Why Are Used Car Prices So High? A Look at the Numbers

Why are used car prices so high? It’s a question many people have asked, but many fail to ask the right question – why is it the wrong question? If you want to buy a used car, you need to ask why the prices are high and what you can do about it. If you want to sell your car, you also need to understand why used car prices are high and how you can drop your asking price. But first, let’s look at some of the reasons why used car prices are so high in the first place and how they affect buyers and sellers alike.

Why Used Car Prices Are So High

As a result of a pause in supply last year in 2020-21, rental car companies sold around 1/3 of their cars to raise money to survive the pandemic. There has been a huge increase in secondhand car prices in the 12 months since last spring’s sales frenzy, which explains the large percentage rise.

Rent-a-car firms are running out of rental cars, despite increased demand, due to the increase in travel. As a result of this year’s economic upturn, thousands of individuals who worked from home are now employed, increasing demand for automobiles.

As a result of the global pandemic, many people had to postpone their car purchases last year. According to JD Power, new automotive sales in the US exceeded 7 million cars in the first half of the year.

WHY ARE USED CAR PRICES SO EXPENSIVE IN 2021?

A limited supply of new cars in June led to an increase in used car values as a result of the international microprocessor shortage. Due to reduced availability and higher demand, used car values have increased.

There has been an increase in used car prices of 32.7 % in June. It has been happening progressively over the past year. A month ago the prices had risen to 26.4%, and within one month automobile prices had risen by approximately 7%. A microprocessor shortage has caused significant price increases in used automobiles, to the point where some slightly used cars now cost more than new ones. In spite of high used car prices in the near future, we expect to see if they rise further or return to pre-microchip scarcity levels.

2019 – The Auto Industry Sees First Decline in a Decade 

In 2008-9, the auto industry suffered a lot from the global economic crisis. Over the next decade, thanks to massive bailouts, new car production steadily increased, reaching an all-time high of 98 million units in 2019.

Despite a 5% decrease in new car production in 2019, the demand for personal and light-duty automobiles was still high due to the increased suburban lifestyle, and increasing demand for used cars.

Used car sales increased as a result, but not as dramatically as they would in the future. 

2020 – The Pandemic Hits 

As early as 2020, when the pandemic struck, the auto industry was already in recession, and lockdowns exacerbated the problem. During the pandemic, no vehicles left the Chinese factories. Similarly, Japan and Germany are the world’s top car producers.

In 2013, OICA data showed 78 million vehicles were produced globally, down 16% compared to the previous year, as well as a decline in demand for new vehicles. Because of reduced economic activity and restrictions on travel, people’s buying power was reduced.

As a result, used cars became the preferred option due to the shortage of new vehicles. There is evidence of this in the size of the US used car market. From 2018 to 2020, it was stagnant at $140 billion, but by 2021 it had grown to over $150 billion and is on track to surpass $160 billion. 

It appears that the used car market was flat in 2020. To see why, you can look at the new car market, which was down 16% in the same year. Therefore, while all other industries declined, demand for second-hand cars remained high. 

2021-2022 Global Chip Shortage 

The COVID-19 pandemic also led to an increase in semiconductor chip demand. In 2020, it rose 6.5%, and in 2021 it rose by 26%. A lockdown mandated an increase in computer usage for work and study at home.

Compounding the problem were:

Water scarcity in TSMC and other major chip factories due to the worst drought in 50 years.

China’s chip factories are on fire.

A power outage that is unscheduled.

Suez Canal transportation blockage.

There were several major implications for the automotive industry as a result of all of this, including:

General Motors and Ford announce extended plant closures in North America

The company’s 2021 sales expectations have been halved.

Approximately $47 billion was lost to the automotive industry as a result of lost production.

The automotive industry around the world suffered during this time, but the used car market grew significantly, as evidenced by the massive increase in the size of the used car market in the US. 

HOW TO FIND USED CAR VALUES?

Regardless of whether a person is a first-time buyer or is a classic car aficionado, a person must use a used car values guide to find the best prices for a used car. There are many great websites to help you find the prices of secondhand cars, but in this article, we’ll only recommend the two best websites.

TRADER IN AUTOS

As well as providing information for buyers and sellers of automobiles, Auto Trader also offers car loan advice. It provides detailed how-to guides, updated automobile critiques, analysis & news articles, as well as a car insurance calculator and the ability to register for a loan.

THE AUTOSLIST 

A Listimate tool on Autolist compares used car values to similar listings so that buyers get the best value. A free account can also be set up to alert users when vehicles matching certain search parameters become available. In addition to valuing used cars, Autolist also evaluates new car dealer bids to assist customers in saving money when buying new cars.

ARE USED CAR PRICES DROPPING?

We all assumed used car prices were going to keep going down for the next five years, but we’re still not really sure if buyers will notice.

In 2020, new car purchases have also led to a scarcity of 2020-year off-lease cars in 2023. If this happens, it’s likely that there will be a lack of 2023-year used cars around that time. Good news for anyone planning to buy a vehicle in the coming years – there are a few positive signs. There are also several car auctions where you might find a less expensive option. Here are some of the best auctions in Baltimore where you can look for the best deals on new and used cars.

 

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