You know how some people warn you not to buy a used car, truck, or SUV from some states because of snow and corrosion? You don’t want to find your dream car and then discover that it is rusting from the inside out after a few winters on the road. A recent study found that one city in Florida is apparently the finest city to take home a used truck, car, or SUV, but the locals probably would disagree.

Where is the cheapest place to buy a used truck?

The Miami-Ft. Lauderdale area was the least expensive metro area to buy cheap trucks and SUVs, according to a recent iSeeCars study. Even though Miami-Ft. Lauderdale landed on the list of the most expensive cities to buy used cars; it was the most common area for paying under the average price.

For instance, the used Toyota Tacoma had an average cost of $32,373 in the Miami area. Albuquerque-Santa Fe, New Mexico, was the most expensive. Shoppers paid an average of $39,167 for the same vehicle just for buying in New Mexico. That’s $6,794 cheaper! It wasn’t just the Tacoma, either. A few used trucks were much less expensive in the Miami area versus another popular metro area.

Data showed that the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 was also less expensive in Miami-Ft. Lauderdale. The average cost was $36,523 in Florida and $42,621 in New Mexico. That is more than 14% cheaper in Florida for the same truck. Most people probably don’t think about Miami when it comes to finding used trucks and cars, but perhaps that should change. However, a good pre-purchase inspection from a trusted source cannot be understated.

Where is the cheapest place to buy a used SUV?

According to the same study, the Miami-Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, area also led the way for cheap SUVs. The Jeep Grand Cherokee had an average price of $31,742, 15% cheaper than in the Seattle-Tacoma, Washington area. To be fair, many Jeep SUVs tend to hold value due to their large fan base and off-road capability. Most people in Florida don’t necessarily need a Jeep to get around, while the terrain is very different in Washington.

The Ford Explorer SUV had a similar story to the two metro areas. Ford’s full-size SUV was about $5,000 cheaper in Florida than in Washington. The Chevrolet Equinox was $3,000 more affordable, the Toyota Highlander saw a $4,000 price decrease, and the Mazda CX-5 came in $3,000 under its Washington sales numbers.

The West Palm Beach-Ft. Pierce, Florida, area made it on the list as the most expensive place to find a used truck or car. Used cars were more than 9% more expensive in this area compared to the national average. These areas are only about an hour apart (without traffic, and there is always traffic).

Why are cars so cheap in Miami?

A few factors could lead to cheaper cars, trucks, and SUVs in Miami or Florida in general. While the area does not get snow, it does have some intense sunlight and other factors. This can lead to faster wear and tear than other areas, especially for those close to the beach. However, a lack of snow has historically benefited buying a car from Florida.

While it hasn’t always been the case, there are also a lot of Hurricane Ian-damaged vehicles for sale in Florida right now. These cars might look OK at first glance, but water could have been over the roof during the storm last year. Progress has been slow in some areas, and selling a car might not have been high on the list of things to do.

The data doesn’t lie, and many cheap trucks and SUVs are selling out of the Miami metro area. This is a good reminder to expand your search a little. If you had your heart set on a Toyota Tacoma, you could go on vacation in Florida for a week and drive it home for less than you might pay for just the truck in New Mexico. Shopping around for your next vehicle could save you some cash, which can go toward some future insurance payments or oil changes.