Average Used Car Prices by State and Nationwide in 2026

Last updated Oct 5th, 2026

Used car prices can change quite a bit depending on where you shop. But comparing states is not as simple as finding the lowest number and assuming cars are cheaper there. The age, mileage, and types of vehicles for sale can look different from one state to the next.

AutoFinder analyzed more than 1.8 million active used vehicle listings from 30,674 dealers to get a clearer picture of used car prices across the country.

As of October 5, 2026, the median advertised used vehicle price was $26,664, while the average was $31,257. Among the 50 states, median prices ranged from $23,898 in Virginia to $33,888 in Alaska.

Here is what those numbers can tell you about the used car market and, just as importantly, what they cannot.

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Average Used Car Prices in 2026

AutoFinder analyzed 1,834,204 active used vehicles across all 50 states. Of those, 1,806,835 had valid advertised prices.

The median advertised price was $26,664. Half of the validly priced vehicles were listed below that amount and half were listed above it.

The average advertised price was $31,257.

Why the difference?

A relatively small number of expensive luxury and exotic vehicles can push the average higher. The median is less affected by those vehicles, which makes it a better starting point for understanding what a typical shopper is likely to encounter.

The middle 50% of used vehicles in our analysis were advertised between $19,134 and $36,987.

The typical vehicle in the dataset was also fairly recent. The median model year was 2023, and median mileage was 49,923 miles.

Keep in mind that these are advertised prices, not final transaction prices. What a shopper ultimately pays can change based on negotiations, taxes, fees, financing, trade-in value, and other factors.

Used Car Prices by State in 2026

The difference in advertised used car prices across the country is significant.

Every state had at least 1,000 active vehicles in the AutoFinder analysis, so the state comparisons are not being driven by a handful of listings.

Virginia had the lowest median advertised price at $23,898. The median vehicle listed in Virginia was a 2021 model with 60,221 miles.

The five states with the lowest median advertised prices were:

• Virginia: $23,898
• Michigan: $24,922
• Hawaii: $24,985
• Ohio: $24,999
• Indiana: $25,235

At the other end of the range, Alaska had the highest median advertised price at $33,888.

The five states with the highest median advertised prices were:

• Alaska: $33,888
• Wyoming: $32,632
• Montana: $30,487
• West Virginia: $29,686
• Arkansas: $29,565

That puts nearly $10,000 between the lowest and highest state medians.

The important part is understanding what that difference actually means.

Where Are Used Cars Cheapest in 2026?

Based strictly on median advertised price, Virginia was the least expensive state in the AutoFinder dataset at $23,898.

Michigan, Hawaii, Ohio, and Indiana were also below $25,300.

But "cheapest state" needs some context.

Virginia's median listed vehicle was a 2021 model with 60,221 miles. Alaska, the most expensive state in our analysis, had a median model year of 2024 and median mileage of 40,507 miles.

Those are not equivalent groups of vehicles.

So while Virginia had the lowest overall median, the data does not tell us that an identical vehicle will necessarily cost less in Virginia than it will in another state.

If you are considering shopping outside your home state, compare the same make, model, model year, trim, mileage, and condition before deciding that another market offers a better deal.

Where Are Used Cars Most Expensive in 2026?

Alaska topped the list with a median advertised used vehicle price of $33,888.

Wyoming followed at $32,632, while Montana was third at $30,487.

Again, vehicle mix matters.

The median vehicle in Alaska was a 2024 model with 40,507 miles. By comparison, several states with lower median prices had older or higher mileage inventory.

That is one reason we would not interpret the roughly $10,000 difference between Virginia and Alaska as a geographic markup.

It is a difference between the overall mix of vehicles advertised in those states.

For an individual shopper, the better question is not simply "Which state has the cheapest used cars?" It is "Where can I find the best price on the specific type of used car I want?"

Why Do Used Car Prices Vary by State?

There is no single factor that explains the differences between states.

One thing we can see directly in AutoFinder's data is that the vehicles themselves differ from state to state.

Age is one example. Virginia's median model year was 2021, while Alaska's was 2024. Michigan's median was 2022, while Ohio's was 2023.

Mileage varies too. Virginia's median was above 60,000 miles. Alaska's was about 40,500.

Vehicle type can also make a big difference in advertised prices. Across the national dataset, pickups had a median advertised price of about $35,940, compared with $27,491 for SUVs and $20,499 for sedans.

A state with more newer trucks and SUVs can therefore look more expensive overall than a state with an older or differently composed inventory.

This is why statewide averages and medians are useful for understanding the market, but they should not replace a vehicle to vehicle comparison.

How Vehicle Age Changes the Price Range

Model year provides another useful way to put state prices into context.

Across AutoFinder's national inventory, 2024 used vehicles had a median advertised price of $31,330. For 2022 models, the median was $28,194.

Moving back to 2020, the median fell to $22,287. For 2018 models, it was $18,020, while 2015 vehicles had a median of $13,421.

These numbers do not measure depreciation. We are looking at different vehicles currently listed for sale rather than following the same vehicle over time.

They do show why the age of inventory matters when comparing one state with another.

A state with a $24,000 median is not automatically a better place to shop than one with a $28,000 median if the vehicles in the second state are several years newer.

How Mileage Changes Used Car Prices

Mileage tells a similar story.

Vehicles with fewer than 20,000 miles had a median advertised price of $38,839 in AutoFinder's October analysis.

Vehicles with more than 150,000 miles had a median of $10,367.

That does not mean mileage alone accounts for the difference. Lower-mileage vehicles tend to be newer, and make, model, trim, condition, and vehicle type all affect price.

For shoppers, the takeaway is more practical.

If you find a used vehicle priced well below similar listings, check the mileage and model year before assuming you found a bargain. A lower price may simply reflect an older or higher mileage vehicle.

The same rule applies when comparing states.

What Is Affecting Used Car Prices in 2026?

There are plenty of headlines about where the used car market is heading, but the AutoFinder data used for this analysis is a snapshot of active inventory on October 5, 2026.

It tells us what shoppers were seeing at that point in time. It does not tell us whether nationwide prices increased or decreased from last month or last year.

What we can say is that the current market covers a very wide price range.

Half of the validly priced used vehicles in our analysis were advertised between $19,134 and $36,987. Vehicle age, mileage, body type, location, and the specific make and model all help determine where a vehicle falls within or outside that range.

Price is also only one part of deciding when to shop. If your timing is flexible, our guide to the best time to buy a car in 2026 looks at when shoppers may have better opportunities throughout the year.

This October analysis gives AutoFinder a baseline for future comparisons. Additional analyses using the same methodology can eventually show whether advertised prices and inventory mix are actually changing rather than trying to infer a trend from one snapshot.

How to Compare Used Car Prices Across States

If you are willing to shop outside your local market, state pricing data can help you decide where to expand your search. Just do not compare statewide medians alone.

Start by narrowing the comparison to the vehicle you actually want. If you are still working through the shopping process, our guide to buying a used car covers what to check before deciding on a vehicle.

Look at the same make, model, and model year. Then compare mileage, trim, drivetrain, condition, equipment, and certification status.

Next, consider the full cost of buying the vehicle. A lower advertised price may become less attractive once you account for travel, transportation, taxes, registration, and other costs associated with purchasing outside your area.

You can use the Out the Door Price Calculator to estimate how taxes and fees affect the total amount you may pay.

The goal is not necessarily to find the state with the lowest average. It is to find a competitive price on the right vehicle.

What Is a Good Used Car Price in 2026?

There is no universal price that makes a used car a good deal.

The national median of $26,664 gives you a useful market benchmark, but it does not tell you what a specific Ford F 150, Toyota RAV4, Honda CR V, or other vehicle should cost.

The strongest comparison is between similar vehicles. If you are trying to determine what makes a car a good deal, look beyond the advertised price and compare the vehicle with similar listings.

If you are looking at a 2023 SUV with 30,000 miles, for example, compare it with other 2023 examples with similar mileage, trim, equipment, and condition. A national average that includes everything from older compact cars to nearly new luxury SUVs will not tell you whether that particular listing is priced competitively.

Once you have a realistic vehicle price in mind, AutoFinder's car payment calculator can help you see how the purchase price could translate into a monthly payment based on factors such as your down payment, loan term, and interest rate.

That gives you two different numbers to work with: whether the vehicle appears competitively priced and whether that price works for your budget.

What Should Used Car Shoppers Take Away From the Data?

The national numbers are useful, but they are a starting point.

AutoFinder's October 2026 analysis found a median advertised used vehicle price of $26,664. At the state level, medians ranged from $23,898 in Virginia to $33,888 in Alaska.

That is a big difference, but the vehicles behind those numbers are different too.

Model year, mileage, vehicle type, make, model, trim, and condition all affect the price you see. Those differences become especially important when comparing one state with another.

Instead of asking whether a vehicle costs more or less than the national average, compare it with vehicles that are actually similar to the one you want to buy.

That gives you a much better benchmark for deciding whether a listing deserves a closer look.

AutoFinder marketplace figures in this article are based on active used vehicle listings analyzed on October 5, 2026. Advertised prices are not final transaction prices. Inventory, pricing, and availability can change.