Best Used Cars Under $5,000 — Real Market Prices

What $5,000 buys

Right now 16,571 used cars list under $5,000 across the US, with a typical price of $3,500. At this budget the most common cars are reliable mainstream models — sedans, SUVs and trucks a few years older or with higher mileage. Below are the most popular picks with real prices, plus a breakdown by type and year. Free, no signup.

Most popular used cars under $5,000

The models buyers actually find at this budget — with the typical price and how many are listed. Tap any for its full value breakdown.

Ford Escape

~$3,614

377 under $5,000 · 2001–2019

Toyota Camry

~$3,366

357 under $5,000 · 1992–2015

Honda Accord

~$3,394

336 under $5,000 · 1991–2022

Ford F-150

~$3,436

320 under $5,000 · 1990–2026

Nissan Altima

~$3,464

287 under $5,000 · 1993–2022

Ford Focus

~$3,480

285 under $5,000 · 2001–2018

Honda Civic

~$3,446

276 under $5,000 · 1991–2022

Chevrolet Equinox

~$3,618

220 under $5,000 · 2005–2019

Subaru Outback

~$3,505

209 under $5,000 · 1998–2017

Chevrolet Impala

~$3,402

207 under $5,000 · 2001–2019

Chevrolet Silverado

~$3,434

204 under $5,000 · 1990–2022

Ford Fusion

~$3,602

202 under $5,000 · 2006–2019

Chevrolet Malibu

~$3,404

193 under $5,000 · 1998–2021

Jeep Grand Cherokee

~$3,535

187 under $5,000 · 1994–2021

Hyundai Sonata

~$3,558

182 under $5,000 · 2001–2019

Honda Odyssey

~$3,359

167 under $5,000 · 1995–2015

Chevrolet Cruze

~$3,700

161 under $5,000 · 2011–2019

Nissan Sentra

~$3,417

157 under $5,000 · 1994–2026

Chrysler Town and Country

~$3,297

155 under $5,000 · 2000–2016

Honda CR-V

~$3,594

150 under $5,000 · 1998–2016

Nissan Rogue

~$3,693

147 under $5,000 · 2008–2023

Nissan Versa

~$3,472

146 under $5,000 · 2007–2023

Subaru Forester

~$3,565

143 under $5,000 · 2000–2019

Toyota Prius

~$3,565

141 under $5,000 · 2001–2018

Show all 179 models under $5,000

Ford Escape~$3,614 · 377 Toyota Camry~$3,366 · 357 Honda Accord~$3,394 · 336 Ford F-150~$3,436 · 320 Nissan Altima~$3,464 · 287 Ford Focus~$3,480 · 285 Honda Civic~$3,446 · 276 Chevrolet Equinox~$3,618 · 220 Subaru Outback~$3,505 · 209 Chevrolet Impala~$3,402 · 207 Chevrolet Silverado~$3,434 · 204 Ford Fusion~$3,602 · 202 Chevrolet Malibu~$3,404 · 193 Jeep Grand Cherokee~$3,535 · 187 Hyundai Sonata~$3,558 · 182 Honda Odyssey~$3,359 · 167 Chevrolet Cruze~$3,700 · 161 Nissan Sentra~$3,417 · 157 Chrysler Town and Country~$3,297 · 155 Honda CR-V~$3,594 · 150 Nissan Rogue~$3,693 · 147 Nissan Versa~$3,472 · 146 Subaru Forester~$3,565 · 143 Toyota Prius~$3,565 · 141 Ford Edge~$3,701 · 139 Honda Pilot~$3,619 · 138 Hyundai Elantra~$3,557 · 135 Dodge Grand Caravan~$3,582 · 129 Volkswagen Jetta~$3,442 · 127 Toyota Corolla~$3,023 · 124 Ford Explorer~$3,333 · 120 Chevrolet Traverse~$3,592 · 119 Jeep Liberty~$3,509 · 117 Chevrolet Tahoe~$3,466 · 114 Ford Expedition~$3,261 · 114 Jeep Patriot~$3,843 · 113 Dodge Journey~$3,714 · 110 RAM 1500~$3,285 · 108 Toyota Sienna~$3,444 · 99 Kia Soul~$3,880 · 97 Ford Ranger~$3,387 · 92 Ford Taurus~$3,245 · 91 Mercedes-Benz C-Class~$3,639 · 90 Ford Mustang~$3,383 · 85 Toyota Highlander~$3,645 · 85 Chevrolet Suburban~$3,454 · 85 Nissan Pathfinder~$3,380 · 83 Nissan Maxima~$3,028 · 81 GMC Acadia~$3,716 · 81 Hyundai Santa Fe~$3,395 · 81 Chrysler PT Cruiser~$3,010 · 78 Mercedes-Benz E-Class~$3,553 · 75 Ford F-250~$3,160 · 74 Lexus RX~$3,730 · 73 Subaru Impreza~$3,889 · 73 Dodge Dakota~$3,479 · 73 Volkswagen Passat~$3,525 · 72 Acura MDX~$3,582 · 72 Chevrolet Sonic~$3,600 · 70 Chrysler 200~$3,876 · 67 Kia Sorento~$3,803 · 67 Kia Optima~$3,408 · 66 Jeep Cherokee~$3,323 · 66 Jeep Compass~$3,245 · 66 Hyundai Accent~$3,407 · 66 Kia Forte~$3,481 · 65 Nissan Murano~$3,601 · 65 Subaru Legacy~$3,737 · 65 Lexus ES~$3,383 · 63 BMW 328i~$3,851 · 63 Toyota Avalon~$3,227 · 62 Dodge Durango~$2,670 · 62 Ford Fiesta~$3,592 · 61 GMC Yukon~$3,276 · 60 Toyota RAV4~$3,779 · 59 Chevrolet Express~$3,279 · 58 Ford E-350~$3,115 · 55 Buick Enclave~$3,883 · 54 Mercedes-Benz ML-Class~$3,606 · 54 Dodge Dart~$3,594 · 51 GMC Sierra~$3,495 · 51 Chevrolet Trailblazer~$2,825 · 50 GMC Terrain~$3,750 · 49 Dodge Charger~$3,329 · 49 Kia Sedona~$3,339 · 49 Nissan Xterra~$3,309 · 48 BMW X5~$3,390 · 47 Audi A4~$3,749 · 46 Ford F-350~$3,520 · 46 Jeep Wrangler~$3,618 · 46 Hyundai Tucson~$3,204 · 45 Volkswagen Tiguan~$3,756 · 43 BMW X3~$3,542 · 43 Cadillac CTS~$3,555 · 42 Chevrolet Cobalt~$3,253 · 42 Toyota 4-Runner~$3,732 · 41 Chevrolet HHR~$3,162 · 41 GMC Envoy~$3,012 · 40 Fiat 500~$4,071 · 40 Chrysler 300~$3,503 · 39 Toyota Camry Solara~$3,230 · 39 Buick LaCrosse~$3,493 · 39 Honda Fit~$3,698 · 39 Nissan Juke~$4,115 · 38 Volvo XC90~$3,623 · 38 Chrysler Sebring~$3,017 · 37 Dodge Avenger~$3,110 · 37 Kia Rio~$3,341 · 36 Chevrolet S-10 Pickup~$3,050 · 36 Kia Sportage~$3,939 · 35 Honda Element~$3,414 · 35 Dodge Caravan~$2,901 · 35 Acura TL~$3,525 · 35 Toyota Sequoia~$3,594 · 34 Cadillac SRX~$3,613 · 34 Toyota Scion tC~$3,371 · 34 Volvo XC60~$4,124 · 33 Chevrolet Avalanche~$3,815 · 33 Nissan Titan~$3,601 · 33 Toyota Tacoma~$3,140 · 32 Lincoln Town Car~$3,582 · 32 Mercedes-Benz S-Class~$3,731 · 32 Volkswagen Beetle~$3,509 · 32 Cadillac Deville~$3,551 · 32 GMC Yukon XL~$3,677 · 31 Toyota Scion xB~$3,598 · 31 Chevrolet Spark~$3,627 · 30 Buick LeSabre~$3,214 · 30 Lincoln MKX~$3,189 · 29 Mazda CX-9~$4,073 · 29 Nissan Armada~$3,282 · 29 Ford Crown Victoria~$3,798 · 29 Jeep Commander~$3,666 · 28 Toyota Tundra~$3,725 · 28 Buick Lucerne~$3,386 · 28 Nissan Leaf~$3,667 · 27 Ford E-150~$3,437 · 27 Mazda Mazda3~$3,708 · 25 Acura TSX~$3,684 · 25 Nissan Frontier~$3,380 · 25 Chevrolet Aveo~$2,870 · 25 Cadillac Escalade~$3,509 · 25 Lincoln Navigator~$3,379 · 24 BMW 325i~$3,237 · 24 Volvo XC70~$2,952 · 23 Infiniti G35~$3,690 · 23 Toyota Yaris~$3,421 · 23 Ford Flex~$3,497 · 23 Nissan Quest~$3,334 · 23 Buick Century~$2,874 · 22 Chevrolet Colorado~$3,629 · 22 Cadillac DTS~$2,858 · 22 Lincoln MKZ~$3,404 · 22 BMW 528i~$3,811 · 22 Nissan Versa Note~$3,675 · 21 Dodge Nitro~$3,324 · 20 Nissan Cube~$3,659 · 20 Chevrolet Trax~$3,899 · 20 Chevrolet Blazer~$3,389 · 18 Chrysler Pacifica~$3,292 · 18 Ford Freestyle~$2,967 · 18 Mitsubishi Eclipse~$3,087 · 18 Audi A6~$3,929 · 18 Toyota Echo~$3,034 · 17 Lexus IS~$3,503 · 17 Buick Verano~$3,604 · 17 Chevrolet Astro Van~$2,914 · 17 Mitsubishi Lancer~$3,223 · 17 Dodge Caliber~$2,922 · 17 Saab 9-3~$2,862 · 16 Chevrolet Camaro~$3,981 · 16 Acura RDX~$3,478 · 16 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class~$4,684 · 16 Ford Explorer Sport Trac~$3,537 · 16 Mazda CX-7~$3,630 · 16 Volvo V70~$3,045 · 15 Volkswagen CC~$3,736 · 15 Subaru B9 Tribeca~$3,792 · 15 Kia Spectra~$2,543 · 15

Most reliable used cars under $5,000

Reliability matters most on a budget — fewer problems mean lower running costs. These score highest for dependability and still fit under $5,000:

Nissan Pathfinder

~$3,380

Reliability 5.0/5 · 83 under $5,000

Volkswagen Tiguan

~$3,756

Reliability 5.0/5 · 43 under $5,000

Ford Escape

~$3,614

Reliability 4.5/5 · 377 under $5,000

Nissan Altima

~$3,464

Reliability 4.5/5 · 287 under $5,000

Ford Focus

~$3,480

Reliability 4.5/5 · 285 under $5,000

Chevrolet Equinox

~$3,618

Reliability 4.5/5 · 220 under $5,000

Subaru Outback

~$3,505

Reliability 4.5/5 · 209 under $5,000

Chevrolet Impala

~$3,402

Reliability 4.5/5 · 207 under $5,000

Ford Fusion

~$3,602

Reliability 4.5/5 · 202 under $5,000

Chevrolet Malibu

~$3,404

Reliability 4.5/5 · 193 under $5,000

Hyundai Sonata

~$3,558

Reliability 4.5/5 · 182 under $5,000

Honda Odyssey

~$3,359

Reliability 4.5/5 · 167 under $5,000

What body styles fit under $5,000

How the market under $5,000 splits by type — see how many SUVs, trucks and sedans are in reach.

4,721

SUV

1,239

van

738

pickup

What model years you'll find under $5,000

A budget mostly buys older model years or higher-mileage newer ones. Here's where the listings under $5,000 sit by year.

Model year	Listings under $5,000
2024	32
2020	53
2019	95
2018	174
2017	278
2016	459
2015	732
2014	934
2013	1,099
2012	1,235

What to look for at $5,000

A smaller budget means older cars — so condition and history matter more than the badge. Before you buy:

Check the VIN firstOpen recalls, salvage or rebuilt titles and accident history hit hard at this price. Run a free VIN check →
Mileage over model yearA well-kept higher-year car can beat a tired «newer» one. Look at service history, not just the odometer.
Use the market to negotiateIf the asking price is above the typical for that model, you have room. Check if it's a good deal →

Used cars at other budgets

Market overview & good deal checker

Used cars under $5,000 — FAQ

What's the best used car under $5,000?

At $5,000 the most-listed models are reliable mainstream cars like the Ford Escape, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord. They have the most listings, so you'll find the widest choice and easiest comparison. See the full list above with real prices.

How many used cars are under $5,000?

About 16,571 used cars list under $5,000 on the US market right now, with a median price of $3,500. The figure updates daily as new listings come in.

What can I get for $5,000?

Mostly mainstream sedans, SUVs and trucks that are a few model years older or have higher mileage. Use the budget checker above to see if a specific model fits $5,000 and what years are in reach.

Is it better to buy older or higher-mileage?

Both lower the price. A well-maintained higher-mileage car often beats a neglected older one — service history and a clean VIN matter more than the odometer number alone at this budget.

What's the difference between price and value here?

This page shows what cars are listed for under your budget (market price). To value a specific car you own, use the free car value calculator.

Prices from real US market listings under $5,000, refreshed daily. For a specific car's resale value use the car value calculator. Last updated Jun 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.