DecidePlan · Car
How much should you spend on a used car vs. a new car?
Used cars run 40–60% below new car prices — here's the range for a recent used vehicle. A comfortable range is $14,000–$17,500, with a sweet spot around $17,500. Stretching goes up to $21,300; past $21,300, more spending rarely buys a better outcome.
Want your own exact number?
Use the car calculatorMethodology
A deterministic model based on your answers, not AI guesswork — your financial capacity weighed against category-specific market benchmarks.
Assumptions
- Monthly payment capacityhigh impact
- Insurance & maintenance (by condition)medium impact
- Existing debtmedium impact
- Years planning to keep itlow impact
Data Sources
Category benchmarks are sourced from named industry studies and reputable market data, refined over time.
Last Updated
2026-08 · methodology v2