auto dealer in black and red logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

CPO Sales Continue Climb in February

Up both month-over-month and year-over-year in surprise turn.

March 14, 2023
CPO Sales Continue Climb in February

Annual CPO sales fell 10% last year, and Cox forecasts an 11% fall this year to 2.2 million units, the weakest volume in 10 years, though it could revise that if upticks continue.

IMAGE: Pixabay/Fotorech

2 min to read


Certified preowned auto sales ticked up again in February, though Cox Automotive analysts still expect an annual drop again this year.

Month-over-month CPO sales rose about 2% for the month, Cox said, to end at nearly 206,000 units. That’s up 7.3% year-over-year.

“Our initial forecast was for CPO sales to fall a bit this year, but the numbers are not supporting that drop,” said Cox Senior Director of Economic and Industry Insights Charlie Chesbrough.

“CPO sales are up nearly 14%, meaning almost 50,000 more CPO units have been sold in the first two months of the year compared to the same time in 2022. With younger off-lease units in short supply, automakers are expanding their CPO programs to include older vehicles. As a result, the CPO sales pace so far this year is running hotter than expected.”

Toyota enjoyed the greatest CPO sales volume for the month among the biggest brands, while Honda and Hyundai posted the biggest year-over-year increases, followed by Ford.

Annual CPO sales fell 10% last year, and Cox forecasts an 11% fall this year to 2.2 million units, the weakest volume in 10 years. But looking at the sales pace for the first two months, Cox indicated it will take another look at its forecast at first quarter’s end to decide if an upward revision makes sense.

LEARN MORE: Used-Vehicle Prices Rise Again

More Dealer Ops

Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 09/02/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceSeptember 2, 2026

Dealer Debrief: August Auto Sales

Gas-powered engines still dominate the U.S. vehicle market, but hybrids are gaining ground as consumers look for ways to cut their gas costs.

Read More →
red, black, and yellow car in a car dealership showroom, Growth Beyond Sales text box, Auto Dealer Today logo
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJuly 31, 2026

Dealership Profits Decline

While new and used retail sales stagnated, dealerships have been particularly supported by fixed operations and finance-and-insurance profits, according to a new report.

Read More →
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 07/15/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJuly 15, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Two professionals shake hands while exchanging a car key fob beside a vehicle, symbolizing a vehicle sale, lease agreement, or dealership transaction.
SponsoredJuly 8, 2026

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 →
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 07/02/2026 with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJuly 2, 2026

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 →
Auto Dealer Today, Dealer Debrief, 06/25/2026, with Lauren Lawrence
Dealer Opsby Lauren LawrenceJune 26, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
group of people standing in a circle holding puzzle pieces together
Dealer OpsJune 1, 2026

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 →
two cars on a billboard, No Hidden Fees
ComplianceMay 1, 2026

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 →
Closeup of white car's headlight, front end
Dealer Opsby Hannah MitchellApril 17, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
hands making protective frame over red car, Risk Reality Check, Be Proactive, Auto Dealer Today logo
Dealer OpsApril 1, 2026

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 →