You in all probability keep in mind the madness that occurred within the automotive market through the COVID panic and provide chain scarcity from a number of years in the past. As new automobile provides dwindled, used automobile costs went by way of the roof. As soon as markets stabilized, these prices got here down. For the final two and a half years, that is precisely what’s occurred.
Now, with US President Trump’s on-again-off-again tariffs bringing instability again to the new-vehicle phase, used automobile costs are reversing course. A brand new iSeeCars research exhibits a slight uptick in used autos lower than 5 years outdated. It is only one % for now—equating to a median enhance of $317. However this transformation is coming earlier than the total impact of automotive tariffs come into play, and iSeeCars Government Analyst Karl Brauer believes costs will go increased.
“Throughout the pandemic, new automobile costs spiked when automotive factories closed and manufacturing fell in need of demand,” stated Brauer. “With tariffs, costs will probably enhance no matter demand, establishing an analogous new automobile worth spike that might pull used automobile costs up.”
Diving into the numbers, the report exhibits a median used automobile worth of $31,624 for March 2025. That is an general common for autos one to 5 years outdated. This is a breakdown of used automobile costs by phase, which exhibits SUVs main the rise. Vans and hybrids are up only a tad, however vehicles, minivans, and EVs are nonetheless falling. The data is pulled from an evaluation of over 1.4 million autos.
| Automobile Phase | Common Value – March 2025 | Yr-Over-Yr Distinction (USD) | Yr-Over-Yr Distinction (P.c) |
| SUVs | $32,258 | +$1,098 | +3.5% |
| Vans | $38,443 | +$337 | +0.9% |
| Hybrids | $30,499 | +$225 | +0.7% |
| Automobiles / Minivans | $26,400 | -$865 | -3.2% |
| EVs | $32,107 | -$3,602 | -10.1% |
The massive query at this level is how tariffs and market instability will in the end have an effect on used automobile costs. That is largely as a result of uncertainty of tariffs, which, as of this text going stay, are nonetheless in impact at 25 % for all autos imported into america. Some automakers have already paused new automobile shipments to America, banking on the Trump Administration to reverse course earlier than new automobile provides run out. Ought to that not occur, iSeeCars estimates the common used automobile worth might enhance by practically $3,200, or 10 %.
“A worth bump between $1,300 and $3,800, relying on automobile phase, might be not what the common used automobile shopper desires to face over the subsequent 6 to 12 months, nevertheless it’s a particular chance if new automobile pricing rises,” stated Brauer.
Buckle up. This entire scenario will in all probability get crazier within the weeks and months to return.
