Showing results for San Francisco, CA, US
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TrueCar
truecar.com › home › used cars › listings
Used Cars Under $5,000 for Sale in San Francisco, CA (with Photos) - TrueCar
Shop over 83 used Cars priced under $5,000 in San Francisco, CA with transparent pricing. Save time and money with TrueCar. Compare prices and view deals near you.
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › san francisco, ca › price under $5,000
Used Cars for Sale Near San Francisco, CA Under $5,000 | Cars.com
Shop used vehicles in San Francisco, CA for sale under $5,000 at Cars.com. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 43 vehicles in San Francisco, CA.
Used 2011 Mazda Mazda3
$4,895.00
Used 2014 Mazda Mazda5
$4,000.00
Used 2013 Nissan Leaf
$4,900.00
Videos
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Best Cheap Cars Under $5,000 (1st Car Edition) - YouTube
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Best Cars Under $5,000 (in 2026) - YouTube
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🌐 youtube.com
12 Used Cars Under $5000 That NEVER Break – MOST ...
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Edmunds
edmunds.com › home › used cars for sale › used cars under $5,000 for sale in san francisco, ca
Used Cars Under $5,000 for Sale in San Francisco, CA - Vehicle Pricing Info | Edmunds
Save up to $3,277 on one of 147 used cars for sale in San Francisco, CA. Find your perfect car with Edmunds expert reviews, car comparisons, and pricing tools.
2011 Mazda 3 s Grand Touring
$3,400.00
2014 Nissan Versa 1.6 SV
$3,995.00
2011 Audi Q5 2.0T Premium quattro
$4,995.00
2005 Subaru Outback 2.5i
$4,495.00
2015 Chevrolet Spark EV 2LT
$4,895.00
2009 Volkswagen Touareg 2 VR6 FSI
$4,596.00
2013 Ford Fiesta SE
$3,995.00
2011 Nissan LEAF SL
$2,495.00
2007 Saturn Aura XR
$4,500.00
2016 Volkswagen Golf TSI S
$4,995.00
2013 Nissan LEAF S
$2,995.00
2009 Buick Lucerne CXL
$4,500.00
2014 FIAT 500 Sport
$4,995.00
2013 Ford Focus SE
$3,995.00
2014 Nissan Versa Note 1.6 SV
$4,500.00
Discussions
[California] What are some good reliable cheap cars around 5K?
At that price point it is all the same. Just look at the dipstick, coolant, tires, and brakes. Try and get something with no varnish or milk shake on the dipstick, no slick on the coolant, with enough meat on the tires and brakes to last a couple months. Also test drive it. Make sure that your test loop Includes a couple traffic lights, and at least a mile of freeway. Listen for clunks, grinding, and thumps. Feel for vibration, and steering pull. Pay attention to the transmission and engine. Bad shifting, variation in engine speed. Good luck. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/whatcarshouldIbuy
68
10
March 1, 2021
What is the most reliable car you can buy for $5k right now in 2023.
Toyota, and Honda make great cars that last forever. You can get a nice sedan for we'll under 5k, was looking at avalons yesterday. Some older models for 2-3k. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/UsedCars
92
79
February 8, 2023
Where can i find reliable cars under 5000.
Get a Toyota from the 2000s. My old ‘06 Corolla racked up like 400,000 miles before I crashed it in 2017. I hear they may not be under $5k these days though. But ideally you want compact car that’s reliable and good on gas. Look at Toyotas and Hondas. I’ve heard some Honda automatics can be iffy but can’t verify that. I also watch a lot of car YouTubers: https://youtu.be/56FRqGLkTVc check out this video and read the comments to help you determine what car to buy. Also some advice, don’t buy a car from the eastern US including Texas. They’re all rusted to hell and back. More on reddit.com
🌐 r/InlandEmpire
35
28
January 21, 2023
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CarGurus
cargurus.com › Cars › spt-cars-under-5000-San-Francisco_L2793
Used Cars for Under $5,000 in San Francisco, CA - CarGurus
Car shopping on a budget? Find great deals on used cars for under $5,000 in San Francisco, CA - only on CarGurus!
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CARFAX
carfax.com › Used-Cars-Under-5000-San-Francisco-CA_f5_c913
Check car by VIN & get the vehicle history | CARFAX
May 21, 2025 - CARFAX is an international provider of vehicle history reports for a more transparent used car market.✓Buy safely ✓Sell at a profit ✓Import check
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › south san francisco, ca › price under $5,000
Used Cars for Sale Near South San Francisco, CA Under $5,000 | Cars.com
Shop used vehicles in South San Francisco, CA for sale under $5,000 at Cars.com. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 32 vehicles in South San Francisco, CA.
Used 2007 Toyota Camry le
$4,999.00
Used 2006 Honda CR-V lx
$5,000.00
Used 2012 Nissan Versa
$4,200.00
Used 2008 Suzuki XL7 premium
$4,998.00
Used 2012 Jeep Patriot sport
$4,498.00
Used 2004 Toyota Camry Solara
$3,400.00
Used 2008 Audi A4
$4,947.00
Used 2011 Acura MDX
$4,000.00
Used 2001 Acura MDX touring
$2,200.00
Used 2002 Nissan Altima
$3,000.00
Used 2011 Nissan Leaf sl
$3,955.00
Used 2013 Nissan Leaf sl
$2,800.00
Used 1997 Toyota Camry le
$4,490.00
Used 2012 Honda Civic lx
$4,999.00
Used 2005 Kia Sportage lx
$5,000.00
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CarGurus
cargurus.com › Cars › spt-best-used-cars-under-5000-San-Francisco_L2793
Best Cars Under $5,000 For Sale in San Francisco, CA - CarGurus
Search for great deals on the best used cars under $5,000 in San Francisco, CA. CarGurus analyses hundreds of thousands of used cars daily.
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iSeeCars
iseecars.com › home › cars for sale › under $5,000 › san francisco, ca › used cars under $5,000 in san francisco, ca
Used Cars Under $5,000 in San Francisco, CA - iSeeCars.com
Save $1,075 on Used Cars Under $5,000 in San Francisco, CA. Search 142 listings to find the best deals. iSeeCars.com analyzes prices of 10 million used cars daily.
2019 Nissan Pathfinder S - 54,011 mi
$13,900.00
2017 Toyota Sienna LE - 102,544 mi
$17,995.00
2016 Fiat 500L Trekking - 136,398 mi
$4,995.00
2008 Honda Fit Base - 143,200 mi
$4,800.00
2007 Mazda MAZDA6 i Sport - 110,580 mi
$4,591.00
2007 Mercedes-Benz GL-Class GL 450 - 152,095 mi
$4,995.00
2011 Mazda MAZDA2 Sport - 163,049 mi
$3,991.00
2008 Toyota Camry SE - 180,889 mi
$4,995.00
2015 Nissan LEAF S - 37,078 mi
$4,988.00
2011 Audi A4 2.0T quattro Avant Pr - 141,386 mi
$4,999.00
2007 Infiniti G35 G35 - 193,924 mi
$3,995.00
2001 Toyota RAV4 Base - 215,000 mi
$3,999.00
2009 Chrysler Town and Country LX - 132,363 mi
$4,999.00
2011 Ford Escape XLT - 157,831 mi
$3,995.00
2001 Honda Civic EX - 133,700 mi
$3,800.00
Find elsewhere
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › san francisco, ca › price under $50,000
Used Cars for Sale Near San Francisco, CA Under $50,000 | Cars.com
Shop used vehicles in San Francisco, CA for sale under $50,000 at Cars.com. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 5,695 vehicles in San Francisco, CA.
Used 2025 Toyota Camry le
$27,981.00
Used 2021 Tesla Model Y
$25,870.00
Used 2019 RAM 1500
$24,999.00
Used 2023 Tesla Model 3
$25,963.00
Used 2025 Audi Q7
$44,999.00
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TrueCar
truecar.com › home › used cars › listings
Used Cars Under $5,000 for Sale in South San Francisco, CA (with Photos) - TrueCar
Search over 87 used Cars priced under $5,000 in South San Francisco, CA. TrueCar has over 746,661 listings nationwide, updated daily. Come find a great deal on used Cars in South San Francisco today!
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › san francisco, ca › price under $15,000
Used Cars for Sale Near San Francisco, CA Under $15,000 | Cars.com
Iwill recommend Pleasant Hill Motors to anyone looking for a good used with a fair deal and no pressure It is shame the rating only goes to 5 stars, I would them 6 stars ... These cars are very very reliable, the engine gives the driver of power ...
Used 2017 Subaru Forester
$14,961.00
Used 2014 Subaru Outback
$5,999.00
Used 2016 Ford Mustang
$13,750.00
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › san francisco, ca › price under $6,000
Used Cars for Sale Near San Francisco, CA Under $6,000 | Cars.com
Shop used vehicles in San Francisco, CA for sale under $6,000 at Cars.com. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 81 vehicles in San Francisco, CA.
Used 1996 Toyota Camry
$6,000.00
Used 2006 Honda Civic ex
$5,280.00
Used 2012 Volkswagen Jetta se
$5,600.00
Used 2015 Ford Fiesta se
$5,999.00
Used 2005 Mazda Mazda6
$5,400.00
Used 2010 Chevrolet Malibu ls
$4,000.00
Used 2008 Nissan Versa s
$5,995.00
Used 2013 Chevrolet Cruze ls
$5,999.00
Used 2012 Ford Fusion se
$5,933.00
Used 2007 Chrysler PT Cruiser base
$4,995.00
Used 2014 Ford Fiesta se
$4,498.00
Used 2012 FIAT 500 sport
$4,200.00
Used 2004 Lincoln Town Car signature
$5,888.00
Used 2004 Mercedes-Benz CLK-Class 320
$5,998.00
Used 2006 Scion tC base
$4,999.00
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › san francisco, ca › price under $10,000
Used Cars for Sale Near San Francisco, CA Under $10,000 | Cars.com
Shop used vehicles in San Francisco, CA for sale under $10,000 at Cars.com. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 343 vehicles in San Francisco, CA.
Used 2012 Mazda Mazda3
$8,000.00
Used 2002 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
$7,000.00
Used 2014 MINI Countryman
$7,500.00
Used 2015 MINI Hardtop
$9,995.00
Used 2011 Audi Q5
$8,539.00
Used 2003 BMW 525
$7,998.00
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Cars.com
cars.com › home › cars for sale › san francisco, ca › price under $1,000
Used Cars for Sale Near San Francisco, CA Under $1,000 | Cars.com
Shop used vehicles in San Francisco, CA for sale under $1,000 at Cars.com. Research, compare, and save listings, or contact sellers directly from 0 vehicles in San Francisco, CA.
Used 2001 Subaru Outback
$999.00
Used 2025 Hyundai TUCSON Plug-In Hybrid sel
$279.00
Used 2023 Hyundai SANTA FE calligraphy
$279.00
Used 2026 Hyundai SANTA FE sel
$279.00
Used 2023 Hyundai ELANTRA HEV blue
$279.00
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TrueCar
truecar.com › home › used cars › listings
Used Cars Under $9,000 for Sale in San Francisco, CA (with Photos) - TrueCar
Shop over 786 used Cars priced under $9,000 in San Francisco, CA with transparent pricing. Save time and money with TrueCar. Compare prices and view deals near you.
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CarGurus
cargurus.com › Cars › spt-cheap-cars-San-Francisco_L2793
Cheap Cars for Sale in San Francisco, CA - CarGurus
Search used cheap cars listings to find the best San Francisco, CA deals. We analyze millions of used cars daily.
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iSeeCars
iseecars.com › home › under $5,000 › used cars under $5,000 in california
Used Cars Under $5,000 in California - iSeeCars.com
Save $1,044 on Used Cars Under $5,000 in California. Search 1,534 listings to find the best deals. iSeeCars.com analyzes prices of 10 million used cars daily.
2014 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon - 80,893 mi
$14,995.00
2015 Acura RDX Base - 77,771 mi
$11,995.00
2002 Chevrolet Avalanche 1500 - 163,680 mi
$4,980.00
2012 Nissan Quest 3.5 LE - 133,295 mi
$4,895.00
2009 Toyota Corolla LE - 169,370 mi
$4,980.00
2010 Mercedes-Benz C-Class C 300 S - 141,930 mi
$4,997.00
2014 Ford E-Series E150 WAGON - 225,000 mi
$5,000.00
2015 Chevrolet Spark LS CVT - 96,203 mi
$4,995.00
2017 Chevrolet Cruze LS Auto - 164,000 mi
$4,900.00
2007 Pontiac Solstice Base - 98,600 mi
$4,980.00
2012 Hyundai Accent GLS - 95,349 mi
$4,655.00
2006 Toyota Sienna XLE 7 Passenger - 150,405 mi
$4,999.00
2017 Kia Forte LX - 146,453 mi
$4,965.00
2013 Volkswagen Jetta TDI - 153,669 mi
$4,900.00
2009 Acura MDX SH-AWD w/Tech - 179,959 mi
$4,875.00
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Reddit
reddit.com › r/whatcarshouldibuy › [california] what are some good reliable cheap cars around 5k?
r/whatcarshouldIbuy on Reddit: [California] What are some good reliable cheap cars around 5K?
March 1, 2021 -

I need a car to be able to apple to jobs far away (with better pay) or not waste hours of my day in public transport. Being a student and having a job is tough. Due to being new to the country and having a small credit history I can't get a good auto loan. Also not having a driving history makes auto insurance high.

What models and what year of car should I look for? What year and models should I avoid? Dealers don't have cheap car and even if they do they are overpriced. I am looking at craigslist but what do I look for? Should I look at Lexus, since they are reliable but insurance would be higher? What about Camry vs Corolla? Accord vs Civic? Avalon? Older Mazda?

I just need a good reliable car for around 5K that gets me from point A to B and HOPEFULLY (according to past data) should not need a big maintenance work in the coming 5 years or so. Something with low cost to maintain and cheap parts available. Please let me know your suggestions. Thanks

Top answer
1 of 7
13
At that price point it is all the same. Just look at the dipstick, coolant, tires, and brakes. Try and get something with no varnish or milk shake on the dipstick, no slick on the coolant, with enough meat on the tires and brakes to last a couple months. Also test drive it. Make sure that your test loop Includes a couple traffic lights, and at least a mile of freeway. Listen for clunks, grinding, and thumps. Feel for vibration, and steering pull. Pay attention to the transmission and engine. Bad shifting, variation in engine speed. Good luck.
2 of 7
3
Correct me if I’m wrong but your top criteria are cheap, low maintenance, reliable, good gas mileage(assuming thing one)? I usually recommend lexus to people who want a higher end car experience but wish to maintain some reliability. But in your case it seems like you need a solid A to B and back car. Your on the right track not going to dealers, private sale is the way to go. When looking for a reliable car the first thing you should check is if the car has an extensive service history. Well actually first step should be avoid the lemons that have known major issues. Imo regular maintenance is more important then the anecdotal reliability of a certain model of car. Make sure it had ALWAYS had oil changes AT LEAST every year or 10k miles and even that is pushing the high side. Now Honda and Toyota are actually more reliable and cheaper to maintain then most other cars but with that comes a price premium when shopping for used models of those brands. It seems like your very open on which car so I’ll throw a couple out there but by no means should this be your list of cars to choose from. Oh, and always always take the car to a mechanic to get it checked out before buying, this will save you the most money in the long run! -Scions with Toyota engines -late 90s early 00s Japanese cars -civic, accord, Corolla, Camry (You asked the difference, civic and Corolla are entry level compact cars, accord and Camry are slightly more premium and larger, Avalon is basically a cheaper lexus) If you shoot a reply to this with some other models you have in mind I could throw out my opinion on them. Sorry for wall of text lol
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Edmunds
edmunds.com › used-cars-under-3000-san-francisco-ca
Used Cars Under $3000 for Sale in San Francisco, CA
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AutoTrader
autotrader.com › cars-for-sale › cars-under-5000 › san-francisco-ca
Used Cars for Sale Under $5,000 Near Me in San Francisco, CA
Find used cars and new cars for sale at Autotrader. With millions of cars, finding your next new car or used car and the car reviews and information you're looking for is easy at Autotrader.