8 Used Car Models Retirees Should Consider Before Fall Ends

Choosing the right car can be a big decision, especially for retirees , who need to consider their lifestyle, budget and physical limitations when making their choice. With many new cars still priced beyond a fixed income budget, many retirees are looking to buy used or pre-owned cars.

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If you’re confident and car savvy enough to negotiate a good deal on a private sale or with an independent dealer (e.g., CarMax, Carvana), the more power to you. However, shopping for a certified pre-owned (CPO) model may net you the ideal car for a great price. According to Consumer Reports data , CPO buyers report 15% fewer problems than those who purchase a non-CPO vehicle (but you’ll end up paying about 2% more for a CPO guaranteed by the automaker).

Finding an older vehicle for under $15,000 might be a difficult, but you shouldn’t have a problem finding a reliable used ride for around $25,000. Although price is the largest cost you’ll have to pay when buying a used car, auto loan interest is an important expense to keep in mind when you’re buying a gently used model.

According to MarketWatch , the current average used car loan interest rates across all credit profiles range from 7.13% to 21.55%, but here are eight car brands offering financing deals on models in the fall . Retirees on a budget might luck out and get additional savings from dealers unloading their inventories on some of the models listed below.

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Toyota

• Offer: 5.75% APR for 60 months
• Expires: November 4

One of the main reasons Toyotas are so popular is the reliability of its vehicles, which makes them great cars for retirees . According to U.S. News & World Report , a variety of Toyota GOLD certified pre-owned vehicles — Tundra, RAV4, RAV4 Prime, RAV4 Hybrid, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Corolla Hybrid, Corolla Hatchback, Corolla Cross, Corolla Cross Hybrid, Camry, Camry Hybrid and bZ4X models — are available to finance for 5.75% APR for 60 months until November 4.

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Audi

• Offer: 3.99% financing for up to 36 months
• Expires: October 31

If you are looking for a vehicle that flawlessly mixes elegance, comfort and innovative safety features, consider an Audi — a brand that builds cars that satisfy your driving requirements and enrich your whole driving experience. Select CPO 2019-2025 Audis can be financed for 36 months at 3.99% APR until the end of this month, per CARFAX .

Lexus

• Offer: 5.99% APR for up to 72 months
• Expires: November 4

Based on the reliability of their five- to 10-year old models, Lexus topped Consumer Reports’ (CR) first-ever rankings for used car brands with a reliability verdict of 75 out of 100 (Toyota is the only other brand to receive a score over 70 [72]). Until November 4, you can get 5.99% for up to 72 months on an L/Certified Lexus NX, NX Hybrid, GX, ES and ES Hybrid models, per CARFAX.

Mazda

• Offer: 3.9% APR for 36 months
• Expires: October 31

Another pillar of reliability, according to Consumer Reports, Mazda ranks behind only Lexus and Toyota in used car reliability. According to CARFAX, 3.9% APR financing for 36 months is available on select Mazda CPO 2023 and 2024 models until October 31.

Ford

• Offer: 5.99% financing for 60 months Gold and Blue Certified), 5.49% financing for 60 months (EV Certified)
• Expires: January 2, 2025

When it comes to selling certified pre-owned vehicles, Ford uses age and mileage to differentiate between its Gold, EV and Blue classifications. According to CARFAX, Ford is offering 5.99% financing for 60 months on its Gold and Blue Certified Ford CPO models, and 5.49% financing for 60 months on its EV Certified Ford CPO models. Deals don’t expire until January 2, 2025. See the Ford website for CPO details and your local dealerships for deals.

Mercedes-Benz

• Offer: 2.99% APR for 36 months
• Expires: October 31

If you’re looking for comfort and reliability, but insist on a luxury drive , Mercedes-Benz has been popular with retires for decades. From now until October 31, you can get a finance rate of 2.99% APR for 36 months on a pre-owned 2021-2023 C-Class, E-Class or GLC, a 2022-2023 EQB or EQS, a 2023 GLB or EQE or a 2022 S-Class vehicle.

Mini

• Offer: 5.25% APR for 60 months or 3.99% APR for 36 months
• Expires: October 31

Mini ranked third in Consumer Reports’ new car brand reliability rankings for 2024, but sits 12th in its used listing. Retirees like Minis for their small sporty stature, and until October 31, all 2019-2023 Mini CPO vehicles are available from 5.25% APR for 60 months or 3.99% APR for 36 months.

Jaguar

• Offer: 4.99% APR for up to 60 months
• Expires: October 31

While they’re often derided for being unreliable , many owners claim their Jaguars are as trustworthy as any other high-end luxury vehicle. Durability debates aside, you can expect to pay $1,648 more for maintenance and repair costs during the first decade of service than the industry average for luxury cars, per CarEdge. Until October 31, Jaguar is offering 4.99% financing for 12-60 months on certified pre-owned 2018-2023 E-Pace, F-Pace and XF models, on 2019-2023 I-Pace and F-Type models, on 2018-2020 XE models and on 2018-2019 XJ models.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : 8 Used Car Models Retirees Should Consider Before Fall Ends