Used Cars for Sale in Phoenix, AZ (2024)

FAQs

What city in Arizona is best to buy a car? ›

Buckeye Named Most Affordable City to Buy a Car

Buying a vehicle in Buckeye could save buyers $966 compared to the average cost in the rest of Arizona, according to a study by Autolist.com. That makes Buckeye the most affordable place in the state to purchase a new vehicle.

There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.

If your goal is to save on a pre-owned vehicle, it's advisable to seek one that has already undergone most of its depreciation. This entails finding a car that is at least two years old, but ideally between three and four years old.

Favorable Tax Rates

While Arizona does have a state sales tax, it is generally lower than in many other states with high costs of living, such as California. This potentially lowers the overall cost of buying a car in Arizona than in neighboring states.

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.

A wary buyer should use as a general rule of thumb that most cars are driven 12,000-15,000 miles per year. If a vehicle is 10 years of age, it should have between 120,000 miles and 150,000 miles on the odometer.

Depending on the car's value, repairing it might be worth the money to keep it going for a few more years. However, most modern gasoline-powered vehicles will start to struggle after the 200,000-mile mark. Electric cars can usually make it up to 300,000 miles before they're considered well used.

What is the most popular website to buy used cars? ›

Cars.com, Carvana, Edmunds, CarMax and TrueCar are our top recommendations for used car websites.

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.

Experts agree that the common rule of thumb on mileage for a used vehicle is roughly 12,000 miles added for each year of ownership. That means, for example, good mileage for a used vehicle that's five years old would be around 60,000 miles.

When shopping, is there a best age for purchasing a used car? Cars are usually reliable for up to five years if they've been looked after. But a well-maintained 10-year-old car could be a better investment than a newer model that hasn't been cared for as well. Budget is also a major factor.

If you're shopping for a used car, the early months of the year — January and February — are a good time to ship. You may see more vehicles on the market then as people sell their old vehicles after buying new ones over the holidays. That increased supply can lower prices, making it a good time to buy.

As of 2024, the base AZ state sales tax rate in Arizona is 5.6%. The highest county sales tax rate can be found in Yuma County at 1.0%, while the lowest is in La Paz County at 0.5%.

Arizona has a state sales tax rate of 5.6 percent, but county and city governments can stack additional taxes. "That's why you pay a 7.95 percent sales tax in Scottsdale, 8.0 percent in Phoenix, 8.1 percent in Tucson, and 8.951 percent in Flagstaff.

Best State for Initial Cost

If you're looking for the lowest initial cost, no state can beat Florida. When it comes to used car sales, Florida tends to has the cheapest prices. Florida's low initial vehicle costs are due to a variety of factors. First, Florida has one of the largest populations of older people.

Fuel Efficiency is Key: Arizona's hot climate makes fuel-efficient cars like the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla strong contenders. Balance is Important: Consider sedans like the Honda Accord or Toyota Camry for a mix of size, efficiency, and performance.