Cars and trucks, used Spending
How much American households spend on cars and trucks, used — 2024 data from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey
Spending Insight: Cars and trucks, used
American households spent an average of $2,818 on cars and trucks, used in 2024, representing 3.6% of total consumer expenditures. This marks a notable 9.0% increase from 2023 ($2,585), outpacing general inflation and suggesting growing consumer prioritization of this category.
Since 2020, cars and trucks, used spending has risen by 19.4% (from $2,360 to $2,818), broadly tracking with inflation-adjusted cost changes.
Income is the strongest predictor of cars and trucks, used spending: the top income quintile spends $4,989/year versus $883 for the lowest quintile — a 5.7x gap. Regionally, the South spends the most ($3,053/year) while the Northeast spends the least ($1,905/year). Use the cross-cuts below — by income, region, age, household size, and housing tenure — to see which demographic factors drive this category hardest for your situation.
Spending Trend (2020–2024)
| Year | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| 2024 | $2,818 |
| 2023 | $2,585 |
| 2022 | $2,239 |
| 2021 | $2,555 |
| 2020 | $2,360 |
By Income Level (2024)
How cars and trucks, used spending varies across income quintiles
| Income Group | Annual Amount |
|---|---|
| Lowest 20% | $883 |
| Second 20% | $1,942 |
| Middle 20% | $2,750 |
| Fourth 20% | $3,513 |
| Highest 20% | $4,989 |
By Region (2024)
Geographic variation in cars and trucks, used spending
By Age Group (2024)
How cars and trucks, used spending changes across the lifecycle
By Household Size (2024)
| Size | Annual |
|---|---|
| 1 Person | $1,384 |
| 2 People | $3,434 |
| 3 People | $2,503 |
| 4 People | $4,401 |
| 5 or More | $4,134 |
By Housing Tenure (2024)
| Tenure | Annual |
|---|---|
| Homeowner (with mortgage) | $3,212 |
| Homeowner (no mortgage) | $3,763 |
| Renter | $2,485 |
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does the average household spend on cars and trucks, used? ▼
Is cars and trucks, used spending increasing? ▼
How does income affect cars and trucks, used spending? ▼
Which region spends the most on cars and trucks, used? ▼
Which age group spends the most on cars and trucks, used? ▼
Does household size affect cars and trucks, used spending? ▼
Spending Guides
Related Spending Categories
Browse other major categories from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey.
Related Economic Data
Disclaimer: This information is provided for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. Data is sourced from the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey. Consult a qualified professional before making decisions based on this data.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
