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Good cheap cars for less than $2000 are not difficult to find. The key word here is “good.” There are lots of cars for less than $2000 that are junk, but the good ones require a little work and time to sort out.
In general, cars that are being sold for less than about $2000 are older models such as the 2000 Acura Integra, 2000-2002 Chevrolet Prizm, 2000 Ford F-150 V8, 2000 Honda Civic, 2004 Hyundai Accent, 2000 Mitsubishi Galant, 2000 Subaru Impreza sedan, and 2000-2001 Toyota Corolla. These are cars that Consumer Reports has found to have above-average reliability. That doesn’t mean, however, that there are not other cars, even newer models, that are in great condition for reasonable prices as well.
Look for cheap cars at independent used-car dealers, consignment lots, public car auctions, bank repo vehicle sales, police auctions, and unclaimed vehicle sales in your area. Check online sources such as Craigslist, Autotrader, and eBay Motors but be careful of common scams (see discussion below).
It is important to understand that, in looking for cars for $2000 or less, you may run across cars that 1) are in great condition and well worth buying, 2) have high-mileage and are worn out, 3) have been wrecked and are mechanically unsafe, 4) are salvage vehicles that have been totaled or flooded, 5) are stolen, or 6) are an online scam (there is no actual car). It’s your job as someone looking for a cheap car to sort out each of the cars you look at to determine which of these possible situations applies.
Remember, used-cars are sold “AS-IS”, which means once you sign the papers and drive it off the lot, it’s yours. You have no 3-day return, no guarantees, and no warranties. The seller has no legal obligation to fix any problems you discover after the sale, even if you find them on your drive home from the sale.
The best way to determine if a car is mechanically sound, is unsafe, or has been incorrectly repaired after an accident is to have a qualified mechanic look it over before you buy. You simply cannot take the word of a dealer salesperson or individual seller or an online description. Sometimes even honest sellers don’t know about all the hidden problems their car has. Dealers buy used cars and sell them immediately without ever inspecting or repairing them.
The small cost of having a mechanic inspect your potential purchase is well worth the avoided repair costs and the piece of mind that you will get from not making a huge mistake.
The best way to determine if your potential vehicle has been wrecked or salvaged is to get an online vehicle history reportfrom CarFax or AutoCheck. Many sellers and dealers provide the reports for free. Otherwise, you have to pay for it yourself — about $20.
If a car has been stolen, the car will be offered at an unbelievable low price but the seller doesn’t have the legal title — “I lost it”, “I can’t find it now but I’ll send it too you later”, or “I never got the title from the person who sold it to me.” Without a title, you haven’t legally bought the car and cannot get it registered in your name.
If you find a car advertised online for an unusally low price, it just might be a scam — the car doesn’t actually exist even though the picture and description might seem legitimate. The primary clue is that the seller says he’ll “ship” you the car at no cost and that your money is to be sent via some “protection” escrow scheme, such as “eBay Protection Plan.” For more details, see .
It’s certainly possible to buy a car for less than $2000 — people do it every day — but smart buyers will take the time and effort to make sure they are getting a good car and fair deal for their money.
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