- The prices dealers pay for used cars rose by 0.3% in the first two weeks of December after adjusting for normal seasonal fluctuations.
- Wholesale price changes tend to become retail price changes after six to eight weeks.
Used car prices may continue their modest climb into early 2026.
The numbers come from auction giant Manheim. Its Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index tracks the prices car dealers pay to restock their lot at used car auctions. Manheim and Kelley Blue Book share a parent company, Cox Automotive.
The index sits 0.6% higher than a year ago. Retail prices tend to follow shifts in wholesale prices with a lag of about six to eight weeks.
Used car prices have increased slightly in recent weeks. The average used car was listed for $25,730 to start December — down $217 from the start of November.
The change in the index suggests that the pattern could reverse in early 2026. Used car prices tend to rise in late winter as the first tax returns start hitting Americans’ bank accounts. If you know you’ll need to buy soon, it might make sense to move quickly before that happens.
