Used cars for under $10,000 (with photos) (2024)

FAQs

What is the best second hand car for $10,000? ›

The best used car under £10,000 very much depends on your needs. The Toyota Yaris is perfect if reliability is your focus, while the Skoda Octavia is ideal if spaciousness is key. Consider the Mazda MX-5 if you want to prioritise fun.

There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.

By using the 10% rule of thumb, you can quickly determine how much of your monthly income can be spent on car costs without jeopardizing any of your other financial goals. For most folks, buying a used car within the $10,000 – $25,000 range is a great way to proceed.

Cars are usually reliable for up to five years if they've been looked after. But a well-maintained 10-year-old car could be a better investment than a newer model that hasn't been cared for as well. Budget is also a major factor. The older the model, the lower the cost.

Lexus ranks highest overall in vehicle dependability for a second consecutive year, with a score of 135 PP100. Among premium brands, Porsche (175 PP100) ranks second and BMW (190 PP100) ranks third. Toyota ranks highest in the mass market segment, with a score of 147 PP100.

The optimal time to purchase a used car is typically between 2 to 5 years old. Within this age range, the vehicle has already experienced the most significant depreciation, yet remains relatively new and in good condition.

Is $10,000 enough for a used car? ›

Fortunately, there are some vehicles around the $10,000 price range that are worth checking out. This mostly includes models that are at least five or 10 years old, but even then, many of these cars are still reliable and will get you where you need to go.

To apply this rule of thumb, budget for the following: 20% down payment: Aim to make a 20% down payment on your new car. 4-year repayment term: Choose a repayment term of four years or less on your auto loan. 10% transportation costs: Spend less than 10% of your total monthly income on transportation costs.

Lexus, Toyota, and Mini are the three most reliable brands in this year's annual auto reliability brand rankings, with the two Japanese brands swapping spaces from last year. The automaker Honda follows, with its luxury Acura brand coming in fourth and the mainstream Honda brand rounding out the top five.

Best Car Brands to Buy Used

Some brands simply feature more reliability and safer vehicles than others. That's why you might want to consider a used Lexus, Toyota, Mazda, Subaru or Kia as these topped the Consumer Reports listing of the most reliable brands.