Study Confirms: Used Cars Under $20K Are Almost Extinct in Lubbock

If you’ve been shopping around Lubbock for a used car and wondering, "Where did all the good deals go?"—you’re not imagining things. A brand-new study from iSeeCars confirms that affordable used cars are disappearing fast, especially here in West Texas.

What a Difference Six Years Can Make

Back in 2019, nearly 35% of used cars in Lubbock were priced under $20,000. Fast forward to 2025? That number has plummeted to just 8.4%. Nationally, it’s even worse—with the share of sub-$20K used cars falling from 49.3% to 11.5%.

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The study analyzed 2.6 million 3-year-old used cars from January through June of both 2019 and 2025. The findings paint a clear picture: car prices have soared, and popular models now cost thousands more than they did just a few years ago.

What's the Breakdown?

Here in Lubbock, the Toyota Camry topped the list for the biggest 5-year price jump—rising from $17,149 in 2019 to $25,160 today, a whopping 46.7% increase. Other price climbers include:

• Nissan Rogue: up 37.8%

• Toyota Corolla: up 29.0%

• Chevy Trax: up 18.8%

• Kia Sportage: up 16.9%

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The average used car price in Lubbock also jumped from $26,747 to $36,105—a 35% hike.

But maybe the most shocking stat? In 2019, over 91% of used Toyota Camrys in Lubbock were under $20K. This year? Just 3.2%. That’s a 96.5% drop in budget-friendly availability. The Nissan Rogue had a similar fall—from 87.5% under $20K in 2019 to just 10.7% today.

Where Does the Fault Lie?

So what’s causing this used car drought? Blame the pandemic. According to iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer:

The loss of new car production during the pandemic between 2020 and 2022 set up today’s used car market scarcity. Used car shoppers are being forced to buy older models with more miles to stay within budget.

Translation: If you’re trying to snag a used ride for under $20K, you’re going to have to dig deeper, search harder, or settle for older.

You can check out the full iSeeCars study online for detailed rankings of vehicle price hikes, shrinking affordable options, and more. Spoiler alert: it's not just a Lubbock thing—it’s happening across the country.