The median asking price for a used Chevrolet Cavalier is $2,995 across 63 listings. A 2004 costs about $2,925; a 1997 about $2,299. But the same year can differ wildly: among 2002 cars the dearest asks 8.8 times what the cheapest does — condition, mileage and title do the rest.
Chevrolet Cavalier price by model year
| Year | Typical price | Spread | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | — | 11 | |
| 2003 | — | 6 | |
| 2002 | — | 10 | |
| 1997 | — | 5 |
A spread near 1.5× means the market agrees what a Chevrolet Cavalier of that year is worth. Past 3× the listings mix tidy examples with tired ones, and a careful buyer can do well — but the exact figure for one car depends on its mileage and history, which is what the valuation tool is for.
Dealer or private seller
On the Chevrolet Cavalier the forecourt markup works out at -5% over a private sale of the same year. Both figures are measured against the median for the same model year, so age is out of the comparison and what remains is the markup itself.
| Seller | Listings | vs median year | Average asked |
|---|---|---|---|
| Private seller | 28 | +14.0% | $2,711 |
| Dealer | 18 | +9.1% | $5,450 |
The gap comes to -4.9 percentage points. Some of that buys something real — reconditioning, a warranty, paperwork handled. The rest is the cost of not looking further.
Asking prices are the market. What is that car worth?
- Exact value for one VIN, adjusted for its mileage
- Live listings with prices, not just percentiles
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How we count
The Chevrolet Cavalier figures here come from 63 live listings, 1991–2006 — asking prices, not sale prices. Sellers ask more than they get, so treat these as the top of the range, not the bottom.
Percentages here are never plain averages: each listing is first turned into its ratio against the median for its own model year, and those ratios are averaged instead. Without that step the numbers lie confidently — a flat average across 1991–2006 would mostly measure which years happen to be for sale this week. Slices too thin to survive the test are dropped rather than dressed up with an error bar, which for the Chevrolet Cavalier leaves 4 model years standing. The full method, with the traps it avoids →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used Chevrolet Cavalier cost?
The median asking price is $2,995 across 63 live listings, ranging from about $2,299 for a 1997 to $2,925 for a 2004. These are asking prices — sellers generally accept less.
Is it cheaper to buy a Cavalier from a private seller?
Yes, by roughly -5 percentage points. Dealers ask +9.1% against the median for the same model year, private sellers +14.0%. Part of that gap pays for reconditioning and a warranty; the rest is the price of convenience.
Why do prices for the same year vary so much?
Among 2002 cars the dearest asks 8.8× what the cheapest does. Mileage, service history and title status explain most of it — which is why an average price for an older car tells you very little on its own.
What is this worth compared with my own car?
This page describes the market. To value a specific car by its year and mileage, use the Chevrolet Cavalier valuation tool.
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