There are plenty of reasons to buy a used vehicle - some drivers prefer specific model years, while others might purchase a used car for a new driver. Still, others are looking for something more affordable, and many drivers enjoy fixing up a used car. One of the downsides of a used vehicle can be that since they are older, they may be lacking in up-to-date technology in terms of comfort, convenience, and safety. When you visit a used GMC dealer like Snell Buick GMC, however, you can look at a range of vehicles from the most recent model years with an array of available modern safety tools to give you peace of mind on the road.
GMC's available safety features have standard, comprehensive features that will assist you with all necessary driving functions and avoid potential accidents. You can rest easy knowing that your used vehicle is equipped to protect yourself, your passengers, and the drivers and pedestrians around you. Used GMCs are safe, stable, and secure, a boon to those who are looking for a reliable, affordable used vehicle. But what exactly are the available safety features, and what is included? How do you know which safety features you want or which ones you can forego? Read on to find out!
What Are the Available Safety Features?
Many vehicle makes and models have at least a few basic safety features, while others may have several optional packages of safety features added to aid drivers with everything from hauling and towing to backing up, maintaining a steady pace, and even hands-free driving. Depending on the model year, the trim level, and the original owner's requirements, your used GMC may come with all the bells and whistles, or it might have the standard features plus a few more to make turning and stopping easier and safer. You might also find custom safety features included with a special edition or trim level.
Traditional safety features include headlamps and taillamps, airbags, emergency braking, and cruise control. Newer safety features can include additional airbags, automated emergency braking, lane changes and pedestrian detection warnings, and rearview cameras. What your used vehicle will include depends on the brand as well as the make and model year, so be sure to ask your used GMC dealer for all details concerning the safety features included in the vehicle you're interested in buying.
What Does GMC Include in Its Available Safety Features?
GMC's latest available safety features vary from model to model, but many safety features come standard across GMC's line of vehicles. The backbone of GMC's safety features are the necessary safety features required by law. They include things like the airbag system, frontal airbags, side-impact airbags, head-curtain airbags, automatic emergency braking, an electric parking brake, and three years of the OnStar and Connected Services plan.
Other standard features on some trim levels include safety alert seats, built to pulse on the right, left, or on both sides to alert the driver to a potential impending crash, the Teen Driver system, and an HD rearview camera. Optional and available safety features include HD surround vision and a rear camera mirror, as well as a highway safety kit, which provides you with all the necessary tools to safely and securely change a tire, jumpstart the battery, or check tire pressure.
Do Used Models Have These Available Safety Features?
When you visit a used GMC dealer, you will want to check with an associate on what type of safety features are included with the make and model you are interested in purchasing. While used GMC models will not have every single safety feature available, they will often have the majority of safety features included in current models, with the added benefit that you might find a model with additional safety features that the original driver wanted to add.
Typically, used car dealerships sell models from one to ten years old. Many newer models from the last few years will include standard features like a backup camera, automated lights, and perhaps even a following distance indicator. Cars older than five years will have fewer of the more modern safety features but will still include things like a tire pressure alert system, anti-lock brakes, and traction control.
If you find a vehicle that has all but a few of the newest safety features, you might also consider purchasing after-market features that can be installed by a mechanic. Over the last few years, however, many safety features have become standard, so it's unlikely that you'll need to install anything extra - you may just want one or two additional features to enhance what's already there.
What Model Years to Look For
Depending on which safety features are the most important to you, you may want to make a short list of model years that include said safety features or which trim levels include these safety features. If you're interested in having a backup camera, there are models as far back as 2012 that include a backup camera. Since 2018, backup cameras have been standard on almost every make and model in the United States, so if you're looking for a vehicle that's between three to five years old, you're nearly guaranteed a backup camera as part of the standard safety feature equipment.
Interested in finding a used model with safety features like lane-keeping assist and lane departure warning? You can get a used GMC between five to seven years old with this and other similar safety features. You won't have to search dealership after dealership since this particular safety feature was standard or optional on many GMC makes and models. If you're concerned about airbag safety, curtain airbags have been installed in GMCs since at least 2015, so even if you buy a used GMC around five years old, there's a high likelihood that you'll have curtain airbags ready to be deployed at a moment's notice.
When you consider buying a used vehicle, it's important to know which safety features you want and which ones are available on specific model years. You can always talk to a sales associate to see which safety features are considered standard, which ones are available, or if additional safety packages are included in a vehicle you're looking to purchase. You never have to compromise on safety with a GMC, but it's nice to know if there are additional features you can utilize to keep yourself and your passengers safe.
Know What You Want, Get What You Need
No matter where you're buying a used GMC or for whom you're buying it, GMC used models come with plenty of standard safety features. You can look at an 8-year-old GMC truck or a three-year-old GMC SUV and compare them to a new GMC vehicle and see which features have been added to the standard set, but there is always a suite of safety features to ensure maximum protection for everyone inside and outside the vehicle. Depending on what model year you're looking for or what model you want, some features will be standard or available. If you want more safety features, look for used GMC vehicles with higher trim levels.
You won't have to worry about adding more safety features to a used GMC vehicle since it already comes with a standard suite aimed at providing the best safety services possible for any type of inclement weather, accident, or crash. Know what you want going into the dealership, and you'll come out with a safe, reliable truck or SUV that will assist you in staying on the road and staying safe for many years to come.
