Fleet Lease Consignor Prices Up 6.6% in March
Prices for vehicles from fleet lease consignors increased 6.6% in March and are 4.9% higher than a year ago driven in part by a strong spring selling season that boosted the values significantly from February levels, according to KAR Auction Services.
Screenshot of Tom Kontos, chief economist, courtesy of KAR Auction Services.
Screenshot via KAR Auction Services.
Prices for vehicles from fleet lease consignors increased 6.6% in March and are 4.9% higher than a year ago driven in part by a strong spring selling season that boosted the values significantly from February levels, according to KAR Auction Services.
Former fleet vehicles performed the best among the three streams of vehicles sold at auctions and other wholesale channels in March and bested vehicle values from manufacturers or dealers. Average wholesale prices from used vehicles from manufacturers increased 1.6% from February and 9.2% from a year ago. Dealer cars, including off-lease vehicles and trade-ins, were up 3.5% for the month and 0.8% from a year ago.
"This analysis indicates that wholesale values for off-lease units are holding up well despite the overall softening market trend," said Tom Kontos, KAR's chief economist.
March represented a boost from February, where auctions saw more modest gains.
In February, former fleet vehicles fell 1% in value in February and were up 0.4% for the year. Manufacturer vehicles were up 0.6% from January and 8.7% for the year. Dealer vehicle prices fell 2.1% for the month and down 1.6% for the year.
Originally posted on Automotive Fleet
More Used Vehicle Values
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →