The pandemic, supply chain disruptions, and inflation have all taken a toll on the used car market in Canada in recent years. Cars are more expensive than they’ve ever been, and that applies to shiny new vehicles in dealership showrooms all the way to the very cheapest cars you can buy.
What can you do if you find yourself in need of a dirt cheap car on short notice in 2025? We took a scan through the CarGurus.ca used vehicle listings and found there are still some decent cars around listed at a bargain basement price of $3,000 or less.
We state this with a few caveats, though: there are fewer than 600 vehicles in this ultra-low price range anywhere across Canada, so your selection locally may be slim pickings. Very few of these cars have an odometer reading of 200,000 kilometres or less, so set your expectations accordingly. You’re most likely going to get front-wheel drive (FWD) instead of all-wheel drive (AWD). Some cars, such as the Toyota Corolla, Toyota Camry, Toyota RAV4, and Toyota Matrix, have gone up so much in resale value that they no longer appear on this list. And it’s very important to be cautious when shopping for a used vehicle with a low price, so consult our tips at the end of this article to protect yourself as best you can.
With all this in mind, read on to find our top picks for the best used cars to buy cheap in Canada in 2025. Pack your patience and be prepared to do plenty of legwork, and with the help of these tips you may just score a great deal.
The Best Cheap Used Cars in Canada
- Honda Civic
- Honda Accord
- Honda CR-V
- Nissan Altima
- Ford F-150
- Honda Odyssey
- Mazda3
- Mazda5
- Chevrolet Silverado
- Subaru Impreza
- Hyundai Elantra
- Dodge Grand Caravan
- Honourable Mentions
- Things to Consider Before Buying a Cheap Used Car
Honda Civic
The Honda Civic was the most popular passenger car in Canada for nearly a quarter century straight. As a result, you’ll find plenty of them on the used market today in sedan, coupe, and hatchback body styles. The Civic’s reputation for reliability makes it a relatively safe bet as far as buying a lower-priced, higher-mileage vehicle goes. This is especially true if you can find one that hasn’t been driven too hard. With a bit of legwork, you can find a Civic for under $3,000. Don’t be afraid of an odometer reading that’s pushing 300,000 kilometres as Civics have been known to last for much longer.
Honda Accord
Everything that makes the Civic a great choice as a cheap used car also applies to the slightly larger Honda Accord. You’ll find these mid-size sedans are more often gently driven commuter cars and maintain a more comfortable ride than their compact counterparts. This makes them a great choice as long-distance highway cruisers. It’s not a stretch to find a sedan or a coupe for less than $3,000 with an odometer reading that’s reasonable for its age.
Honda CR-V
You’ll still see the occasional first-generation Honda CR-V from time to time on Canadian roads, complete with rear-mounted spare tires and side-hinged rear doors. The first generation ran from 1997 to 2001, and the second generation ran from 2002 to 2006. Both make appearances today on the CarGurus.ca used car listings. Canadians will appreciate buying a used vehicle in an SUV body style, sometimes even with all-wheel drive, for less than $3,000.
Nissan Altima
Nissan may not historically come with the same brand reputation as Honda and Toyota, but there are enough early-2000s Altimas around that you’re likely to find one in our prescribed price range. You’ll find them in both the smaller 2.5-litre four-cylinder and larger 3.5-litre V6 engine configurations. Older Altimas tend to be closer in size to what’s considered a compact sedan today, making them a good fit for the average Canadian family. It’s important to know that 2002-2006 Altimas had known oil consumption issues and a continuously variable transmission (CVT) became the norm from 2007 on. But you may consider those fair trades for cheap wheels.
Ford F-150
Looking for a cheap pickup truck? Consider a long-in-the-tooth Ford F-150. Like the Honda Civic we mentioned earlier, Ford’s F-Series trucks have been the best-selling pick-up nameplate in Canada for decades. For a budget of less than $3,000, you’re looking at a 20 to 25-year-old truck with at least 200,000 kilometres on the odometer. But these trucks are built to last, so even at that age an F-150 should be ready to get to work.
Honda Odyssey
If you’re looking for a low-budget people mover, a third-generation Honda Odyssey is a good bet. This version ran from model years 2005 to 2010 and is generally viewed as a reliable minivan for its time. The fact that the used Odysseys priced under $3,000 in Canada are pushing 400,000 kilometres is a testament to their durability. If you’re looking for six or seven seats and you find a lightly driven example at this price point, it should serve you well for some time.
Mazda3
Fair warning: older Mazdas have a reputation for rust issues, which doesn’t make for a great combination with the snow and salt that are common on Canadian roads. However, if you can find a rust-free and treated example, you might land a deal on a fun little car that’s generally newer and lower in price and odometer reading than vehicles of a similar age. It will take a little extra work to find a good one, but in the case of the Mazda3, it may be worthwhile.
Mazda5
The Mazda5 is a unique vehicle that was underappreciated in its time, although Canadians enjoyed it much more than our southern neighbours. It’s widely considered a minivan with its sliding side doors and seating for six, but its smaller than average footprint and available manual transmission had won it some ardent fans. You’ll find quite a few used Mazda5s in Canada for less than $3,000, and they have a solid reputation for dependability provided they’ve been well-maintained.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevy Silverado is another good choice for a used pick-up truck. Even when its current owner has worked it hard enough to give one up for $3,000, a Silverado should have plenty of life left in it even well past 200,000 kilometres. Most of the trucks you’ll find this cheap are regular-cab work trucks with a minimum of features. You may also come across an occasional high-odometer extended cab truck. Do dig into individual model years as you search, though, as some have a much stronger reliability rating than others.
Subaru Impreza
One of Subaru’s points of pride is the longevity of its vehicles: 96 percent of Subaru vehicles sold in Canada between 2012 and 2022 are still on the road today. Canadians also appreciate the standard AWD that’s equipped on almost all models. The Impreza compact sedan is historically Subaru’s smallest and most affordable vehicle, so it makes sense that it turns up most often when searching for sub-$3,000 used vehicles. You may also come across the occasional Subaru Forester or Subaru Outback crossover SUVs. Some Subaru engines from the era in this price range are known for head gasket and excessive oil consumption issues, so these are important to look for when shopping.
Hyundai Elantra
Hyundai’s compact car doesn’t get as much love as the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla, but its below-the-radar status makes it a solid alternative. Apart from some engine issues 2009 to 2013, Elantras tend to have a great reputation for reliability. On Canada’s used car market in 2025, you’ll find plenty of examples priced below $3,000 in both the sedan and Touring (hatchback) body styles.
Dodge Grand Caravan
This longtime mainstay on Canadian roads can be a very frugal way to move a crowd. The Dodge Grand Caravan is one of the most plentiful vehicles you can buy used for less than $3,000 in Canada today. Examples range all the way from 20-plus year-old models to higher-mileage 10-year-old units. For the most part, these are the definition of basic transportation. But they’re functional and decently reliable used cars with plenty of practicality, a spacious interior, and a flexible cargo space.
Honourable Mentions
Although our research didn’t turn these models up, they may be worth keeping an eye out for when searching for the cheapest used cars. The Mitsubishi Mirage and Nissan Micra subcompact hatchbacks were two of Canada’s cheapest car to buy when they were new, so over time they’ll become available at lower prices and lower odometer readings than some of the cars on this list. The same goes for the discontinued Chevrolet Spark, Kia Rio, and Kia Forte.
The Chevrolet Uplander is a lesser-known minivan that could be a cheap way to get into three rows of seating for those who need it. If you’re willing to do some deeper research into Nissan reliability, a Nissan Sentra or Nissan Versa Note might get the job done. A Volkswagen Jetta or Passat might be harder than average to find, but they typically last a long time if you can find one at this price point. If AWD is a must, a Subaru Legacy midsize sedan may fit the bill. There are some cheap Ford Escapes and GMC Terrains around, but less commonly so.
In today’s used car market, luxury marques like Acura, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, Volvo, Land Rover, and Lexus rarely dip this low in price. But you might find the occasional Acura TL, BMW 3 Series, Audi A4, or Lexus ES worth looking into.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Cheap Used Car
Be ready to research
With older or higher-mileage cars, it takes more work to figure out whether you’re getting a good deal. It’s definitely worth investigating factors such as an automaker’s reputation for reliability and a given model year’s commonly reported problems. You should also ask the seller to produce maintenance records so you can determine how well the vehicle has been cared for.
Furthermore, if you come across a car with a price that’s too good to be true, it probably is. While no sub-$3,000 used cars for sale will be in perfect condition, a seller who’s treating you fairly will draw your attention to any issues so that you can make an informed choice. Buying a vehicle history report such as CARFAX might be helpful in some parts of Canada so you can check whether a vehicle has an accident history or outstanding liens.
Never skip a test drive
This goes for any vehicle, but it’s especially true for budget cars. A test drive can reveal potential issues you’d never identify otherwise. Similarly, even when you’re not spending much money on a used car, it’s wise to have a mechanic you trust look the vehicle over to ensure there are no glaring safety concerns.
Have a higher budget, and tolerance, for unexpected maintenance
A cheap pre-owned car is highly likely to need more frequent and unexpected service, and you won’t have the benefit of a warranty. Unless you have a garage with a hoist and are decent with a wrench, be prepared for the added expense of frequent visits to a dealership or your local mechanic in the short term.
Expect higher fuel costs
As a vehicle ages, its engine becomes less efficient and fuel economy tends to take a dive. Expect reduced fuel efficiency and redirect some of the money you’re saving by choosing an older vehicle into bolstering your fuel budget.
Look into your insurance options
All drivers are required by law to carry certain types of insurance such as liability and accident medical expenses. However, the forms of insurance that protect the value of the vehicle in the event of loss or collision may not be worth the investment if you pay a low price for it to begin with. Bear in mind that you should have some cash set aside for purchasing a new vehicle, though, in case something happens.
Be aware of what you’re giving up
Older cars sometimes come with features that might surprise you, like power windows, a sunroof, cruise control, automatic climate control or heated seats. But if you’re spending less than $3,000 on a used car, you’re probably giving up modern amenities and safety features found in new cars such as Bluetooth connectivity or a backup camera. That’s to be expected, but it’s important to know where your money is going. And if you do happen to find those features at this price point, consider it a huge bonus.
Note: Images may show US models.
