Used Cars for Under $5,000 Near Me (2024)

FAQs

What is the most reliable used car for under $3,000? ›

Often, 100,000 miles is considered a cut-off point for used cars because older vehicles often start requiring more expensive and frequent maintenance when mileage exceeds 100,000.

As a general rule, most vehicles begin to seriously degrade at around 150,000 miles. It is considered rare, and therefore outstanding longevity, if a car reaches 200,000 miles on the road. That said, there's more to identifying good versus bad mileage on a used car than just the odometer reading.

It's possible for some properly maintained, well-built cars to reach 300,000 miles. Typically, a conventional vehicle lasts for 200,000 miles. The average automobile age in the United States has increased over the past several decades.

According to a recent study by Consumer Reports, Toyota and Lexus were the most reliable vehicles in 2022. After Japanese cars, BMW was ranked third, while Mercedes' reliability was rated the lowest.

We suggest you consider a 4- to 6-year-old vehicle with less than 50,000 miles. But it's essential to consider how an owner drove the car, whether city, highway, or a mix of miles, and how well the driver cared for the car. It is also important to be wary of used cars with unusually low mileage.

Cars older than eight to 10 years will be a riskier option, depending on the driving and maintenance history, while vehicles over 15 to 20 are usually nearing the end of their service lives.

Traditional wisdom used to warn car buyers to keep away from vehicles with over 100,000 miles. Put simply, though, the 100,000 mile-marker is no longer a good indicator for buying used. If a vehicle has been properly maintained, it can last several hundred thousand miles.

A vehicle's age, manufacture, and model all play a role in determining whether or not it has 'high mileage. ' High mileage, however, isn't always a bad thing. Cars usually have a life expectancy of about 200,000 miles. So, whether you get there in two or twenty years is not always game over for the car.

Is it worth buying a car with 150K miles? ›

Buying a used car with over 150,000 miles can be a viable option, provided you take the right precautions and do your due diligence. While these vehicles come with a lower upfront cost and often have well-documented maintenance records, they also require more maintenance and may lack the latest technology.

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.

Toyota is practically synonymous with dependability and longevity—a reputation that's further solidified by the brand's 147 PP100 score in J.D. Power's study. The automaker's vehicles are staples on American roadways, with cars like the Corolla and Camry known for providing long-lasting transportation.

With regular use, the average lifespan of a gas vehicle is 150,000 miles or eight years, and EVs can last up to 200,000 miles, or about 12 years.

#1 Most Reliable Car Brand: Lexus

In addition to excellent dependability, Lexus models—including the stunning LC coupe—often perform well in IntelliChoice's long-term ownership cost assessments.

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.