Pickup trucks have been the best-selling vehicle type in Canada for many years. That should mean there are plenty of cheap trucks to choose from on the used car market, right? Sadly, that’s not the case. Trucks draw top dollar in the United States, too, and many trucks end up there due to the favourable exchange rate. Add in the ongoing demand for trucks here at home, and their high residual value means affordable used trucks are hard to come by.
While there are truly cheap trucks out there — say, priced at $10,000 or less — these come with enormous compromises. They’re usually very old and have odometer readings of 300,000 kilometres or more. We recommend having a budget of at least $20,000 when shopping for a used pickup truck in Canada. You’ll still likely end up with a truck that’s been worked to the bone and is at least eight years old, but you’ll have a much broader selection.
For a $20,000 budget, you may need to give up certain comfort and convenience features like sunroofs or backup cameras, but you may still get modern technologies like Bluetooth, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto, depending on the age of the truck. A regular cab or double cab/extended cab will usually be more affordable than the more desirable crew cab body style.
In this article, we’ll look at the Best Used Pickup Trucks Under $20,000 in 2026. These prices have been confirmed through extensive research on the CarGurus.ca used vehicle listings. Before you shop for any used vehicle, find out how to protect yourself and help your purchase go smoothly by reading through our guide to How to Buy a Used Car in Canada.
The Best Pickup Trucks in Canada for Under $20,000
2007-2013 Chevrolet Avalanche
Was the Chevy Avalanche ahead of its time? One recent development suggests as much. The Avalanche came with a GM-exclusive feature called a mid-gate, which allowed owners to fold the second-row seats out of the way and extend cargo past the length of the bed and into the cabin. That feature recently made a comeback on the Chevrolet Silverado EV, but you can get it in a used Avalanche for a fraction of the price.
The second and final generation of the Chevrolet Avalanche was produced from model years 2007 to 2013. It shared a platform with GM’s longer SUVs and was available in rear-wheel-drive (RWD) and four-wheel-drive (4WD) configurations. Toward the end of its run, it was sold with a 5.3-litre V8 making 320 horsepower and 335 pound-feet of torque, paired with a six-speed automatic transmission.
Age is taking out more of these trucks, but there are still a few kicking around that are accessible with a $20,000 budget. Expect to get a truck with at least 150,000 kilometres on it, though most have many more. Some of the Avalanches listed during our research were into the 300,000s or even past 400,000 km, which is a testament to how durable these trucks can be when well maintained.
Search for Chevrolet Avalanche
See all
2015- Chevrolet Colorado / GMC Canyon
When you’re shopping among General Motors midsize pickups, you’ll find there are two model year windows. Trucks from the early 2010s and earlier are from the first generation, while those with model years 2015 and later are from the second generation that lasted until 2022.
There are enough second-generation Chevrolet Colorado and GMC Canyon units available in Canada for $20,000 or less that there’s no need to buy an older truck unless you find a screaming deal. These come with four-cylinder, V6, and diesel engine choices as well as a variety of cab configurations. The Colorado is more common in this price range than the Canyon simply because it was cheaper to begin with. Either way, modern midsize trucks are impressively capable and may meet your towing and hauling needs better than you think.
Search for Chevrolet Colorado
See all
2007-2018 Chevrolet Silverado / GMC Sierra
If a full-size truck is the only thing that will do, a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or GMC Sierra 1500 may be your best bet. These trucks have come down in price, and it’s now common to find third-generation trucks from model years 2014 to 2018 for less than $20,000 in Canada.
Three different engines were available in this generation: a 4.3-litre V6, a 5.3-litre V8, and a 6.2-litre V8. The 2014 model year is reported to be more problematic than the others, and all model years have owners reporting transmission problems, so these are things to watch for carefully as you shop.
If you want a really cheap truck, look to the second generation Silverado and Sierra from model years 2007 to 2013. Unless you come across a very low-mileage unit in excellent condition, you shouldn’t need to pay more than about $15,000 for one of these.
For those who need a 3/4-ton or one-ton truck, you’ll find a handful of Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 HD trucks floating around in this price range as well. Bear in mind these trucks have usually been worked hard and are often a decade old with well over 200,000 kilometres on the odometer.
Search for Chevrolet Silverado 1500
See all
2004-2014 Ford F-Series
It’s logical that the nameplate that’s been Canada’s best-selling truck since 1966 would offer plenty of examples on the used truck market. No matter where you are in Canada, there should be plenty of used Ford F-150s around within a $20,000 budget.
When shopping for a used F-150 right now, there’s an important divide to consider. You’ll find a mix of 12th-generation F-150s from model years 2009 to 2014 and 13th-generation trucks from model years 2015 to 2020. The latter is when Ford switched to an aluminum body structure, which has proved durable while also offering better fuel economy. If you’ve got a full $20,000 to work with, there are plenty of these trucks around now within that price range and they’re a great option.
On the other hand, if you could really stand to spend less up front and don’t mind paying more at the pumps, the 12th-gen trucks have come down in price and are now commonly available for $15,000 or less (and sometimes much less). If you can find one with the EcoBoost V6, that engine’s better fuel efficiency versus the V6s and V8s of that era might offset the truck’s age and heavier build.
Our search turned up results with all cab styles from standard cab work trucks to crew cabs, and we also found a handful of trucks with the FX4 off-road package. There are some Ford F-250 and F-350 Ford Super Duty trucks available within this price range as well, but the trucks will be older and far less common.
2008-2011 Ford Ranger
The mid-size Ford Ranger is a weird one as far as the used market goes. It was sold in North America from 1983 to 2011 when it was a rebadged Mazda B-Series, went on hiatus for a few years, and then returned for the 2019 model year. That range of years in between is the sweet spot for the used truck market at the moment. As a result, you’ll find far fewer Rangers around for less than $20,000 than the competition.
With the earlier Rangers, two engines were offered: a 2.3-litre four-cylinder making 143 hp and 154 lb-ft of torque, and a 4.0-litre V6 producing 207 hp and 238 lb-ft. These trucks are now at least 15 years old, but a well-maintained example can be a bargain as many are priced below $10,000.
On the newer side, a $20,000 budget will get you a post-2019 Ranger, but it will almost always have an exceptionally high kilometre count of 200,000 kilometres or more. Unless you’re deeply committed to owning a Ford, your money may be better spent elsewhere.
2008- Honda Ridgeline
Honda has always gone its own way with its mid-size Ridgeline. The Japanese brand has never attempted to go toe-to-toe (or is that tow-to-tow?) with the Detroit Three in the larger pick-up game. It also opted to build the Ridgeline on a unibody platform shared with the Honda Pilot, which gives it better drivability and a more comfortable ride but less outright capability than the body-on-frame equivalent.
The Ridgeline hasn’t been a huge seller in Canada, so there aren’t a whole lot of these around to buy used. Among what there is, though, you’ll find a mix of first-generation models sold from 2006 to 2014 and second-generation trucks from 2017 to present. In either case, you’ll get a V6 from Honda’s J family of VTEC engines. Earlier versions produced 250 hp and 274 lb-ft of torque, sent to AWD through a five-speed automatic transmission. The latest Ridgelines generate 280 hp and 262 lb-ft of torque and employ Honda’s i-VTM4 all-wheel drive system with torque vectoring along with a nine-speed automatic.
A first-gen Honda Ridgeline should cost you $15,000 or less. Since Ridgeline owners don’t always work their trucks as hard, lower kilometre counts are more common here. There are quite a few second-gen trucks available for $20,000 or less as well, but these generally have more than 200,000 kilometres on them, which is what brings them down to this price bracket.
2004-2021 Nissan Frontier
The Nissan Frontier, the brand’s mid-size truck, didn’t change much from 2004 all the way into 2021. Also sold under the name Nissan Navara in other markets, this truck was facelifted a few times but never once received a full redesign over that entire period.
For used pickup truck shoppers, that makes things easier in a way. You can focus on the age and condition of each individual truck instead of worrying about missing out on major upgrades from one model year to the next. This era of Nissan Frontier was sold with RWD or 4WD, though the majority sold in Canada have the latter, and both four-cylinder and V6 engines were available.
There aren’t a ton of Nissan Frontiers out there on the used vehicle market in Canada, but the trucks you will find are good deals for the most part. With a $20,000 budget, you’re likely to end up with at least a decade-old Frontier, but reasonable kilometre counts of 170,000 km or less aren’t hard to find. Both King Cab and Crew Cab models are common, and there are a few Pro-4X off-road tuned models as well.
2016-2021 Nissan Titan
Don’t forget about the Nissan Titan, the Japanese brand’s full-size pickup truck that was discontinued in Canada following the 2021 model year and in the U.S. at the end of 2024. This underappreciated truck was nearly as capable as its contemporaries from the Detroit Three and was usually more affordably priced. It same in two lengths: the standard Titan and the 35-centimetre longer Nissan Titan XD.
A variety of model years can be found within our $20,000 budget. V8 engines were standard for the Nissan Titan’s entire run, and 4WD was also standard in XD models. Second-generation Nissan Titans sold from 2016 to 2021 are now easy to find in this price range, and there are some good deals out there for trucks that are less than 10 years old with 160,000 km or less on the odometer. Older trucks can be an even better bargain, but we suggest not going any further back than 2010. That’s the year vehicle dynamic control and additional airbags were made standard equipment.
2009- Ram Series
A Ram 1500 is one of the best used trucks under $20,000. However, when shopping for a used Ram 1500 in Canada, knowing the terminology is important. The fourth generation of this truck ran began for the 2009 model year and continued all the way into 2024. Once the fifth generation launched for 2019, fourth-gen trucks continued to be sold under the Ram 1500 Classic badge.
This means nearly all of the used Ram 1500s you’ll find on sale today are fourth-gen trucks, either earlier ones with the standard nameplate or later ones with the Classic moniker. Any post-2019 non-Classic truck you come across is likely to be exceptionally high in kilometres for its age. Once you factor in the Classic trucks, this means you can comfortably shop across this entire age range knowing there were few meaningful mechanical changes in the meantime. Depending on your priorities, 2018 may be a more important milestone as that’s the year most (but not all) trims gained Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.
For $20,000, you’re likely either looking at older trucks with lower odometer readings or newer trucks with 200,000 kilometres or more. They’re mainly lower-trim ST and SLT trucks, though some higher trims are available. You’ll find plenty of cab and powertrain configurations, including the same Pentastar 3.6L V6 and 5.7L Hemi V8 engines found in today’s Ram trucks. You should also be able to track down some fuel-efficient 6.7-litre inline-six Cummins turbodiesels if you’re so inclined.
If you need the payload and towing capacity of a heavy-duty hauler, there are also a few Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 HDs kicking around at this price range, though they’re not nearly as prolific as the brand’s half-ton offering.
2009-2018 Ram Series
The Ram 1500—or the Dodge Ram 1500, as it was badged before Ram became its own sub-brand—is another perennial sales workhorse in Canada. As such, there are plenty of examples on the used car market across the country at this price point, ranging from regular to crew cab configurations and a variety of odometer readings. There are even some newer trucks around for under $20,000, though they tend to be higher-mileage. You’ll find examples dating all the way back to early in the third generation, which launched way back in 2002. It’s likely not necessary to shop for something that old in a Ram 1500, though, so we’d suggest you start from the fourth generation beginning in 2009 and running through to 2018. You’ll find plenty of cab and powertrain options, including the same Pentastar 3.6-litre V6 and 5.7-litre Hemi V8 engines found in today’s Ram trucks. You should also be able to track down some fuel-efficient 6.7-litre inline-six Cummins turbodiesels if you’re so inclined. Later-model Rams aren’t holding their value as well, so you’re more likely to find features like touchscreen infotainment and heated steering wheels within our $20,000 price range. If you need the payload and towing capacity of a heavy-duty hauler, there are also a decent number of Ram 2500 and Ram 3500 HDs kicking around at this price range.
2005-2015 Toyota Tacoma
No list of the best used trucks to buy is complete without the Toyota Tacoma mid-size pickup truck. However, in the context of a tight budget, it requires a caveat: truck people know Toyotas retain value ridiculously well due to their legendary durability.
To find a used Toyota Tacoma mid-size truck within a $20,000 budget, you’re going to have to swing all the way back to the second generation, which was in production from 2005 to 2015. Those trucks were sold either with a 2.7-litre four-cylinder (159 hp, 180 lb-ft) or a 4.0-litre V6 (236 hp, 266 lb-ft), available with RWD or 4WD. Many were also sold with manual transmissions as an alternative to the four- or five-speed automatics.
You’ll need to do some hunting to find a used Tacoma in good shape for 20 grand on the used market. But if you do, you’ll have the peace of mind of knowing a well-maintained truck with a decent odometer reading should have plenty of life left in it.
2007-2021 Toyota Tundra
The Toyota Tundra full-size pickup is a value retention powerhouse, so it’s rare to find one on the cheap. The good news is the Tundra didn’t fundamentally change all that much from 2007 all the way to 2021 apart from technology and convenience features. This means you can shop a wide range of model years without worrying about missing out on major mechanical updates.
For your $20,000, you’ll be shopping a variety of V6 and V8 engines with RWD or 4WD drivetrains and numerous cab and bed configurations. The trucks we found were mainly in double cab configuration as opposed to CrewMax. In our research, there were fewer sub-$20k Tundras available than for any other truck nameplate on the market, and odometer readings of 250,000 kilometres or more were the norm. It’s not unusual for these trucks to survive to 350,000 kilometres or more, though. If you can find one with a great maintenance history and your trusted mechanic gives you the thumbs up, it could still be a good buy for the long term.
