Shopping for a semi truck is no small thing. You’re making a large investment in a vehicle that you want to serve you or your business for years to come, so you want to be certain that you are making a wise purchasing decision. One way you can save yourself some money is to fully investigate used semi truck options. Used semi trucks can offer many of the same benefits as new models while also providing you with some unique perks that you can only get when you buy used.

Curious to know more? Carolina International Trucks, with six locations in South Carolina, is your Palmetto State semi truck dealer. Read on to learn more about the many benefits you can obtain from buying your next semi truck used.

1. You’ll Save Yourself Some Money

On a tight budget? It’s hard to beat the amount of money you’ll save when you buy a used truck! All vehicles, semi trucks included, undergo a drop in value called “depreciation” when they’re driven off the sales floor, and this drop in value is very steep during the first year of ownership. After that, it tends to even out, so you can save yourself thousands of dollars right off the bat by purchasing a used semi truck over a new model. 

Also, you can rest assured that your used truck will retain its value much better because it’s already experienced its steepest drop in value. This means that you can get a higher resale value for your truck if you opt to sell it down the line. That’s why buying used is a great option for a new business or truck driver who may not be sure what features they want in their semi truck without owning one first.

2. You’ll Obtain Full Ownership

When you buy a used semi truck, you aren’t involved in a lease, which means that you won’t be able to use your truck as collateral or claim it as an asset. Leasing involves paying a monthly fee to own the truck, but you’ll end up paying a whole lot more money over time than you would if you just bought a used semi truck to start with, rather than leasing a new model. This is especially true if you do end up buying the leased truck anyway. It’s much better to buy the used truck that you can afford to give yourself the full benefits of ownership right away.

3. You’ll Have Lower Operating Costs

Overall, your operational costs with a used semi truck will be lower. This is because used semi trucks aren’t worth as much as new models, so your insurance premiums will be lower. You’ll want to make sure that you get a used vehicle that has good gas mileage, however, as this is one area where you can struggle to save money if the engine isn’t as efficient.

4. You’ll Get More Options

If you stick to recently released models, then your options are pretty slim. Buying a used semi truck means that you’ll have your pick of all kinds of different models from last year and further back. You can even invest in a vintage model if you so desire! 

We hope this guide helps you to choose the right truck option for you! Want to check out some models? Visit one of our six locations throughout South Carolina to take a look at our vast inventory of used semi trucks for sale, or browse our selection on our website. We also offer rental and leasing options as well as financial assistance to help you fund your purchase. Carolina International Trucks proudly serves the city of Columbia, SC.