Used Car Analytics


Student Name: Lohithya Ghanta
Defense Date:
Location: Eaton Hall, Room 2001B
Chair: David Johnson

Morteza Hashemi

Prasad Kulkarni

Abstract:

The used car market is characterized by significant pricing variability, making it challenging for buyers and sellers to determine fair vehicle values. To address this, the project applies a machine learning–driven approach to predict used car prices based on real market data extracted from Cars.com. Following extensive data cleaning, feature engineering, and exploratory analysis, several predictive models were developed and evaluated. Among these, the Stacking Regressor demonstrated superior performance, effectively capturing non-linear pricing patterns and achieving the highest accuracy with the lowest prediction error. Key insights indicate that vehicle age and mileage are the primary drivers of price depreciation, while brand and vehicle category exert notable secondary influence. The resulting pricing model provides a data-backed, transparent framework that supports more informed decision-making and promotes fairness and consistency within the used car marketplace.

Degree: MS Project Defense (CS)
Degree Type: MS Project Defense
Degree Field: Computer Science