NADAUCG: May's Used-Vehicle Price Index Rises for First Time This Year
The firm reported that wholesale prices for cars eight years or older fell 2% in May, which was better than the 2.7% drop recorded for the month over the last four years. The improvement led to the first increase this year in the NADA Used Car Guide's used-vehicle price index.
TYSONS, Va. — Wholesale prices for cars eight years or older fell by 2% in May, according to June’s NADA Used Car Guide. The report stated that the price for used mainstream cars continued to fall at industry-high rates in May. However, it added that May’s overall performance was better than expected.
The report noted that the 2% drop in used-vehicle prices was better than the 2.7% drop recorded for the month over the past four years. Due to this improvement, the NADA Used Car Guide’s seasonally adjusted used-vehicle price index rose for the first time this year by 0.7% to 119.1.
“When compared to the same period in 2015 on an index basis year to date, average prices this year are down by about 4%. Through the first five months of the year, depreciation has accelerated at a steeper rate for small to mid-size cars, as well as small and mid-size utilities. Vehicles in the large car, truck, SUV and luxury segments have fared better,” the report stated.
The best performing segments for the month were mid-size and large pickup trucks by a large margin. Prices for the two segments fell by a combined average of 0.4% during the month, a slight improvement over the previous month’s drop of 0.6%.
Mid-size vans also fared well. The segment saw prices fall less than 1% in May, marking an approximate 1.5% improvement over the last two years.
Luxury vehicle prices performed better than the rest of the mainstream segments, the report stated. Luxury CUV prices saw the steepest fall with a 2.1% drop in price. The rest of the luxury segments averaged a 1.2% drop, according to the report.
Compact car prices suffered the biggest dip, with prices for the segment falling 3% in May. Large and mid-size cars followed closely behind with a 2.7% price dip, while subcompacts saw prices fall by 2.4%. Subcompact prices could have been worse, the report stated, but a “17% pullback in late-model auction sales volume over the month” helped performance.
Even the much sought-after CUV segment experience above-average depreciation in May, according to the report. The report cited a growing pool of supply and higher new-vehicle incentives for the segment’s price drop of 2.5%.
On a year-to-date basis, CUV depreciation is nearly 5% worse compared to the fourth quarter of 2015. CUVs are now tied with subcompacts and compact cars for the biggest negative swing in the industry, the report stated.
More F&I

New Lifetime Battery F&I Product Meant to Drive Dealer Traffic
EFG Cos. offering is intended to create lifetime auto dealer engagement with customers.
Read More →
The Psychology Behind Menus That Increase Add-On Sales
There is a science to crafting a menu that gives customers confidence in the choices presented, and moving the process outside the F&I office can further boost results.
Read More →
Why Your F&I PVR Is Misleading You
Here’s a handy checklist of the numbers to track in 2026 instead.
Read More →
Auto Consumer Anxiety Presents Opportunity
A survey of U.S. drivers found the majority are concerned about finances and the economy, but those fears make many ready to buy vehicle-protection products.
Read More →
Humble and Hungry: 12 Rules for an F&I Life
Dustin Gingerich, with a decade in the F&I business under his belt, shares his thoughts on leadership, building trust with customers, and the importance of learning and innovation.
Read More →
Focus on the Opening
F&I managers must learn as much as possible about their customers, starting before they walk into their offices. The bulk of today’s consumers expect that, and good results will follow.
Read More →
F&I Reaches for the Sky
The increasingly important profit center continued making gains in the first quarter, according to StoneEagle data, ancillary products proving more popular as consumers hold onto their buys longer.
Read More →
What Market Timing Mistakes Mean for Your Reinsurance Program
When volatility hits, dealer-owned reinsurance programs face a familiar temptation: pull back and wait for calmer waters. New data from BOK Financial shows why that instinct can quietly cost you years of surplus growth.
Read More →
The 90/10 Rule
In this video, Ryan Ruff explains the rule that elite sales professionals use to turn ordinary conversations into unforgettable customer experiences.
Read More →
Your Office Is Talking
What’s the atmosphere saying about you to your customers? You can make minor adjustments and additions that transform your space into one that creates trust with the people on the other side of the desk.
Read More →