If you’re in the market for a used car, B.C. is definitely not the cheapest place in Canada to get one.
According to a new report from Clutch, a website designed to help Canadians navigate the used car market, B.C. leads the rest of the country when it comes to the average price of a used car.
Nationally, Clutch reports that the average price of a used car is $33,986, representing a 1.11 per cent increase compared to last month and a 7.78 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Clutch’s report is based on used cars from 2015 or newer with under 200,000 km.
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Prices are more expensive on the West Coast, with used cars going for just slightly less in Alberta than in B.C.
The average price of a used car here in B.C. is $37,700, nearly $4,000 more than the average price in the rest of Canada. Compared to last year’s prices in B.C., there has been a significant 4.95 per cent increase, and compared to the previous month, it marks a modest 1.14 per cent increase.
Clutch
Clutch has offered some explanation as to why prices are higher in Western Canada, including B.C.
“Out West, pricing stays elevated because the mix leans hard into trucks. When heavy-duty pickups take a larger share, the provincial average rises even if individual truck prices don’t move much,” the report states.
According to Clutch, the spike in prices compared to last year differs from the price increases that occurred during the pandemic.
“The mechanics are different from the pandemic wave of inflation. Back then, we saw all used vehicle models shoot up in price due to new vehicle production being put on pause. Now, the lift comes from what’s selling: a heavier blend of SUVs and electrified models, plus a bigger slice of late-model 2024-2025 inventory.”
B.C. also leads the country when prices are broken down by model. SUVs, cars and trucks are all the most expensive in B.C.
If you are in the market for a used car and wondering where the value is, Clutch says that cars under $15,000 remain the most reachable category.
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