5 things to know about buying a new or pre-owned pickup truck
By Caitlin Morton | March 8, 2023
We may receive commissions from some links to products on this page. Promotions are subject to availability and retailer terms.
There are many things to consider when shopping for new or pre-owned pickup trucks, especially for first-time buyers. But if you know exactly what to look for, you can end up with a vehicle that will serve you well for years to come.
GETTY IMAGES
Here’s where to start.
1. Figure out why you need a pickup truck
Before you head to the dealer or do too much research into specific makes and models, you should determine exactly why you’re buying a pickup truck. Both new and pre-owned trucks can fit different needs. Perhaps you need a truck to tow a camper or haul construction materials, or you just need an everyday automobile to commute to work.
Pickups come in many configurations and are as customizable as SUVs and sedans. Once you figure out your exact needs, then you can start to look at different cab styles, bed sizes, engine options, and more.
2. Decide what size and type of truck you want
Consumer Reports identifies three main categories of pickups: compact pickup trucks, full-sized pickup trucks, and heavy-duty trucks. Each type serves a different purpose and is available in different price points.
Compact pickup trucks: These smaller trucks are great for city drivers as well as hauling just enough gear for a weekend getaway or camping trip. Popular models include the Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, Ford Ranger, Honda Ridgeline, Nissan Frontier, and Toyota Tacoma. Prices for new vehicles range from $20,000 to more than $50,000, but most middle-ground versions are around $37,000 to $41,000.
Full-sized pickup trucks: Some of the best-selling vehicles in America are full-sized trucks, as they can serve as both a work truck and a substitute for a family car. Current models include the Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Ford F-150, GMC Sierra 1500, Nissan Titan, Ram 1500, and Toyota Tundra. Most cost between $45,000 and $55,000.
Heavy-duty trucks: These supersized trucks are ideal for carrying serious cargo loads or hauling trailers. The Ram 2500 and GMC Sierra 2500 HD are popular options. A no-frills, 2500-series work truck starts around $37,000, but be prepared to pay a lot more at the mechanic and gas tank.
Though they're not nearly as ubiquitous as these other categories, electric trucks are also starting to enter the automotive game. GMC has already begun producing its Hummer EV Pickup. On the horizon are Ford's electric F-150 Lightning, Chevrolet's electric Silverado, and Tesla's Cybertruck.
3. Settle the new vs. used debate
Wondering whether to buy a new or pre-owned pickup truck? There are pros and cons to each option.
New pickup truck
Pros: New trucks have the latest safety features and require less maintenance. (Even if they do need a tune-up, your warranty should cover costs for a while.) They also provide more options when it comes to customization, but note that custom trucks are more expensive than the models sitting on the dealership lot.
Cons: Though you may have the perfect truck in mind, availability is always an issue with newer models—especially if you’re looking for an electric or hybrid vehicle. New trucks also depreciate very quickly, often shedding half their value in the first two to three years.
Pre-owned pickup truck
Pros: The used truck market is huge—about three times bigger than the new truck market—so you have tons of options here. Pre-owned trucks are typically much cheaper than getting a new car from the dealer.
Cons: Reliability is not a given with used cars, especially if you purchase from a private seller as opposed to a dealership.
4. Look at gas mileage and repair costs
When you look at the price tag of a new or pre-owned automobile, don’t immediately take the cost at face value. Some trucks have lower gas mileage or tend to need more repairs, both of which cost extra money in the long-term.
Heavy-duty trucks have a fuel economy around 14 to 16 mpg. That value tends to improve with smaller models. The 1500-series diesel engines from GM and Ram get 23 mpg overall, while the Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon can get up to 24 mpg.
If you’d like a truck that is inexpensive to maintain, be sure to check out reviews on reliable sites such as Consumer Reports, which has done deep dives on the Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra, among others. A model that gives great bang for the buck will cost only about $200 in annual maintenance and repair costs after 10 years of ownership. Other cheap-to-maintain trucks to consider: Toyota Tacoma, Toyota Tundra, and Ford F-250.
5. Analyze your car insurance options
Pickup trucks are generally more expensive to insure than cars, since they cause more damage in accidents and cost more to repair. This is definitely something to factor in when budgeting for a new truck.
It’s easy to research the insurability of different trucks before you actually make a purchase. Consider models such as the Chevy Colorado, which, according to reviews, has one of the lowest 6-month premiums of all popular pickups, followed by the GMC Sierra and Toyota Tacoma.
Pickup trucks are heavy-duty trucks that contain a cabin for passengers and also a bed at the back which is used for hauling the goods and also for towing. These pickup trucks are important for commercial and also for industrial uses.
The versatility of these pickup trucks makes it difficult for you to buy one for hauling heavy goods. However, before buying a pickup there are various factors that you should consider seriously.
First of all, consider the budget in which you want to buy your truck because the brand new pickup trucks are expensive. Also, the usage of trucks is an important factor as to know for what purpose you are buying the truck.
The other factors include the engine size & power of the truck, mileage as well as bed size. These trucks can carry the passengers as well as goods so they are considered the jack of all trades because of the versatility they possess.
Before buying a heavy-duty truck, the question arises for what purpose you want to have that vehicle? If you have to transport heavy goods and tow heavy loads like boats and campers on a daily basis then you should buy a heavy large size pickup truck.
Moreover, if you transport small goods then buy a small size pickup truck. You can narrow down the search to the models that possess the features that you want to have in your truck by taking their usage into consideration.
The engine size and power are also important because if you buy a small engine truck it will not be able to transport your heavy goods. For hauling heavy loads you require an engine of V6 and V8.
A 4 cylinder engine is accurate for the transport of small goods because it will provide your desired power and also it saves money on gas.
Like the towing ability of a pickup truck, the engine size and power are also crucial factors that you must consider before buying the truck.
The fuel consumption varies vastly in different types of trucks. So before buying the truck you must take into account the fuel consumption of that model.
Some heavy-duty trucks consume the same 20 miles per gallon fuel for both the highway and city however some trucks use 22 miles per gallon fuel in the city and 32 miles per gallon on the freeway.
These pickup trucks are notorious for their fuel mileage because every model has different fuel economics that helps them to perform various tasks.
When it comes to choosing between an automatic or manual transmission vehicle it becomes difficult for the buyer to choose the pickup truck for him.
The automatic transmission trucks are very costly, moreover, they are comfortable as well. If you face the problems of heavy traffic on the roads then choosing an automatic truck minimizes the unnecessary shifting of the driver.
The manual trucks are affordable because they cost less and also these trucks are easier to maintain and run.
Another factor that you should consider before buying a pickup truck is the bed size. If you need to transport bully materials or lumber then you need a large bed size that fulfills your requirements.
However the small trucks have small bed sizes and sometimes they need to lower their bed tail which is illegal in some countries, so choose a pickup truck wisely to accomplish your needs.
CONCLUSION
The pickup trucks help you to haul heavy goods and also carry the passengers as these trucks are versatile and also expensive.
These trucks vary vastly in gas mileage and every model has its own fuel economy. The engine size and power are important factors. Also, the bed size which depends upon the size of your goods like bulky materials requires a large bed size.
These trucks also possess two modes of transmission, manual and automatic. The automatic truck saves the driver from the unnecessary shifting of gears while driving on the road.
These are the 5 factors that you must consider before buying a pickup truck and I hope this article will help you in choosing your type of pickup truck. Cheers!