America loves its car culture, so it’s completely normal to get attached to a car.  Sometimes, however, we fail to see the signs that it is time to put your car out of its misery.  When your car has become a safety issue, when the repairs start to cost more than the car, and when you can no longer trust that you will be able to get auto parts and service, you are driving a liability.

When It Becomes a Safety Issue

Feeling safe in your own car should be your highest priority, so if you start to lose faith that your car is keeping you safe, then it is time to move on to a new one.  Do you question whether or not your brakes will work?  Are you basically just waiting for the whole thing to catch fire?  A driver shouldn’t feel like they are in any imminent danger for either of these things to happen.  If you feel like your car can’t keep you safe, there is no sense in driving it any longer than you have to.

When Repairs Cost More than the Car Itself

When you own a car, repairs are an inevitability that comes with the territory.  However, if you start to feel like you are just throwing money down the toilet whenever it breaks down, in your head, you’ve already moved on.  Repairs can get expensive and there comes a point when it is just not worth making a repair on a car.  When you start to question whether to spend more money to get your car into driving shape or to spend that money towards a new car, chances are the correct choice is the latter.

When You No Longer Trust It

Trust is the bond that holds together any relationship.  The same can be said of the relationship between you and your car.  If you no longer trust it to stay with you over a certain length of time or distance, it is no longer a convenience to you; it is a liability.  You may not realize you have reached the point of not trusting your vehicle, but if you cannot plan a trip from San Antonio to New Orleans, for example, without knowing where you can get auto parts and service throughout Texas, then you no longer trust your car enough to justify holding onto it.

Moving on to a new car can be an exciting time.  You may have grown attached to a car that may be past its prime, but knowing when it’s time to move on can be half the battle.

Hailey Andersen enjoys sharing auto trends and car safety tips that she finds useful. Follow her on Twitter at: @HaileyWrites.

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