Used Vehicles Cost More In Montana; 3rd Highest In America

Used Car Prices Are Catching People Off Guard in Montana

Maybe you kicked off the year thinking, “New year, new car,” only to realize a brand new ride just is not in the budget. So you start looking at used vehicles instead.

Then you see the prices here in Montana and do a double take.

Only Two States Cost More Than Montana

Believe it or not, right now it is cheaper to buy a used vehicle in California than it is here in Montana.

In fact, you can find cheaper used cars in almost every other state.

According to World Population Review, the only two states paying more for used vehicles than Montana are Alaska and Wyoming.

Why Are Used Vehicles So Expensive in Montana

I have a theory as to why that is. I cannot say for sure, but I do have a pretty strong gut feeling.

Pickup trucks.

Think about the vehicle you see most often on Montana roads. Odds are it is a pickup truck. Around here, trucks are not just grocery getters.

They are work vehicles, hunting rigs, road trip machines, and sometimes all three in the same weekend.

When trucks make up a bigger chunk of the used vehicle market than cars, it makes sense that the average price would be higher.

So if you are shopping for a used vehicle right now and wondering why your money does not seem to go as far in Montana, it's not your imagination, it's just the price we pay to live in truck country.