Black Book: 2014 Used-Car Depreciation Stays Low
As 2014 draws to a close, Black Book expects overall 2014 depreciation for used vehicles to land at -13.5%. Depreciation was slightly less in November compared with October levels.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. —According to Black Book data, the average price of a used vehicle for model years 2009-2013 saw slightly less depreciation in November (-1.9%) compared with October levels (-2.0%).
Domestic cars changed -2.2%; import cars changed -1.8%; domestic trucks changed -2.2%; and import trucks changed -1.6%. Average pre-recession depreciation is historically between -1% and -2% monthly, and Black Book expects overall 2014 depreciation of -13.5%.
Truck segments saw some of their largest monthly depreciation of the year at -2.2%, and the full-size pickups actually led all vehicle segments with the largest monthly depreciation at -3.0%. Trucks in this segment include the Ford F150, Chevrolet Avalanche, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra, Chevrolet Silverado and Toyota Tundra. This category finished the month with an average segment price of $25,784, a -7.0% change from year-ago levels ($27,723).
The compact cars led all car segments with the largest monthly depreciation at -2.6%, noticeable better from the previous month’s rate of -4.4% but still the highest among all car categories in November. Vehicles in this segment include the Honda Civic, Chevrolet Cobalt/Cruze, Toyota Corolla and Ford Focus. This segment finished the month with an average price of $9,081, a -16.2% change from year-ago levels ($10,840).
Opposite the full-size pickups, the truck segment that saw the lightest monthly depreciation rate was the mid-size pickups category at -0.6%, in addition to full-size passenger vans that ended in positive territory at +0.9%. Vehicles in the mid-size pickup segment include the GMC Canyon, Chevrolet Colorado, Dodge Dakota and Honda Ridgeline. This segment finished the month with an average price of $16,860, a -6.8% change from year-ago levels ($18,099).
The mid-size SUVs (-0.9%) and the compact pickups (-1.4%) also finished with the lowest depreciation rates. However, the full-size and compact crossover segments at -2.1% joined the minivan segments as the trucks with the highest depreciation.
The sporty cars finished the month with the strongest depreciation rate among all cars at just -1.4%. However, joining the compact cars at the higher end of the spectrum were the upper mid-size cars (-2.6%) and the entry-level cars at -2.5%.
“With fuel prices falling to annual lows in November it didn’t surprise us to see weaker retention on the fuel-efficient and smaller used vehicles,” said Ricky Beggs, editorial director at Black Book. “However, overall it is surprising to see that the focus and strength of the new-car sales didn’t pull more demand from the used activity during November.”
More Auto Finance

First-Quarter Sees Long Auto Loan Growth
Experian data show more consumers are tapping the method, along with refinancings, to afford buying. Meanwhile, subprime borrowers are getting more access.
Read More →
Mastering Credit Friction
In this video, Josh Krach explains how to turn credit friction into an advantage.
Read More →
April Less Affordable
Based on prices, reduced incentives and slower household income growth, consumers found it more challenging to buy new last month, Cox Automotive reported.
Read More →
Auto Lenders, Consumers on a Tightrope
April borrowing data shows that more consumers are bending over backward to buy vehicles, though subprime lending cooled off for the month.
Read More →
Toyota Financial Services President Replaced
Scott Cooke has served in various roles with Toyota Financial Services for over 20 years, including president and CEO, which he retires from on June 30.
Read More →
Permission or Approval: When to Notify Finance Sources
Credit card down payments, multiple vehicle purchases and even straw purchases can be completed without committing bank fraud, as long as you tell the bank first.
Read More →
At-Risk Auto Borrowers Drive Looser Credit Access
Cox Automotive’s index shows the subprime segment, long loan terms, negative-equity borrowers and down payment amounts all grew in February despite ever-higher vehicle prices.
Read More →
Auto Loan Forecast Bucks Market Trend
Auto loan originations rose over 6% year-over-year in the third quarter of 2025, but TransUnion predicts a slight decline in auto loan growth this year, making it an outlier in the company's overall lending forecast.
Read More →
Auto Credit More Plentiful
Growing access shows greater lender appetite for risk as consumers take on heavier debt burden in an inflated market.
Read More →
Auto Loans Long as Stretch Limos
More consumers, faced with ever-rising car prices, are adapting by agreeing to longer loan terms despite the cost of added interest payments.
Read More →