Used-Vehicle Supply Falls, Prices Up
Cox shows September activity rebalanced the market.

Nonluxury brands at lower price levels had tighter supply, including Toyota.
IMAGE: Toyota
Used-vehicle inventory is tightening, and prices are consequently up after falling in the second quarter, Cox September data shows.
Used supply fell 8% year-over-year to 2.26 million units at month’s end, and days’ supply fell by two days to 47 and by seven days year-over-year, Cox said.
“The number of used vehicles available for purchase has remained higher than the low point seen in early April,” said Cox Senior Manager of Economic and Industry Insights Chris Frey. “However, the overall used-vehicle inventory volume is still considered to be limited and has been stuck in the 2.2-2.3 million range for the past four months.”
Inventory was tighter for the lower price segments, and Honda, Mazda and Toyota had the tightest supply among nonluxury brands, Cox said.
Frey said the United Auto Workers strike against the big three automakers in Detroit has so far had minimal effect on the market but could be impactful if it continues.
The average used-vehicle listing price rose month-over-month to $26,717, Cox said, though that’s still down 5% year-over-year. Wholesale prices also rose, by 1%; that was down about 4% year-over-year. Cox credited increasing used retail demand, which it said tightened supply and sent more dealers to wholesale.
It predicts stable prices in the fourth quarter. “We have achieved balance between buyers and sellers,” said Cox Chief Economist Jonathan Smoke.
More Dealer Ops

Dealer Debrief: Defection Data & EV Updates
In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses how to use defection data to your advantage and the latest on EV sales and charging infrastructure.
Read More →
How Defection Data is Bridging the Dealership Conversion Gap
Lead volume is flat, cross-shopping is up and brand loyalty is in retreat. As confident sales teams keep losing buyers they thought they had, daily industry sales data is showing dealers exactly where their funnel is breaking and how to fix it without buying a single new lead.
Read More →
Dealer Debrief: Where are you losing customers?
In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence discusses the hidden leaks in dealerships where you might be losing customers without even realizing it.
Read More →
Dealer Debrief: Improving Your Inventory Management
In this week's debrief, host Lauren Lawrence covers a new survey that shows what service technicians really want and two launches that could help improve your inventory and vehicle life cycle management.
Read More →
Ladies and Gentlemen, This Is a Dealership: Why the Fundamentals Still Decide Who Wins
A teaching moment by a legendary football coach happens to apply perfectly in the auto retail space. Learn what it is and how to use it to your store’s advantage.
Read More →
What Market Timing Mistakes Mean for Your Reinsurance Program
When volatility hits, dealer-owned reinsurance programs face a familiar temptation: pull back and wait for calmer waters. New data from BOK Financial shows why that instinct can quietly cost you years of surplus growth.
Read More →
Dealer Ads and the FTC
The agency has made it clear in recent enforcement actions and warnings, in auto retail and other industries, that advertised prices must include all nonoptional costs to the consumer.
Read More →
Used Autos Supply Dwindles
The March shopping surge, despite high prices, cut into inventory by the most since the thick of the pandemic, Cox Automotive analysts calculated.
Read More →
Managing Risk Effectively Through Changing Times
The variables influencing risk pricing have changed significantly over the past five years. Being proactive and responsive to emerging trends is not optional but essential.
Read More →
Survey Reveals What Won't Fix What's Breaking Car Sales
AutoPayPlus says extra-long auto loans are trapping consumers and threatening the dealer trade-in cycle, and that the industry is leveraging the wrong tools to combat high MSRPs.
Read More →
