Used Cars For Sale in Madison, WI (2024)

FAQs

What is the best site to search for used cars? ›

The optimal time to purchase a used car is typically between 2 to 5 years old. Within this age range, the vehicle has already experienced the most significant depreciation, yet remains relatively new and in good condition.

It wouldn't be a best seller list without the Ford F-150 pickup topping it and 2023 is no exception. Making up 3.3% of the 9.2 million used car sales examined, the Ford F-150 retained its top spot for another year, not just in the used market.

The best websites to sell your car online for the most money include Cars.com, Carvana, CarBrain, Peddle, TrueCar, Copart, CarMax and CarGurus. Daniel Robinson is a writer based in Greenville, N.C. with expertise in auto insurance, loans, warranty options and more.

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.

Key Takeaways:

Both Carvana and CarMax advertise no-haggle pricing, but Carvana offers a seamless selling process that helps it come out ahead in our rankings. We give Carvana the edge over CarMax as a car selling website. Our team rates CarMax just slightly ahead of Carvana for its car buying services.

Older vehicles often require more frequent maintenance, and some components may need replacement due to age-related wear. The overall cost of ownership can increase significantly as the car ages, potentially outweighing the initial savings on the purchase price.

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.

In conclusion, while it's a good idea to consider both the age of a vehicle and the mileage on the odometer, how it was maintained is the key. A 10 year old car with 100,000 miles may have received more maintenance and upkeep then a 5 year-old car with 50,000 miles.

What is the best brand of used cars to buy? ›

Honda: Recognized for producing reliable cars with solid engineering, good fuel efficiency, and longevity. Subaru: Valued for its all-wheel-drive capability and strong reliability ratings across its lineup of cars and SUVs. Mazda: Often praised for its reliability, engaging driving dynamics, and well-built vehicles.

Honda and Lexus models are selling the fastest, while premium vehicles struggle to find their second buyers. Consumers are happy to buy used EVs, but hybrids are selling like hotcakes right now.

You can likely get the most money for your car by selling it privately. This is because you're selling to the next owner directly instead of through a middleman like a dealership or car buying website.

Both Edmunds and Kelley Blue Book are reputable sites that offer pricing information. The accuracy of an appraisal has a lot to do with the information the owner provides. If you overstate the vehicle condition or don't check off the correct trim level and options, your value is less likely to be accurate.

Get the Vehicle's History

Visit the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System (NMVTIS) website, vehiclehistory.gov, to get a vehicle history report with title, insurance loss, and salvage information.

Are Carvana's vehicle prices negotiable? We don't negotiate on pricing; our vehicles are priced as competitively as possible and we never add on any dealer charges.

CarMax has a no-haggle policy, which means you can't negotiate the price. This can be a benefit, though, because you know you're getting CarMax's best rate first instead of a lowball offer. You can still sell your car to CarMax after the seven-day period, but you'll need to get a new offer.