18 Best Used Cars for Retirees on a Budget Under $15K

Because most retirees must live on a fixed income, they need to watch their monthly spending closely — including the money they spend on cars. Ideally, if you need to purchase a car, it will be one you can pay cash for rather than take out a loan. This means it’s important to find a car with a low price tag, which in turn means you’ll probably be on the hunt for a used car.

That could prove to be a challenge. Finding an affordable used car isn’t necessarily easy these days because of prices that have reached all-time highs the last couple of years. On the bright side, used car prices have edged lower since hitting those highs, though they’re still not cheap.

The average list price for a used car in the U.S. was $25,571 as of April 2024, according to Kelley Blue Book. Because that’s an average, you should be able to find numerous options for much less than that — especially with cars that are best suited to older drivers.

Most retirees need a car that is economical, not too big, and easy to drive and maintain. This rules out most trucks, SUVs, sports cars and full-size sedans. Compact and mid-sized cars with good gas mileage work best for retirees. For those who prefer a greener experience — and have convenient access to charging stations — compact electric vehicles might also work well.

Listed here are 18 of the best used cars for retirees you can get for less than $15,000, according to recent data from Cars.com and U.S. News & World Report.

• Median price: $13,000-$17,000
• Fuel economy: 25-29 miles per gallon (gas only); 38 mpg (hybrid)

• Median price: $13,000-$14,000
• Fuel economy: 25-34 mpg (gas-only); 44 mpg (hybrid); 31 mpg-e (natural gas)

• Median price: $13,000-$15,500
• Fuel economy: 28-33 mpg

• Median price: $15,500-$17,000
• Fuel economy: 30-34 mpg

• Median price: $12,500-$15,000
• Fuel economy: 48 mpg (hybrid); 95 mpg-e with 50 mpg after 11 miles of all-electric range on a full charge

• Median price: $15,000-$17,000
• EPA combined fuel economy: 41 mpg

• Median price: $13,000-$16,000
• Fuel economy: 22-28 mpg

• Median price: $13,000-$16,000
• Fuel economy: 20-27 mpg (gas-only); 42 mpg (hybrid); 97 mpg-e with 42 mpg after 22 miles of all-electric range on a full charge

• Median price: $13,000-$15,500
• Fuel economy: 21-30 mpg (gas-only); 47 mpg (hybrid); 115 mpg-e with 46 mpg after 13 miles of all-electric range on a full charge

• Median price: $13,500-$16,500
• Fuel economy: 28-32 mpg

• Median price: $13,500-$17,000
• Fuel economy: 24-28 mpg (gas only), 38-40 mpg (hybrid)

• Median price: $14,000
• EPA combined fuel economy: 23-27 mpg

• Median price: $14,500-$17,000
• EPA combined fuel economy: 21-30 mpg

• Average price: $11,141-$15,198
• Fuel economy: 24-31 mpg

• Average price:  $9,831-$13,521
• Fuel economy: 20-32 mpg

• Average price: $11,141-$15,198
• Fuel economy: 24-31 mpg

• Average price: $8,005-$13,342
• Fuel economy: 23-31 mpg

• Average price: $12,811-$18,381
• Fuel economy: 23-37 mpg

_{Disclaimer: Photos are representational and won’t necessarily depict the correct year of make/model listed.}