Sorry but a car budget of $2000 means use public transportation, ride-sharing, or taxis because you can't afford a car. There's licencing, maintenance, operating costs, and the huge one of insurance for new drivers.  Operating expenses, tickets, parking, e-tests, ....  And the main unknown is repairs -- assuming you can find a mechanic willing to work on a junker.  If you owned a good, reliable car that you could get only $2000 for, wouldn't you keep driving it, or let a friend or relative in on such a bargain?