Team Clark is adamant that we will never write content influenced by or paid for by an advertiser. To support our work, we do make money from some links to companies and deals on our site. Learn more about our guarantee here.
If you’re shopping for a used car, where you shop could have a lot to do with what kind of deal you get.
iSeeCars.com recently released a study on the best places to buy used vehicles. The car research site analyzed more than 8.5 million used vehicle sales from 48 metropolitan areas around the United States.
The report focused on three types of auto marketplaces: virtual dealers, traditional car lots and rental car companies.
Here are some key findings from the report:
Let’s look at 15 of the best places to buy a used car in America.
| Metro Area | Best Place to Buy | Average Price vs. Market Value |
|---|---|---|
| Albuquerque-Santa Fe, NM | Rental | -$528 |
| Atlanta, GA | Rental | -$51 |
| Austin, TX | Rental | -$228 |
| Baltimore, MD | Rental | -$763 |
| Birmingham, AL | Local | $124 |
| Boston, MA-Manchester, NH | Local | $17 |
| Charlotte, NC | Rental | -$516 |
| Chicago, IL | Rental | -$445 |
| Cincinnati, OH | Rental | -$849 |
| Columbus, OH | Rental | +$7 |
| Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX | Rental | -$424 |
| Denver, CO | Rental | -$311 |
| Detroit, MI | Rental | -$74 |
| Grand Rapids-Kalamazoo, MI | Rental | -$221 |
| Greensboro-Winston Salem, NC | Local | +$210 |
“As contact-free online dealers have gained popularity as a safe alternative to traditional dealerships, and as struggling car rental companies unload their inventory, consumers might be considering these alternatives to traditional brick and mortar dealerships,” iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer says in a written statement. “It’s important that used car shoppers compare prices across these types of dealers if they want to get the best deal possible on a used car.”
Car rental company Hertz filed for bankruptcy earlier this year and soon started selling off its vehicles. Here’s my story on buying a used car from Hertz.
After you’ve decided that a used car makes financial sense for your situation, money expert Clark Howard says it’s important that you look to save money on the front end.
“The first step to a good deal on a used car is not shopping for the used vehicle, it’s shopping for the money,” he says. “Get your financing first.”
In the market for a used car? Here are Clark’s other tips on buying a used car.
This post was last modified on September 29, 2020 5:33 pm
If you've been considering signing up for one of the Chase Sapphire credit cards, now…
The costs associated with owning a home go way beyond the amount on the mortgage. …
Inflation hits people on a fixed income the hardest. Say you're retired. You're living off…
Deciding to save and invest are great habits. But once you check that box, your…
If you're considering subscribing to Fubo, you need to be comfortable missing out on some…
Are you looking for a way to earn 2% back on every purchase you make…