Used Cars For Sale in Houston, TX (2024)

FAQs

What part of Texas is cheapest to buy a car? ›

Drivers should also note that location will play a role in the amount you pay for a vehicle. Studies show that the cheapest city in Texas to buy a car as a whole is the Dallas metro area.

The “sweet spot” for purchasing a used car is between 2 to 5 years old. This is the age range where the car has already gone through the steepest part of its depreciation curve, but it's still relatively new and in good condition.

Check Market Price

Checking the market price from an outside source, such as Kelly Blue Book can help you know the fair market value of the car you're considering. Once you know the fair market price, you'll be able to tell if the car you're considering is reasonably priced or not.

The Dallas area is the most affordable place to buy a used vehicle in Texas, according to a recent study, and the most affordable car -- appropriately - was the Jaguar XF.

1. Cleveland-Akron (Canton), OH. Ohio is the place to be for inexpensive used cars. The Cleveland-Akron area has the lowest average used car price in the U.S. Three Ohio metro areas make the top 10 list, but this metro takes top spot by $164.

What is considered high mileage on a car? 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, you should assume that the average car owner puts 12,000 miles on a car each year. To determine whether a car has reasonable mileage, you can simply multiply 12,000 by its age. That means good mileage for a car that's 5 years old is 60,000.

Pre-Purchase Inspection

This is arguably one of the most important steps to take when buying a used car. In addition to doing your own preliminary check, a professional pre-purchase inspection ensures that the used car you are considering is exactly what it claims to be.

60,000-70,000 miles: Most manufacturers' powertrain warranties expire in that range, and the second major maintenance is scheduled to occur. Selling before reaching those benchmarks will get you a better price for your car than selling afterward.

What is more important in a used car, mileage or age? ›

A poorly-maintained low-mileage vehicle may actually be a worse ride the a well-maintained high-mileage car. It's all about how the previous owner treated the ride. If we were to choose one, we'd opt for mileage. Age can be relatively insignificant, and all major age-related repairs are relatively inexpensive.

Cars over 10 years old can still be reliable. Most vehicles can last well over a decade with proper care and maintenance. In fact, the average car on U.S. roads is now 12.5 years old, according to a study from S&P Global Mobility. Furthermore, a car doesn't really stop depreciating until it hits that 10-year mark.

According to our research, you shouldn't spend more than 10% to 15% of your net monthly income on car payments. Your total vehicle costs, including loan payments and insurance, should total no more than 20%. You can use a car loan calculator to calculate a monthly payment within your budget.

The price is below market value: If the price of a used vehicle seems too good to be true, it probably is. Fraudsters will often post pictures of rare or exotic cars at low prices, and when you contact them about the vehicle, they'll say it's located in another state or outside the country.

The cheapest place to live in Texas is Brownsville. It offers affordable utilities, which are 9.6% lower than the national average.

Best State for Initial Cost

If you're looking for the lowest initial cost, no state can beat Florida. When it comes to used car sales, Florida tends to has the cheapest prices. Florida's low initial vehicle costs are due to a variety of factors. First, Florida has one of the largest populations of older people.

Topping this list are the five states that levy no car sales tax at all: Oregon, New Hampshire, Montana, Delaware, and Alaska. Buyers in these states can avoid a hefty addition to their car purchase costs, as they enjoy a 0% sales tax rate.