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 early 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, that was before President Donald Trump took office and took a stance on tariffs against key trading partners like China, the U.S.' leading automotive parts supplier, causing widespread uncertainty for American consumers. Though Trump issued a one-month reprieve on his proposed 25% tariffs against Canada and Mexico in early March 2025, prospective carbuyers have flocked to dealerships in recent weeks to purchase vehicles before costs go up. Since the American automotive industry relies heavily on parts manufactured in our neighboring countries, experts predict that prices on both new and used cars could soon increase substantially.
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.
