How much should you spend on a used car?
Isabella Bartlett
Updated on May 09, 2026
As a good rule of thumb, you should spend no more than 20% of your annual take-home pay on a used car. For example, if you make $50,000 per year (after taxes), then you should plan to spend $10,000 or less on a used car. Additionally, as we always recommend, you should save up enough money to pay cash for your car.
How much is too much to spend on used car?
Financial experts say to not spend more than 35% of your annual income on the car itself and the costs that come with your purchase. Below you'll find a breakdown of what to consider when buying a new or used car and how much you should spend.What does the average person spend on a used car?
According to Kelly Blue Book, at the end of 2021, the average new car costs more than $47,000, and used cars average above $27,000. 12 Of course, you can buy a brand new car for as little as $16,000, and decent used cars can be picked up for a few thousand.How much should you actually spend on a car?
Calculate the car payment you can affordNerdWallet recommends spending no more than 10% of your take-home pay on your monthly auto loan payment. So if your after-tax pay each month is $3,000, you could afford a $300 car payment.
How much should I spend on a car if I make $30000?
Whether you're paying cash, leasing, or financing a car, your upper spending limit really shouldn't be a penny more than 35% of your gross annual income. That means if you make $36,000 a year, the car price shouldn't exceed $12,600. Make $60,000, and the car price should fall below $21,000.How Much Should I Spend on A Used Car?
What is the 50 30 20 budget rule?
Senator Elizabeth Warren popularized the so-called "50/20/30 budget rule" (sometimes labeled "50-30-20") in her book, All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime Money Plan. The basic rule is to divide up after-tax income and allocate it to spend: 50% on needs, 30% on wants, and socking away 20% to savings.How much car can I afford on 70k a year?
The 50% ruleSome experts believe that spending 50% of your salary on a vehicle should be affordable. With a salary of $75k this would give you $35,000 to spend on a car which is enough for a brand new car.
What car can I afford on 60k salary?
It's typically recommended that you buy a car worth no more than 35% of your gross annual income— so if you make $60k per year, you can afford a new car that is worth $21,000 or less.What is considered a high car payment?
According to experts, a car payment is too high if the car payment is more than 30% of your total income. Remember, the car payment isn't your only car expense! Make sure to consider fuel and maintenance expenses. Make sure your car payment does not exceed 15%-20% of your total income.How much should I spend on a car if I make 25000?
The frugal rule: 10% of your incomeSo if you earn $25,000 a year, that's going to be a high-mileage used car for $2,500–$3,000.