Vehicle Remarketing Logo

Used Vehicle Supply Hurting Residual Values

Residual values for three-year-old vehicles are flattening as a result of a record level of volume in the second quarter of 2018.

September 6, 2018
Used Vehicle Supply Hurting Residual Values

Residual values for 3-year-old vehicles are flattening as a result of a record level of volume in the second quarter of 2018.

Photo by Eric Gandarilla. 

2 min to read


Residual values for three-year-old vehicles are flattening as a result of a record level of volume in the second quarter of 2018, according to a report from Edmunds.

This flattening has increased the gap in price that exists between new and used vehicles by an average of $13,339. As new-vehicle prices continue to rise, this gap has only gotten larger, back in 2013 the difference between a new vehicle and a three-year-old vehicle was $10,632.

Ad Loading...

The biggest gap between new and used car pricing appears to be in the luxury segment, as depreciation for these vehicles has been steadily growing in the past few years. A three-year-old used midsize luxury car is about 48% cheaper than a new model, meaning that in the span of three years, a midsize luxury car has lost nearly half of its value.

Meanwhile, the price difference between a 3-year-old truck and a new model is noticeably slimmer. A used three-year-old midsize truck nets about 27% savings, compared to a new model.

One reason cited for the higher depreciation from the luxury segment is its high lease penetration. These vehicles are often some of the most often-leased models, meaning that there is a constant supply of off-lease vehicles returning to market. Trucks, on the other hand, have much smaller lease penetrations, meaning that demand for these used vehicles often outweighs supply.

Leasing rates have steadily risen in recent years, should they continue to rise, pricing for segments that have high lease penetrations could continue to fall.

More Used Vehicle Values

Graphic reading “Set today. Tested years later. Fixed Value, Moving Market” over a dark industrial background with market graphs and the Vehicle Remarketing logo.

What Happens When Residual Values Meet Real-World Markets

A truck's trade value isn't determined on turn-in day. Learn how market cycles, maintenance, and timing shape the gap between residuals and reality.

Read More →
Blue bar graphs showing changes in wholesale used vehicle prices based on vehicle segments.
Auctionsby News/Media ReleaseJuly 9, 2026

Manheim Index Shows Used-Vehicle Wholesale Prices Up 2.1% in June

The market is seeing stronger appreciation in older used vehicles this year, and the most affordable segments have been among the year’s best performers.

Read More →
Bright green electric vehicle plugged into a charger inside a service and reconditioning facility, with additional vehicles lined up in the background.
OperationsJuly 1, 2026

Stop Remarketing Electric Vehicles Like Gas Cars

The advantages and attributes of electric vehicles are upending the traditional remarketing cycle, requiring fleet sellers to rely on new factors and approaches detailed below.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Series of colored line graphs showing the recent history of average used listing prices.

Used Vehicle Prices Climb Higher As Sales Pace Slows

The higher prices at used retail reflect strong wholesale values earlier in the spring, particularly for older, more affordable vehicles.

Read More →
Dark blue bar graphs showing percentage gains in average wholesale used vehicle prices

Wholesale Used Vehicle Market Sustains Moderate Rise In Values, Prices

Trends continue to normalize after a strong start to the year, as consumers contend with higher gas prices in the coming summer months.

Read More →
Chart comparing April new and used EV sales. New EV sales fell to 76,889 units while used EV sales rose to 42,080, according to Cox Automotive.

Used EV Sales Grow In April

While EV sales declined, used EV sales grew, as tighter inventory and rising prices reflected a more normalized pace for the EV market.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Blue bar graphs showing wholesale used vehicle price shifts according to vehicle segment.

Wholesale Used Vehicle Prices Slightly Up In April

The Iranian conflict and rising gas prices inject much uncertainty into the future wholesale used vehicle markets, as higher gas prices soak up spendable income from vehicle buyers.

Read More →
collage of conference speakers
Operationsby Chris BrownApril 30, 2026

CAR 2026 Recap Part 2: Closing the Gap Between Data & Remarketing Value

The second half of CAR 2026 examined how fleets can translate lifecycle strategy, vehicle data, and market shifts into higher real-world results.

Read More →
Collage of CAR speakers
Used Vehicle Valuesby Chris BrownApril 27, 2026

CAR2026 in Two Words: Velocity, Value (Part 1)

The 2026 Conference of Automotive Remarketing convened with a mandate to involve a new constituency — fleet managers — and an updated mission to demonstrate unrealized value in de-fleeted vehicles.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Line comparisons of used vehicle inventory set in different colors.
Fleetby News/Media ReleaseApril 20, 2026

March Used Vehicle Inventory Falls To Lowest Since 2019

Franchised and independent dealers had a total of 1.95 million used vehicles in stock in March, the lowest on record in the current data set.

Read More →