Critical Shifts:
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Market split by vehicle age: Newer vehicles (1–3 years old) are demonstrating stronger price retention but slower turn times, whereas older vehicles (7–11 years old) are selling significantly faster but experiencing reduced price strength.
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Used EVs gain sales velocity: Alternative powertrains like the Volkswagen ID.4 and Tesla Models Y and 3 are emerging among the fastest-selling 4–6-year-old vehicles, breaking into a space traditionally dominated by conventional gas models.
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Supply shortage for affordable inventory: A 26.4% drop in sales volume for vehicles 12 years and older underscores a growing sourcing challenge for dealers trying to locate reliable used vehicles under $20,000.
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AutoVision’s September data shows a widening difference between how newer and older used vehicles are performing, with some EVs and hybrids joining the fastest-moving vehicles.
The latest used-vehicle data points to more than a simple tightening of supply. As fewer vehicles enter the market, performance is increasingly separating by vehicle age. Late-model vehicles are showing greater price strength, while older vehicles are generally benefiting from faster movement.
AutoVision’s September Used Vehicle Inventory Analysis tracks used-vehicle activity by age, supply, sales, days to sell and changes in average price.
Newer Vehicles Hold Value
Among 1–3-year-old vehicles, stronger pricing remains a key feature of the market, even as turn times are generally slower than for older inventory.
The 2026 Porsche Macan posted the largest average price increase in the group at $3,157.97, followed by the 2024 Hyundai Palisade at $2,827.13 and the 2025 Toyota Tundra at $2,126.17. The fastest-selling vehicles in the category averaged roughly 35 to 43 days to sell, led by the 2026 Toyota Camry at 34.66 days. The combination of stronger pricing and slower turns is notably different from the older portions of the market.
EVs Make a Strong Showing
The 4–6-year-old category adds another wrinkle, with several EVs appearing among the fastest-selling vehicles.
The 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 averaged 37.22 days to sell, followed closely by the 2022 Tesla Model Y at 37.24 days and the 2023 Tesla Model 3 at 37.47 days. The Model Y also posted a $2,910.21 average price increase during the period.
Conventional high-volume models still dominate overall sales, but the performance of several EVs shows that alternative powertrains are increasingly part of the used-vehicle velocity picture.
Older Vehicles Turn Faster
The biggest change appears in the 7–11-year-old category, where average time to sale improved by 8.64 days to 52.52 days. Honda Civic models were particularly strong, occupying four of the top spots in the group’s sales-speed rankings. The 2020 Civic averaged just 44.27 days to sell.
But faster movement did not translate into stronger pricing. Average price appreciation in the 7–11-year-old group fell 28.6%. That creates a clear split in the market: newer vehicles are showing more price strength, while older inventory is moving more quickly.
The sourcing challenge is particularly apparent at the lower end of the market. Cox Automotive’s Q3 Dealer Sentiment Index, based on responses from 929 U.S. dealers, found that dealers continued to report difficulty finding affordable used vehicles. One Chevrolet dealer put it bluntly: “Not enough affordable vehicles. Not enough under $20,000 that aren’t total junk or need lots of work.”
The 12-years-and-older segment highlights that supply pressure. Sales volume in that group fell 26.4%, with only three models selling more than 1,000 units during the period. The 2014 Ford F-150 led with 1,211 sales. At the same time, some individual older models continued to turn relatively quickly. The 2015 Toyota RAV4 averaged 49.17 days to sell, illustrating the demand that remains for certain older, affordable vehicles.
Bottom Line
The September data shows that the used-vehicle market is not moving uniformly by age or powertrain. Newer vehicles are holding more value, older inventory is generally turning faster, and certain EVs are appearing among the market’s quickest sellers.
That makes inventory selection increasingly important in a market where supply is difficult to replace. Cox Automotive’s Christine Garcia recently described the dynamic at NIADA 2026, saying that dealers with the right inventory can improve turn times and put their capital to work more efficiently.
