Pro Login

Used Vehicle Prices Projected to Rise 2% by Year-End 2026

A stylized illustration of a cylindrical cup with blue arrows and lines indicating a swirling or rotational motion inside the cup.
Published Jan 8, 2026
Share:
A balanced scale with a wrench and fist on one side and a dollar sign on the other, symbolizing labor versus money, on a blue background.
Summary:

  • The average annual increase in used vehicle prices since 1998 is about 2%, excluding 2021-2022.
  • Used vehicle sales are projected to decrease by 0.9% to 38.3 million in 2026.
  • Falling auto loan rates and higher tax refunds may boost demand in the auto market, according to Cox.

Stable Pricing in the Used Vehicle Market

According to Cox Automotive, wholesale prices for used vehicles are expected to rise by 2% by the end of 2026. This prediction comes from their Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, which tracks prices at U.S. wholesale auctions.

This year's projected increase marks a return to a historically stable rate after fluctuations in recent years.

Recent Trends in Used Vehicle Prices

In the past two years, used vehicle prices increased by 0.4% each year. This follows notable declines of 7% in 2023 and nearly 15% in 2022.

The price drops in these years were a correction from the inflated prices seen during the Covid-19 pandemic, when prices surged by 46.6% in 2021 and 14.2% in 2020.

Understanding Historical Price Increases

The average increase in used vehicle prices at the end of each year is roughly 2%, according to Cox data stretching back to 1998.

This average does not include the unusual spikes seen in 2021 and 2022. Despite the expected rise in prices, they remain higher than pre-pandemic levels.

Sales Forecast for 2026

In 2026, used vehicle sales are anticipated to decline by 0.9% year-over-year, reaching a total of 38.3 million units sold.

This forecast includes about 20.3 million retail sales, reflecting a slight decrease of 0.7%.

Market Outlook and Consumer Impact

Jeremy Robb, Cox Automotive's interim chief economist, noted that several positive indicators could lead to stronger demand in the auto market as 2026 unfolds.

Falling new and used auto loan rates have reached their lowest levels in a year. Additionally, consumers can expect increased tax refunds, which may positively influence their purchasing decisions.

Disclosure

Get Market Briefs delivered to your inbox every morning for free!

No fluff. No noise. No politics. Just finance news you can read in 5 minutes.

Blogs

April 15, 2026
What Is a Put Option? A Simple Guide for Investors
  • A put option is a contract that gives you the right to sell a stock at a set price before a set date.
  • Investors use put options to protect their portfolio against losses or to profit when they think a stock will drop.
  • The most you can lose when buying a put option is the premium you paid for the contract.
Read More
April 13, 2026
What Is Free Cash Flow? How To Find It & Why It's Important
  • Free cash flow is the cash a company has left after paying its bills and putting money back into the business.
  • Investors use free cash flow to figure out what a company is really worth - and if the stock is a good deal.
  • You can find free cash flow on a company's cash flow report, one of three key reports every public company files.
Read More
April 13, 2026
Non Taxable Income: What It Is and Why Investors Care

Non taxable income is money you earn that the IRS does not tax - like Roth IRA cash, muni bond interest, and certain investment gains. The U.S. tax code taxes workers, investors, and business owners at very different rates. Tools like Roth accounts, muni bonds, and real estate write-offs can help you keep more of what you earn.

Read More
April 11, 2026
Nasdaq Index Fund: A Beginner's Guide to Investing in the Nasdaq 100
  • A Nasdaq index fund lets you invest in the 100 biggest non-bank companies on the stock market all at once.
  • You can access the Nasdaq through index funds, mutual funds, or ETFs like QQQ - each with its own fees, trading rules, and style.
  • Picking the right Nasdaq index fund comes down to three things: who runs it, what is in it, and what it costs.
Read More
April 11, 2026
What Is Wealth? It's Not What Most People Think
  • Wealth is about owning assets that grow and pay you - not just earning a high salary.
  • In a capitalist system, there are two ways to get paid: from your labor and from your capital.
  • Building wealth takes a shift in mindset, a money system, and the habit of investing before you spend.
Read More
April 10, 2026
Micron Stock: The AI Memory Play Most Investors Are Missing
  • Micron (MU) is the only U.S. company that makes HBM chips - the short-term memory layer that AI systems need to run.
  • By early 2026, data centers were using about 70% of all memory chips made in the world, creating an 18-month backlog for new orders.
  • Micron's DRAM - or short-term memory chip - revenue jumped 69% year over year, and the company shifted away from consumer products to focus almost entirely on AI.
Read More
April 10, 2026
What Is Working Capital? What Investors Need To Know
  • Working capital is current assets minus current liabilities - it shows if a business can pay its short-term bills.
  • You find it on a company's balance sheet inside its 10-K report.
  • Changes in working capital show up on the cash flow statement and affect how much cash a business really makes.
Read More
April 9, 2026
What Is a Meme Stock? A Simple Guide for New Investors

You've probably heard the term "meme stock" thrown around on […]

Read More
April 9, 2026
Enterprise Value Formula: What It Is and How to Calculate It
  • Enterprise value (EV) shows what a company is really worth - debt and cash included - not just its stock price
  • The enterprise value formula is: Market Cap + Total Debt - Cash and Cash Equivalents
  • Investors use EV with metrics like EBITDA to compare stocks more fairly than market cap alone
Read More
April 8, 2026
Return on Equity: What It Is and How to Use It
  • Return on equity (ROE) measures how much profit a company earns for every dollar of shareholder equity
  • The formula is simple: net income divided by shareholder equity
  • A higher ROE can signal a company that is good at turning investor money into profit - but it is not the full picture
Read More
1 2 3 17
Share via
Copy link