Used cars and trucks outsell new cars and trucks by a margin of four to one in the United States. Some of the best-selling models of all used cars are pickup trucks. That means used truck buyers with $15,000 or less to spend are facing a wide variety of models, cab styles, and trim levels from which to choose. How do you know which ones are going to serve you best?
One good place to start is by reviewing the reliability ratings for the various models on the market. When buying used, it is especially important to choose a truck that’s going to last, and consumer feedback captured by market research companies like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates produces ratings that can give you an idea how happy owners are with their pickups.
As a truck buyer, you have specific needs for carrying passengers, hauling cargo, or towing a trailer, so you’ll want to buy something with the right number of seats, the right payload capacity, and the right towing rating. With so many different powertrain combinations, cab styles, and bed sizes, it is important to carefully research this information and select a model that is going to fit your lifestyle.
Whether or not safety ratings and fuel economy estimates are important to you is a personal decision. Of course, we always prefer to choose something that is safer and more economical than not. One other item about safety: when it comes to trucks, it’s useful to remember that crash-test scores apply in comparison to other vehicles of the same size and weight. Most trucks are heavier than cars and often fare quite well in collisions with smaller vehicles – even without the benefit of top safety scores backing them.
In generating the candidates for this list, we emphasized durability above everything else. We’ve also provided you with summaries of payload capacities, towing ratings, fuel economy estimates, and crash-test performance to help you make a smart choice in a used truck under $15,000. Listed mileage ranges are based on an average of 12,000 miles driven annually.
Finally, when it comes to buying a used vehicle of any kind, it is always a good idea to get a Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) check, also known as a vehicle history report. Carfax is best-known and a more reputable source for this information, and once you know that your car, truck or SUV has a clean history, you’ll sleep much better at night.
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