The most popular used cars in the US
Though used car prices have swung up and down in recent years, customers may finally see some stability in 2025. Experts from Cox Automotive predicted in January 2025 that by the end of the year, the cost of a used vehicle will likely be just 1.4% higher than the year previous.
However, don't celebrate too quickly—higher prices may still be just around the corner. In February 2025, President Donald Trump levied 10% tariffs against China, the U.S.' leading automotive parts supplier. This could soon translate to increased costs on key car components like brake pads and calipers. Additionally, if Trump's proposed 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico take effect, automakers with factories in these countries will charge more for vehicles, driving consumers' costs up once again.
No matter how much you pay for an older vehicle, though, you'll want to ensure that your car will see you through at least a few years on the road. To help start your search, Stacker used data from iSeeCars.com to identify the 20 most popular used cars sold nationwide in 2024. Cars are ranked by market share, rounded to the nearest tenth of a percent; though some appear the same, the more precise percentages are not equal. The iSeeCars.com analysis included more than 7.7 million used car sales from the most recent five model years, 2020 to 2024.
It's important to note that no matter how used car prices may change, customers must still pay close attention to interest rates. As of January 2025, interest on a loan for a used car could rack up an additional 18% depending on the buyer's credit score, according to U.S. News and World Report. Naturally, this can add up significantly over time.
Before shopping for a used car, you may also want to see if any brands or models have been recalled due to a failure of safety protocols. For instance, Tesla recalled more than 700,000 vehicles in 2024, citing a defect with the tire pressure warning light that could lead to increased accident risk. Check out the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's website to see if there's a recall on a used car you may want to buy.
