We looked at data from over 426,000 used car listings to answer one question: what makes a used car worth more or less? The goal is to give you, as a dealer, a clear picture of what your customers are willing to pay more for — so you can stock smarter and price better.
After crunching the numbers, here are the biggest factors that drive what a used car sells for, ranked from most to least important:
| # | What Matters | Why It Matters |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | How new the car is | This is the single biggest factor. A 3-year-old car will outsell a 10-year-old car by a wide margin, every time. |
| 2 | How many miles are on it | Buyers pay close attention to the odometer. Low-mileage cars bring in significantly more money. |
| 3 | Engine size | Bigger engines (more cylinders) mean higher prices. Think V8s over 4-cylinders. |
| 4 | Diesel fuel type | Diesel vehicles — especially trucks — consistently sell at a premium over gas. |
| 5 | Pickups and SUVs | These vehicle types bring in more money than sedans or hatchbacks. |
| 6 | Condition | A car listed as "excellent" or "like new" sells for noticeably more than one listed as just "good" or "fair." |
| 7 | Clean title | Salvage or rebuilt titles can knock thousands off the price. Clean title is a must for top dollar. |
Here are five things you can act on right away:
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Buy newer, low-mileage cars whenever possible. These are your bread and butter — age and miles are the two biggest price drivers by far.
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Make room for diesel pickups and SUVs. They consistently sell at higher prices and are worth the investment to acquire.
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Spend money on detailing and reconditioning. Getting a car from "good" to "excellent" condition pays for itself in the higher sale price.
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Stick to clean titles. If you do take in a salvage or rebuilt title vehicle, know that the market will heavily discount it — price your purchase accordingly.
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Pay attention to the brand. Toyota, Ram, and GMC hold their value better than most. Economy brands lose value faster.