A beater car isn’t necessarily the sort of vehicle you would write home about.
You won’t post pictures of it on social media. It’s usually an older model vehicle with substantial mileage. While perhaps not quite the looker it might have been when it rolled off the assembly line and made it to a dealership lot, a beater is usually a reliable second or third car.
But why should you invest in one? Keep reading for 16 reasons why it’s a good idea.
You’ll Feel More Comfortable Tackling DIY Maintainance
If you fancy doing your own car maintenance and repairs but don’t feel comfortable working on your daily driver, the answer is to buy a beater vehicle. You’ll feel more at ease tackling vehicle-upkeep projects if you know your inexpensive beater isn’t your only ride.
You Can Keep Your Daily Driver Off the Road in the Winter
Another reason many people opt for beaters is that these older, high-mileage vehicles can take the brunt of the winter weather season while their daily drivers take a breather until spring. A beater will be even more welcome if your daily driver is a high-end vehicle.
You Can Learn How to Drive Stick
Some people believe that no one who can’t drive a manual transmission car can really drive. One way to learn to drive stick shift is to get a beater. Practice makes perfect. So, if you want a second vehicle as a backup and want to learn how to drive a manual, a beater makes sense.
You Want a Cheap Car for Your Kid
If your kid is nearing legal driving age, a beater car might be in order. You might not want them using your daily driver — for obvious reasons. One option is to get a reliable beater with a few dings and scratches already built in — so that you hardly notice the ones your kid will add.
You Need Something More Economical
Yet another reason to buy a beater is to get something that’s more economical. If your daily driver is a newer model with high-end tech, maintaining it might cost an arm and a leg. But a beater in good condition will be easier to keep on the road, which is better for your wallet.
You Want to Meet More of Your Needs
One reason some people buy multiple vehicles is to meet their various needs. You might need a truck for work, but do you want to drive that for groceries or road trips? A beater is the perfect option if you need something to take the kids to soccer pracitice or to get groceries.
You Can’t Afford to Buy New
While some people get a beater in addition to their daily driver, others can only afford a beater. They’re cheap — sometimes a cheap as a few hundred dollars. And they seldom cost more than a couple thousand dollars. So, if you don’t want an albatross of a car loan, get a beater.
You Want Lower Car Insurance
When seeking quotes for a car insurance policy, you’ll see that it pays to get a beater. You’ll pay much less than if you buy a newer ride.
You Want Someone Else to Take the Massive Depreciation Hit
A new car loses approximately 11% of its value when you drive it off the dealership lot. By the time a vehicle becomes a beater, someone else will have eaten the depreciation. So, you can get a cheap car without the burden of shouldering a big depreciation hit.
You Can Accommodate Your Growing Family
If your daily driver can no longer accommodate your growing family, trade it in for something bigger or buy a beater. You can get extra seating for a steal of a deal.
You Can Use It for Your Side Hustle
Yet another reason to invest in a beater is if you need a vehicle for a side hustle. Getting a beater SUV, for instance, can be great if you want to do dump runs, plow snow, or something else. It can be an inexpensive way to generate another stream of income.
You Can Park Closer to the Store
Have you ever parked far from a store so that you had plenty of space between your car and other cars? You might have if you have a newer car and don’t want it to get dinged. You won’t have to do that if you have a beater. You can choose a parking spot close to the store.
You Can Use Your Money for Other Things
When you buy a cheap beater rather than take out a car loan for a vehicle you can’t afford, you can use the savings to buy something else. Chances are there are other things you’d like.
You Can Have Peace of Mind
The average monthly car payment for a new and used car is $726 and $533, respectively. Buying a beater means you won’t have monthly car payments that keep you up at night. You can get a beater for the equivalent of one or two monthly car loan payments.
You Won’t Have to Worry About Anyone Trying to Steal It
While a beater can potentially catch the eye of an opportunistic car thief with too much time on their hands, it’s less likely to be a target than a newer vehicle. So, your risk of theft will go down with a beater.
You’ll Save on Gas
If your daily driver can hardly pass a gas station without gasping for a top-up, a beater car requiring regular gas might be a more economical option. Many newer cars require premium fuel — but not so with an old beater. So, you can save money by not having to use premium fuel every time you stop at the gas station.
A Beater Is Worth the Money
As long as you do your due diligence and have a mechanic check out a beater before buying it, you should be good to go. Focus on older models known for their reliability — and ensure that parts are available at reasonable rates to avoid problems.
More From Driver’s Drift
14 Cars That Consistently Fail Crash Tests
15 Reasons You Should Never Buy a Car in Cash (Even if You Can Afford to)
15 Things Boomers Taught Us About Cars Which are Totally Wrong Today
17 Hybrids to Avoid at All Costs
