Your state could be the reason you can’t get that ground-breaking used car deal.
“These cars are too damn expensive!” You’ve likely heard that line from a loved one or friend. Well, that or you may be thinking it yourself. After 2025, there will be no new cars with a starting price under $20,000. Frankly, finding a cheap used car can also be a challenge for today’s car buyers. However, if you’re looking for the right deal, you might want to stick to Washington, Ohio, and Virginia. Oh, and steer clear of Alaska unless you have an extra $10,000 to spend.
Washington leads the country with cheap used car prospects, while Alaska could cost buyers thousands on average
When it comes time to buy a cheap used car, not every state is created equal. And while you might think the disparity between the priciest and most affordable states would be negligible. However, car buyers in states like Alaska and Wyoming may end up spending an average of around $10,000 more for a used car than the cheapest states for shoppers.
According to recent car-buying data, Washington has the lowest average used car prices in the country. Washington’s average used car price is $24,672, nearly $2,000 less than the No. 2 state, Ohio. Virginia and Pennsylvania follow the Buckeye State, with average prices of $27,043 and $28,085, respectively.
| State | Average used car cost | Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Washington | $24,672.96 | 1 |
| Ohio | $26,605.15 | 2 |
| Virginia | $27,043.04 | 3 |
| Pennsylvania | $28,085.28 | 4 |
| Idaho | $33,649.49 | 47 |
| Rhode Island | $34,091.97 | 48 |
| Wyoming | $34,360.20 | 49 |
| Alaska | $35,486.97 | 50 |
Source: AutoTechIQ
On the other hand, Alaska has the highest average used car price in America. At $35,486, the Last Frontier is more expensive than the next priciest state, Wyoming, by over $1,000. Troublingly, that puts the average cost of a used car in Alaska at $10,814 more than in Washington.
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