The popularity of full-size pickup trucks like the Ford F-150, Chevy Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500 has kept them at the top of new vehicle sales charts for decades. But truck buyers looking to save money and still enjoy all the hauling, towing, and off-road capabilities a new model year truck has to offer, but at a lower price, can find those traits in the used pickup truck market. 

Below we’ve ranked the 25 most popular used pickups based on total 1- to 5-year-old used vehicle sales in 2024. We included both full-size and midsize trucks in the rankings, though, as with the new truck market, full-size models top the list for highest sales volume. We did not include heavy duty versions like the Ford F-250 and Ram 2500 because so many of those are sold to businesses for commercial use. Shoppers needing a model with diesel engine options should consider a heavy duty truck.

When deciding between a large truck or a smaller model, keep in mind that full-size trucks offer the widest range of engine choices, trim levels and options, and they also have the highest towing capacity and payload figures. In double cab or crew cab configurations they can comfortably accommodate up to six adults, making them viable family vehicles too. 

 

Top 25 Most Popular Used Trucks

While American full-size models lead in used pickup truck sales, it’s worth noting several midsize trucks, including the Nissan Frontier, Jeep Gladiator, Chevrolet Colorado, and Toyota Tacoma, are ranked in the top 10. These models don’t have large V8 engines or as much horsepower, but they do offer higher MPG ratings and are easier to maneuver or park in urban/suburban areas.
Most Popular Used Trucks in the U.S., 2024 - iSeeCars Study
Rank Model % of 1- to 5-Year-Old Used Truck Sales
1 Ford F-150 19.5%
2 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 15.6%
3 Ram 1500 13.6%
4 Toyota Tacoma 10.5%
5 GMC Sierra 1500 7.7%
6 Chevrolet Colorado 4.1%
7 Jeep Gladiator 3.7%
8 Toyota Tundra 3.7%
9 Ram 1500 Classic 3.6%
10 Nissan Frontier 3.6%
11 Ford Ranger 3.2%
12 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Limited 1.7%
13 Honda Ridgeline 1.7%
14 Ford F-150 (hybrid) 1.4%
15 GMC Canyon 1.4%
16 Nissan Titan 1.2%
17 GMC Sierra 1500 Limited 0.8%
18 Hyundai Santa Cruz 0.6%
19 Ford Maverick 0.6%
20 Ford Maverick (hybrid) 0.5%
21 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LD 0.4%
22 Toyota Tundra (hybrid) 0.4%
23 Ford F-150 Lightning 0.3%
24 Nissan Titan XD 0.2%
25 Rivian R1T 0.1%
Most of the models listed above use a body-on-frame chassis, which improves a truck’s capability and durability. But some midsize trucks and electric trucks utilize a unibody design to improve ride quality and overall refinement. Unibody trucks tend to deliver better fuel economy while still offering popular features like four-wheel drive and at least a base level of towing capacity and off-road capability.

Ultimately, the best used pickup truck for a shopper depends on what they need and what they can afford. Toyota’s Tundra and Tacoma are two of the most reliable trucks you can buy, as reflected in their high resale value. But Ford’s newer Ecoboost engines have been around long enough to display solid dependability, despite having less displacement than the Chevrolet V8 or Dodge-Ram Hemi.

As with any used car purchase, you’ll want to follow some standard guidelines when purchasing a used truck. First, confirm the vehicle’s value with free online resources like iSeeCars’ pricing tool. Then use the truck’s vehicle identification number (or VIN) to confirm its original equipment and ensure there’s no history of flood, salvage, or theft damage with iSeeCars’ VIN check service. This service will also confirm the truck’s current market, which you should know before visiting the dealership. 

After you know a used truck’s market value and have completed a thorough test drive, you should have the vehicle inspected by a third-party mechanic with no interest in the sales process. This can help you confirm the vehicle's mechanical and cosmetic condition. If you follow all of these steps, and assuming the vehicle passes each stage without an issue, you should have high confidence you’re getting the best used truck you can buy for your needs.

If you’d like to see the 100 best selling, most popular used cars check out our Most Popular Used Cars study.