Popular Cars and Auction Prices 🤩 💲

There’s usually a reason for popularity. It could be style, like the Aston Martin, appearance in pop culture (again the Aston Martin in James Bond), dependability like an indestructible early 2000s Toyota Corolla, cost, features, tech, or warranty.

High demand cars frequent our San Diego lot, and usually exit just as quickly. We’d like to name-drop some of the popular makes and models and give you an idea of the average price at auction. Why? 🤔

Because then you’ll know just how much you can save on a popular set of wheels. 🛞

By the way, popularity isn’t everything. Read more about reliability and lifespan.

Most Popular Cars in California

There are brands and model years that people like and don’t like. We should know, we see practically everything at Express Auto Auction.

Here are some of the most popular models in the Golden State, in no particular order.

1. Toyota RAV4

A used 2012 RAV4, with 140,000 miles, will likely run you over $10,000 at a used dealer. But these babies will sell for less than half of that, even a quarter of that at Express Auto.

2. Toyota Camry

We’ve sold dozens of these and the average sales price hovers between $1,500 and $2,000 for Camry’s from the late 90s through the 2010s. That price is far better than any dealer. A 2000 Toyota Camry with 100,000 miles could go for $2,600 while at a dealer expect to pay at least twice that.

3. Toyota Corolla

Toyota Corolla’s follow a similar story as the Camry’s. Average sales prices hover around $1,600 for Corolla models ranging over the last 20 years.

Check out our review of the Corolla.

4. Toyota Tacoma

Tacoma’s are popular trucks and it’s hard to find one with 150,000 miles AND under $15,000. Yet the average sales price at Express for these is around $4,000! Cha-ching! 💰

5. Toyota Prius

The Prius has been popular in California for a long time. We sell hundreds of these, and price is a big reason southern Californians come to us rather than a dealer. Average sale prices usually land around $3,500 at auction, whereas a dealer will charge two, three times as much. For example, a used 2010 Prius with 180,000 miles could cost you $6k at a dealer, but at Express, $3,500 is far more likely.

6. Tesla Model Y

7. Tesla Model 3

Not a long of Tesla’s yet at auction, so we’ll skip these. But keep an eye open. As the years pass, these will show up. Read more about the average age of auction cars here.

8. Ford F-Series

The most popular car (truck) in America and a lot of them come through our San Diego auction yard. Average sale prices are about $2,200 at auction; for example, a 2006 Ford F-150 with 160,000 miles can and does sell at auction for $3,800, whereas the same truck at a dealer might be around $10,000.

9. Honda Accord

10. Honda Civic

These Honda models are two of the most popular choices at auction. We’ve sold a gazillion of these at an average sale price of $1,200! Many of these arrive on the lot with over 100,000 miles. A 2003 Honda Accord with 60,000 miles could sell for less than $2,000, while at a dealer it’ll likely be 4x as much! Civic’s are almost identical to Accord’s in terms of cost and savings.

Honda is among the most reliable car brands.

11. Chevrolet Silverado

Much like the Tacoma and F-Series, the Silverado is a powerhouse and a very reliable truck that can change owners and still pile on the mileage. We sold a 2011 Silverado with 239,000 miles for $5,700, which is actually a high price for an auction, yet about half of what a used dealer would charge.

12. Nissan Altima

13. Nissan Sentra

Both the Sentra and Altima, like the above-mentioned Honda’s, are known for eating up roadway and lasting forever. Both of these models sell for an average $1,000-$1,200 off the auction lot, and many of them have logged over 100,000 miles at the time of sale.

We have more to say about the Altima here!

14. Hyundai Sonata

15. Hyundai Elantra

Hyundai is another popular low-cost option for a lot of commuters in California. We see both the Sonata and Elantra selling, on average, for around $1,800. Like so many of these makes and models we’ve covered, that’s a huge savings, whether the car is at 50k miles, 100k, or 200k.

Here’s a comprehensive review of the Hyundai Elantra.

Saving Money at Auction

When it comes to the most popular cars and trucks, the evidence is overwhelming that you will save money at Express Auto Auction. 😀

That’s not the only bit of good news. We have a wide selection, we’re transparent with vehicle condition and encourage all bidders to thoroughly inspect vehicles before bidding.

We’ll see you on the lot!