Many new- and used-vehicle dealerships stock good sub-$10,000 machines, but buying older cars from private parties will stretch your dollars further and give you more opportunity to negotiate. Where you buy also affects what you’ll be able to get. Value is the name of the game, and we’ve steered away from options that are cheap upfront but might not be in the long run.

We weighted reliability and owner satisfaction scores highest, but also prioritized vehicle age and cost of ownership. For this list, we looked for cars newer than the 1999 model year which were available for up to $10,000 with less than 130,000 miles on the clock. Using a combination of average transaction prices, owner feedback, reliability ratings and expertise from Forbes Wheels staff, we’ve compiled a list of 20 good $10,000 used car choices. All you need is a bit of patience while shopping and some careful research. All that has made it especially difficult for folks on a limited budget to find a new-to-them car.īut while $10,000 doesn’t buy what it used to, or even what it used to last year, there are reliable, value-packed, and even fun and stylish rides to be had for ten grand. And that was before 8% monthly inflation and $5.00-per-gallon gas.

With new-vehicle supplies severely constrained by Covid-19-related supply chain problems, used-vehicle prices soared in 2021, and they’re still at all-time highs. Make no mistake, it’s harder than ever out there for used car buyers in 2022.

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