on the horizon.

Some signs of this are rusting on the inside or outside, completely destroyed paintwork, broken parts, and so on. 

If there's something that could put you or your passengers at risk, like the doors not closing properly or an issue with the steering wheel, then you should avoid driving it at all costs.

You're Breaking Down Often

Breakdowns are inevitable when you own a car, but when they happen regularly, that's a problem that you need to fix. Not only will it cost you a lot of money, as we mentioned above, but you'll waste so much time going to see your mechanic, which can have a knock-on effect on with everything else in your life.

Remember, there's a big difference between getting something changed on your car, like your wipers, and getting your engine looked at every second week. The wipers can be changed easily, and that's it; you can't go buying a new engine all the time; that would cost an absolute fortune.

You're Going through a Lifestyle Change

This one has nothing to do with the actual car but more with you as a person. As we get older, our lives change. We start to have kids, or our parents are sick and need help to be cared for. 

To keep up with these changes, you might need to downsize your car or get a bigger one to suit your lifestyle. Along with that, some extra features might be needed, like wheelchair accessibility or extra safety equipment for your children to protect them in the case of an accident.

It Could Be Cash-in Time

A car's value decreases with age; you could have it for 10-15 years, but it will get to a point where it's worth nothing at all. You'll have two options: keep it with you until it becomes unroadworthy or sell it while you have the chance and put the money towards a new car.

If you were to factor in how much the car will cost you down the line with repairs and compare it to spending a little extra on a new car for the coming years, it's a no-brainer. Sometimes, you need to let go of what was and move on to something new.

What's the Verdict? Do You Need a New Car?

Letting a problem here or there slide with your car is fine, but when it becomes more of a hindrance to your life than anything, you need to come to terms with the fact that you need an upgrade.

If you're experiencing one of these problems, your car is probably fine as long as your mechanic says so, but if it's more than that, you should start looking at other options instead of holding on.