Full-Size Vans Record Strongest Retention Value, Black Book Reports
Depreciation patterns are on a different trajectory than 2014, according to Black Book. The firm reported a 0.7% decrease in value for 2009-2013 model-year vehicles.
LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga. — This year’s depreciation patterns are on a different trajectory than they were in 2014, according to Black Book. The firm reported this week that the average price of 2009-2013 model-year vehicles depreciated 0.7% in March — a period in which the market was bolstered by tax-buying season and strong residual values of full-size vans, according to Black Book.
Full-size passenger vans recorded the strongest retention value with a 1.5% increase from February and a 3.3% increase from a year ago. The average price at auction for vehicles such as the Dodge/Freightliner Sprinter, Ford E-Series and Chevrolet G-Series was $19,468.
Domestic cars showed relative strength in March, increasing 0.9% to $11,906, while domestic trucks fell 0.3% to $18,542 and import trucks fell 0.9% to $21,818.
Three car categories increased in March, including entry-level cars (0.1 percent to $7,699), upper mid-size cars (0.6 percent to $10,976), and full-size cars (0.9 percent to $12,012). Three truck categories also increased, including full-size cargo vans (0.9 percent to $20,315), sub compact CUVs (1.1 percent to $17,900), and full-size passenger vans.
Black Book began tracking sales of used subcompact CUVs, a category that includes the Buick Encore, Chevrolet Trax, Fiat 500X, and Jeep Renegade.
Premium sporty cars recorded the steepest depreciation among car categories in March at 1.2 percent to $46,147. They fell 13.3 percent from a year ago. Vehicles in this segment include the BMW 6-Series, Chevrolet Corvette, Mercedes-Benz SL and Cadillac XLR.
More Auto Finance

Dealerships Are Paying the Price for Extended Car Loans
Growing negative-equity scenarios mean such lengthy terms should be addressed in a forward-looking way to make them work for the dealer and the consumer down the road.
Read More →
Trade-Ins in Negative Equity Reach New Heights
As such trade-ins rise in frequency, so do monthly loan payment amounts and interest rates, according to second-quarter data compiled by Edmunds.
Read More →
Auto Credit Plentiful
June numbers show lenders are readily granting access, including to risky borrowers, as consumers leverage themselves to take on high prices.
Read More →
Automotive Consumers Sink Further in Debt
Most financing metrics hit records in the second quarter as more buyers locked themselves into long terms and high monthly payments.
Read More →
Porsche Financial Services Shifts Structure
After 36 years with Porsche, the Financial Services Chief Financial Officer Konrad Riedl is retiring, and the department is realigning its management structure.
Read More →
Tariffs Could Raise Insurance Premiums
As U.S. import tariffs affect repair costs, consumers might find it more affordable to replace a damaged vehicle, according to recent Insurify tariff analysis.
Read More →
Smaller Loans, Longer Terms
The youngest generation of car buyers is more likely to finance less expensive vehicles, more than half of generation Z consumers borrowing less than $25,000.
Read More →
New Cars a Tad More Affordable
May averages show that combined circumstances gave auto consumers slightly better buying power for the month, though average prices were up year-over-year.
Read More →
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 →