The median asking price for a used Scion tC is $5,995 across 227 listings. A 2015 costs about $8,999; a 2005 about $5,900. But the same year can differ wildly: among 2005 cars the dearest asks 5 times what the cheapest does — condition, mileage and title do the rest.
Scion tC price by model year
| Year | Typical price | Spread | Listings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | — | 16 | |
| 2014 | — | 14 | |
| 2013 | — | 12 | |
| 2012 | — | 27 | |
| 2011 | — | 7 | |
| 2010 | — | 10 | |
| 2008 | — | 25 | |
| 2007 | — | 19 | |
| 2006 | — | 19 | |
| 2005 | — | 15 |
A spread near 1.5× means the market agrees what a Scion tC 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 Scion tC the forecourt markup works out at 32% 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dealer | 148 | +18.8% | $7,548 |
| Private seller | 79 | -13.6% | $4,445 |
The gap comes to 32.4 percentage points. Some of that buys something real — reconditioning, a warranty, paperwork handled. The rest is the cost of not looking further.
Where it's cheaper
States where the Scion tC asks least and most, measured against the national median for each model year. Dearest is WA at +13%, cheapest FL at -19% — 32 points apart, which on a $5,995 car is roughly $1,906.
| State | Listings | vs national median |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 15 | |
| CA | 80 | |
| OR | 19 | |
| WA | 15 |
Only states with enough listings to mean something are shown. Rust-belt winters, local demand and how many were sold there originally all pull these numbers around.
Asking prices are the market. What is that car worth?
- Exact value for one VIN, adjusted for its mileage
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How we count
The Scion tC figures here come from 227 live listings, 2005–2016 — 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 2005–2016 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 Scion tC leaves 10 model years standing. The full method, with the traps it avoids →
Frequently asked questions
How much does a used Scion tC cost?
The median asking price is $5,995 across 227 live listings, ranging from about $5,900 for a 2005 to $8,999 for a 2015. These are asking prices — sellers generally accept less.
Is it cheaper to buy a tC from a private seller?
Yes, by roughly 32 percentage points. Dealers ask +18.8% against the median for the same model year, private sellers -13.6%. Part of that gap pays for reconditioning and a warranty; the rest is the price of convenience.
Where is the cheapest place to buy a tC?
Of the states with enough listings, FL asks least at -19.0% against the national median, and WA most at +12.8%. On a $20,000 car that spread is worth a long drive.
Why do prices for the same year vary so much?
Among 2005 cars the dearest asks 5× 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 Scion tC valuation tool.
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