Best Used Cars for You
Buying advice and recommendations for getting a good deal on a great used car
Used cars trade factory freshness for upfront savings. The financial benefits are significant, but they are not as great as they once were. As with new cars, used car prices remain elevated and inventory is tight, making it hard to find just the right car at the right price.
Blame this on the ripple effect of the pandemic, which impacted the number of new cars made and drove prices up. Compounding the cost of car buying are elevated interest rates. Years later, fewer cars are returning to the market. This is complicated by the current economy that is causing people to hold on to their cars. (The average car on American roads is now 12.6 years old.) Among 286 million registered cars, fewer than 90 million are less than six years old—the sweet spot for many buyers.
Used Car Buying Guide and Ratings
CR’s tests and exclusive member surveys can steer you to the most reliable used cars with a track record of reliability, satisfaction, and safety.
Review the Vehicle History
Why it’s important: Vehicle history reports from providers like AutoCheck and Carfax can alert you to signs of trouble, such as a spotty maintenance history or a car that has been in an accident or a flood. A Carfax report lists the number of owners the car had and lists the dates and mileage for oil changes, brake and tire replacements, as well as emissions inspection.
What to remember: These reports might not include repair work that wasn’t submitted to a shared database. The National Insurance Crime Bureau offers a free vehicle identification number (VIN) check tool that can flag cars that have been stolen or salvaged.
Take a Test Drive
Why it’s important: Only with a test drive can you experience how a car handles, identify potential problems, and ensure it’s a good fit for you.
What to remember: “Make sure you can adjust the seat and steering wheel for the comfort and visibility you need,” says associate director Gabe Shenhar, who manages CR’s car purchasing and testing. And he says to make sure that the infotainment system isn’t difficult to use and that it pairs with your phone. He advises that you avoid playing the radio while driving, so you can listen for telltale sounds of trouble, like rough engine rumblings or any ticking or clattering. “Any play in the steering, pulsation from the brakes, or creaking suspension noises can indicate the car needs an expensive repair.”
Get an Inspection
Why it’s important: An inspection can reveal problems that the seller, dealer, and history report won’t.
What to remember: Use an independent mechanic who won’t profit from the sale. If you don’t have one, search online for a local mobile mechanic who can come to inspect the car. For example, Lemon Squad, a nationwide network of mobile technicians, charges $220 for a prepurchase inspection, including a complete report for most cars.
Check for Recalls
Why it’s important: All car recalls involve safety issues.
What to remember: Open recalls are common and shouldn’t be considered a deal-breaker. Still, you should have any recall work, especially involving vehicle safety, done promptly by a dealership that sells the brand you’re buying. Check recalls by year, make, and model with CR’s Car Recall Tracker or on the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Recalls & Investigations, using the VIN located at the base of the windshield. Sign up for recall notices at either website.
Prepare to Negotiate
Why it’s important: Having a basic negotiation strategy can save you money up front and over time if you’re financing. This is particularly important now because interest rates on auto loans have crept upward.
What to remember: You can get a good idea of a fair used-car price by finding the private party sale price with CR’s Car Value Estimator. “Ultimately, the private party price is your negotiation target,” says Mike Quincy, who has bought 169 new cars for CR’s test track over the years. “Negotiate up from this figure when buying from a dealership, rather than down from their listed price. Be respectful, honest, and prepared to walk away.”
Learn how to beat the ‘four square’ and other car dealership sales tactics.
Best Used Cars
We show a variety of reliable models, representing a range of car types and organized by price. These cars performed well in CR’s rigorous testing when new and have stood the test of time with above-average reliability scores, based on our extensive surveys of thousands of owners. We list alternative choices when other vehicles meet the qualifications. Click on the model names to access the model pages, with detailed reliability data, road-test results, and more.
