Reading Time: 8 minutes
Looking to buy a cheap used car? Chances are, if you’re looking for a cheap used car, you are on a tight budget. The good news is that it is possible to find affordable deals on pre-owned vehicles, provided you know what to look for.
As lockdown restrictions around the coronavirus pandemic start to ease, the options for buying pre-owned cars will hopefully continue to increase.
As car manufacturers scramble to secure every possible deal in the post-pandemic market, certified pre-owned deals are starting to pop up all over the place, offering reliable cheap used cars for under $10,000. Additionally, consumers who are feeling the pinch of reduced hours, job losses, and more are starting to sell their second used cars.
Discover the top tips for a worry-free vehicle shipment experience! 
Our latest blog post on secure vehicle shipment has all the insights you need. From choosing the right transport service to safeguarding your precious vehicle, we’ve got you covered. Read it now: Secure Vehicle Shipment Blog.
Best Time to Buy a Used Car
Ramit Sethi, New York Times bestselling author and founder of iwillteachyoutoberich.com, December is the absolute best time of the year to buy a car. Why? Well, it’s a psychological issue relating to used car salesmen making their quotas and annual bonuses.
When is the best time to buy a car for cheap?
Don’t want to wait until December to buy a car? Then pick your date according to the last week, or ideally the last day of the sales quarters, namely:
- March 31st
- June 30th
- September 30th
- December 31st
Used Electric Cars: A Buyer’s Guide! And Best Electric Car Friendly States Explored | Your 2023 Guide
Furthermore, the author reminds readers that cars are long-term investments. Therefore, opt for a reliable cheap used car as your first car over a flashy car. The key is to:
- Choose the right cheap used car
- Negotiate a good price
- Drive it for a long time
Consider your financing options before you buy
No matter where you’re buying a cheap used car, always consider your financing options. You can get an auto loan from your own bank, or financing from a dealership. A pre-approved auto loan will help you avoid a lousy deal with high interest secured by your dealer. Some used car dealers make a profit by marking up the interest rate.
According to MoneyUnder30, you can save money on auto financing by knowing your credit score and leveraging competing loan offers at the dealership. Their best tips include:
- Sticking within your budget
- Keeping the loan term as short as possible
- Putting money down (that 10K you have stashed away, or 20% if you can)
- Pay for any extras using cash
- Remembering the financing costs.
Check out their auto loan calculator to see what you can expect to pay.
Interest rates fluctuate all the time, so it’s something else to consider when it comes to deciding when to buy cheap used car using an auto loan. The average interest rates for used auto loans in May 2020 were as follows:
Credit Score Interest Rate
750+ 5.93%
700-749 5.91%
600-699 11.08%
451-599 20.26%
If your credit score is below 450, you will probably have a tough time finding a lender who will approve your auto loan, and even then, you will pay exorbitant interest rates that will make the price much more than the car is worth. Beware of unscrupulous lenders that will try to lure you into a debt trap. Your best bet is to improve your credit score before applying for an auto loan, or buying a cheap used car cash.
Automakers sometimes offer special financing for individuals buying certified pre-owned cars.
The key to fair financing is a good credit score. If your score is average at the moment, consider making all your monthly payments for a year, and then refinance the car at a lower rate once they have seen that you have a solid track record, and you have built up significant equity in the cheap used car.
Where to find cheap cars for sale
Buying a cheap used car is a big decision, but it’s typically not a difficult process if you know what you’re looking for and where to look.
- Option #1: Online sales sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and eBay list cars that are available for cash. If you’re looking for the best-used cars under 10000, this would be the place to look. One benefit is that having the cash on hand gives you the power to negotiate the price, which means you may get a car that’s worth a little bit more within your budget. However, it’s up to you to ensure you don’t buy a lemon.
- Opinion: Should you buy a car from Craigslist or eBay?
- Option #2: Car dealerships now have great deals on certified pre-owned cars. However, many late-model used cars cost more than $20,000, which means you will probably have to take out a loan to cover the purchase. Still, being able to put down half of that should give you a decent break on interest payments. If you decide to go with a dealership, make sure you buy a certified pre-owned car if you can.
- What is a Certified Pre-Owned Car?
- A Certified Pre-Owned car is a late-model used car that has been refurbished, inspected, and certified by the manufacturer or another certifying authority. CPO cars typically come with additional benefits, such as special financing and an extended warranty.
- Option #3: Car rental companies like to keep their rental fleets in pristine condition, and know that their clientele deserves the latest models. That means that you could get a sweet deal on a cheap used car from a rental company. According to CNN Business, Enterprise sells a million used cars a year globally at significantly discounted rates. Because these cheap used cars are often less than two years old and sell for less than other used car dealers charge. Look at the companies’ websites for cheap used cars for sale, and consider trying:
- Hertz’s Rent2Buy – A 3-day rental that allows you to buy the car if you like it.
- Enterprise – They offer a 7-day buyback period. If you return the car during that week, you can return the car for the purchase price less a $200 restocking fee.
- Avis offers a 0% down payment and no payments for 45 days.
- Option #4: Auto auctions are available both online and offline, which is handy, whether you want to touch and feel the car before you buy it, or whether you prefer using the internet. There is of course the risk that these cheap used cars are sold “as is”, so you don’t know what you get until it is shipped to your door. Many cars sold on auction are damaged and costly to repair. However, you could probably get a car for well under your budget, and all in, you might still end up with a cheap used car for under $10,000.
Cheap pre-owned Cars: Age, Mileage, and Maintenance
Things to consider when buying a cheap used car
The used car market offers amazing deals on high-quality cars, provided you consider everything carefully. According to Consumer Reports, the quality of used cars has improved in the last few years. Statistics show that since 2007, issues with used cars aged five years have decreased by a third.
Two of the most important factors to consider in a used car is age and mileage.
A cheap used car that is a few years older may seem more affordable in terms of the initial purchase price, but if it presents problems in the long term, it is a bad investment. The most common issues buyers face with used cars once the manufacturer warranty expires includes:
- Gearbox, clutch, and brake issues – These parts are in constant use, so wear and tear is more likely, but these issues will require urgent repairs.
2. Technology – Newer cars have lots of in-car technology, which can become faulty.
New cars typically have fewer issues in the first three years on the road, as they are typically under maintenance plans. However, once the warranties and service plans run out, owners are less likely to keep up with maintenance. If you buy a used car, be sure to maintain parts such as:
- Battery
- Tires
- Brakes
- Filters
- Fluids
These items need regular maintenance, repairs or replacements on a cheap used car and doing that will help enhance the lifespan of your car.
Used Cars: Finding the Mileage Sweet Spot
Most people would prefer buying a brand new car, but it’s just not always practical (or affordable). On the other hand, when you’re on a budget and can’t afford expensive repairs, you have to consider the quality of the cheap used car you’re buying. Mileage directly correlates to wear and tear; so how much mileage is too much?
What if the perfect used car has a 100,000 miles on the clock?
What if the exact same car has 50,000? One would assume that the cheap used car with the lower mileage is the best deal. But it’s not that simple. If the car with the higher mileage was driven almost exclusively on the highway by a commuter, it will likely be a better buy than the car with 50,000 miles that belonged to a car rental company in a busy city.
But there’s a rule of thumb: When you look at AutoCheck and Carfax, you will notice that the industry average is approximately 15,000 miles a year. Therefore, if you’re buying a 10-year old cheap used car with 100,000 miles on it, it’s actually not bad. But if it has much more or much less, you might want to find out why that is the case.
How many miles are left on the used car?
To do this, you want to look at vehicle brands that are known to surpass the 200,000 mile mark. Toyota drivers believe that their cars are only hitting their prime when they reach the 100,000 mile mark. If you can find a cheap used car from a brand like that and it has 100,000 miles, the car might still have 10 years of life in it, if you typically do 10,000 miles a year.
According to research done by iseecars, the following cars are most likely to reach 300,000 miles:
- Toyota Land Cruiser
- Toyota Sequoia
- Ford Expedition
- Chevrolet Suburban
- GMC Yukon XL
- Toyota 4Runner
- Toyota Tundra
It’s quite obvious that Toyota is the leader in long-lasting vehicles, so if your choice comes down to two cheap used cars with all the same specs, the Toyota should probably be your number one choice.
Apart from mileage, it’s important to look at the cheap used car’s condition and maintenance records.
Best Used Cars Under 10000
The good news is that you don’t have to break the bank to buy a good cheap used car (you might get a good deal if you buy from out of state). As mentioned above, Toyota is a solid brand that frequently surpasses mileage expectations, with the Toyota Land Cruiser being the all-time longest-lasting vehicle, with a whopping 15.7% of cars over 200,000 miles still on the road.
In April 2020, Business Insider listed the 10 best used cars under 10000 with good safety ratings (IIHS or NHTSA score of 4.0 or higher) based on a study performed by iSeeCars based on data from 6.1 million used cars sold between October 2019 and March 2020. The list featured cars by Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, Honda, Kia, Dodge and Chevrolet. Their list consisted of the following vehicles:
- 2012 Toyota Corolla sold for $9,655
- 2012 Honda Civic (Sedan) sold for $9,552
- 2013 Mazda 6 sold for $9,534
- 2012 Honda Civic Coupe sold for $9,406
- 2011 Honda Accord sold for $9,363
- 2012 Chevrolet Impala sold for $9,240
- 2011 Toyota Prius sold for $9,076
- 2011 Nissan Maxima sold for $8,863
- 2012 Kia Sedona sold for $8,254
- 2011 Dodge Grand Caravan sold for $7,708
Kelley Blue Book listed the following cheap used cars with perfect safety and reliability ratings:
- 2011 Toyota Camry
- 2013 Honda Civic
- 2009 Toyota Avalon
- 2011 Honda Accord
- 2010 Toyota Prius
- 2012 Mazda3
- 2011 Toyota Corolla
- 2010 Subaru Outback
- 2013 Kia Soul
- 2012 Subaru Legacy
Cheap Used Cars Guide: Conclusion
It’s not too difficult to find cheap used cars under 10000, but finding a reliable one can be a slightly bigger challenge. Comparing reliability scores of each model is a good place to start in your search for cheap used cars. Also, it might be a good idea to shop around…
Buying a car is a bit cheaper in some states. That will at least give you a fighting chance at getting your money’s worth. Remember to contact NAT for affordable auto shipping!
