The retail used-vehicle sales pace and inventory both declined from September to October, according to Cox Automotive’s analysis of vAuto Live Market View data. Average listing price was $27,133, up 4.9% from a year ago but down slightly from September.
2.19M
Total Inventory
49
Days’ Supply
$27,133
Average Listing Price
Inventory Dips but Holds Near Year-Ago Levels
Combined franchised and independent auto dealers had 2.19 million used vehicles on their lots in October, up 0.1% year over year but down 0.9% from September. Used-vehicle supply is above October 2024’s 2.03 million but remains below October 2023’s 2.30 million and short of the roughly 2.40 million on dealer lots in October 2022.
Used-Vehicle Inventory Volume
Used-Vehicle Sales Pace Is Down From a Year Ago
The retail used-vehicle sales pace decreased 1.3% year over year in October and declined 2.5% from September. Total retail used sales volume is estimated at 1.38 million.
Used-Vehicle Retail Sales
Retail used-vehicle sales are running slightly below last year’s pace amid economic headwinds and affordability pressures. Demand has been supported largely by sales of 1- to 3-year-old used vehicles, which are up 12.9% from a year ago, along with the relative value of used vehicles compared with new models and improving credit access. The Dealertrack Credit Availability Index reached its highest level since April 2015 in October.
Ford, Chevrolet, Toyota, Honda and Nissan remained the top-selling used-vehicle brands in October, unchanged from September and collectively accounting for more than 49% of all retail used-vehicle sales.
Days’ Supply Rises as Sales Pace Slows
Days’ supply, based on the estimated daily retail sales pace for the most recent month, was 49.2 in October, compared with 48.5 in October 2025. Used-vehicle inventory fell 0.9% month over month while the sales pace fell 2.5%, lengthening days’ supply by nearly one day from 48.4 in September.
Used-Vehicle Inventory Days’ Supply
Used-Vehicle Prices Ease From September
The average used-vehicle listing price was $27,133 in October, up 4.9% from a year earlier but down 0.4% from a revised $27,250 in September. The year-over-year gap has narrowed for two straight months, from 7% in August to 5.7% in September and 4.9% in October.
In each of the past two years, used-vehicle prices followed a modest seasonal pattern: edging up in the spring, flattening over the summer and rising gradually toward year-end. This year has been different. Prices climbed sharply in the spring and have held near those higher levels since.
Average Used-Vehicle Listing Price
Affordable Used Vehicles Remain in Short Supply
Affordable used-vehicle options remain limited. Used vehicles priced below $15,000 had only 34 days’ supply, 15 days below the industry average. Supply in that price band fell 19.3% year over year and now accounts for 15.8% of all used-vehicle inventory, down from 19.6% a year ago.
Certified Pre-Owned Sales Rise From September
Certified pre-owned (CPO) sales were up 9% year over year in October and increased 6% from September, according to data reviewed by Cox Automotive. October CPO sales are estimated at 226,026, up from 212,985 in September. CPO share of total used-vehicle retail sales was 16.4% in October, up from 15.6% in September. Demand could grow further: The 2026 Cox Automotive Certified Pre-Owned Vehicle Study found that 46% of in-market shoppers are high-potential CPO buyers, though many still don’t fully understand how certified vehicles differ from traditional used ones.
