What's a Used Car Actually Worth?
Not a book formula — the live market: median asking prices from US dealer inventory for 182 models, by model year, with typical mileage alongside. No login, no lead form, and nothing gets sent to dealers.
By the CarWhere Research Team · Live listing medians · Updated 2026-10-25
Live values: the most-shopped models
Median asking prices today — every model links to its full year-by-year curve.
| Model | New (median) | 3 yrs old | 5 yrs old | 5-yr drop |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | $61,029 | $37,355 | $30,593 | −49.9% |
| Ford F-150 | $66,338 | $39,968 | $31,977 | −51.8% |
| RAM Ram 1500 Pickup | $63,944 | $36,754 | $31,148 | −51.3% |
| Toyota RAV4 | $41,446 | $31,492 | $26,414 | −36.3% |
| GMC Sierra 1500 | $68,401 | $41,916 | $33,467 | −51.1% |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee | $49,974 | $28,681 | $22,179 | −55.6% |
| Chevrolet Tahoe | $81,101 | $50,475 | $39,027 | −51.9% |
| Ford Explorer | $53,756 | $31,013 | $23,237 | −56.8% |
| Nissan Rogue | $37,951 | $21,969 | $18,571 | −51.1% |
| Ford Bronco Sport | $37,928 | $25,184 | $20,067 | −47.1% |
| Toyota Highlander | $57,374 | $35,796 | $30,260 | −47.3% |
| Jeep Gladiator | $53,433 | $33,597 | $29,884 | −44.1% |
Value is half the answer — the deal is the other half.
Once you know the market value, see what buyers actually paid for the model, check which model years to avoid, and compare value-holders in the resale-value rankings.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out what my used car is worth?
Look at what the same model and year actually lists for on dealer lots today — that's the market, and it's what this tool shows: median asking prices from live US listings for 182 models, by model year, with typical mileage alongside. Book values are formulas; these are prices. Expect a private-party or trade-in figure to sit below the dealer asking medians shown here (dealers price in reconditioning and margin).
Why is this different from a book value?
Book values are modeled estimates calibrated to auction and survey data, published as a single number. This is the observed market: the median of real asking prices on live inventory, refreshed monthly, with the sample size shown so you can judge the confidence yourself. When the market moves fast, listings move first and books lag.
Does this tell me a trade-in value?
It gives you the number to anchor from. Dealer asking price minus typical reconditioning and margin (commonly $2,000–$4,000 on mainstream cars) approximates what a dealer can pay for yours. Walking in knowing the live retail median for your exact model-year is the strongest trade-in position there is.
Where does the data come from?
Median asking prices from live US dealer listings via licensed vehicle-data providers, minimum 40 listings per model-year, compared against each model's median new price today. Refreshed 2026-10-25. No login, no lead form, and your information is never sent to dealers.