Retail used-vehicle prices reached approximately $25,500 in mid-April 2026, rising about $1,500 in a single month after hitting their lowest point of the past year, according to an April 14 press release from CARFAX, part of S&P Global Mobility.
For collision repair shops, used-vehicle values function as a key input in total loss determinations. When actual cash values rise, the threshold at which a repair cost exceeds a vehicle's worth shifts upward, and more borderline claims remain in the repairable category.
The retail data follows the direction of wholesale prices tracked earlier this month: the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, published April 7 by Cox Automotive, showed wholesale used-vehicle prices rising 6.2% year over year in March on an adjusted basis, when Cox had previously forecasted a full year of 2% growth.
What’s Driving the Increase
CARFAX cited two factors behind the retail price increase in its April 14 press release: higher sticker prices on new 2026 models tied to tariff costs, and a tighter selection of used vehicles due to slower new car production in recent years.
The CARFAX Used Car Index provides additional context on the certified pre-owned supply constraint: vehicles leased when leasing activity bottomed out in 2022 are only now returning to the market, or not returning at all. That situation is expected to improve over the next 12 to 24 months, CARFAX said.
Electric vehicle prices tracked separately in CARFAX's retail data. EV prices on CARFAX listings rose by more than $560 in March, which CARFAX characterized as the largest surge in EV demand in over a year. The Manheim index showed a parallel move at wholesale: EV wholesale prices rose 7.9% year over year and 3.7% from February, with EVs accounting for a record 3.9% of the Manheim dataset in March, according to Cox Automotive.
The tariff dynamic adds a dimension that had not yet emerged when the Manheim data was published. New 2026 model price increases tied in part to tariff costs are among the factors CARFAX identified as contributing to higher used-vehicle prices.
As new-vehicle prices rise, consumers shift toward the used market, increasing demand and reducing available inventory. The CARFAX Used Car Index noted this year's March price increase of approximately 1.7% was larger than the 1.1% average monthly increase recorded in March 2025.
What It Means for Collision Repair
Fewer new vehicles entering the fleet means the vehicle population on the road continues to age. S&P Global Mobility data cited in CCC Intelligent Solutions' Crash Course 2026 report found the average age of light vehicles in the U.S. reached 12.8 years in 2025, with the average expected to reach 13 years in 2026.
Used-vehicle prices affect shop volume through their role in total loss thresholds. As retail and wholesale values rise together, shops may see more borderline vehicles retained as repairable rather than totaled. The surge in used EV values also signals a larger pool of used EVs likely entering the repair stream in the months ahead. Shops tracking ACV trends alongside incoming vehicle mix will be better positioned to anticipate claim flow through the spring season.
