Related: Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index Rises in Third Consecutive Month
Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index Peaks
Wholesale used vehicle prices — on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis — increased 0.75% month-over-month in August, bringing the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index to a record high of 131.3.

Courtesy of Manheim.
Wholesale used vehicle prices — on a mix-, mileage-, and seasonally adjusted basis — increased 0.75% month-over-month in August, bringing the Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index to a record high of 131.3.
The weakest performing wholesale vehicle segment in August was the mid-sized car segment. Values for mid-sized cars fell by 0.2% year over year, the largest decline among all vehicle segments. Meanwhile, vans and pickups saw the largest gains in wholesale value among all vehicle segments.
Overall, the wholesale market continues to show strength as a result of growing retail demand, according to Manheim. The Manheim report attributes most of the increase in used vehicle sales to double digit year-over-year growth in sales of vehicles less than 4 years old.
Although, while used vehicles less than 4 years in age performed well in August, the used cars in general saw a decline in sales in August. This weak month, however, is being seen as a bump in the road in an otherwise strong year.
Year-to-date, used car sales are up 1.2% and it is expected that used cars will finish the year up 3% over last year.
In the new-vehicle segment, light trucks continued to perform well in August, with sales up 2% year-over-year. Cars, on the other hand, continued to see consumer demand falter as August sales for the segment were down 9% year over year.
Overall, new-vehicle sales were down 3% year over year in August, according to Manheim. Much of the decline, however, was due to Hurricane Harvey’s impact on Southeast Texas.
Cox Automotive estimated that anywhere between 320,000 to 580,000 vehicles would be damaged by Hurricane Harvey. Replacement demand along with a reduction in available supply is expected to cause wholesale inventories to tighten for the next two to three months, the company noted.
“Supply will be pulled from other regions, so the impact to the wholesale market will be widespread, providing additional support for continued wholesale price gains for at least the next two months,” noted the Manheim report.
Originally posted on Auto Rental News
More Operations

Used EVs Strengthen Overall Electric Vehicle Market
The latest sales data point to several reasons for the divergent trends in new and used EVs that can factor into fleet cycling decisions.
Read More →
The Data-Driven Haul: 5 Ways AI is Leveling the Playing Field in Auto Transport
Large and small transport fleets are becoming more competitive as predictive analytics and real-time data inform the logistics decision chain.
Read More →
How to Speak the Same Language on Fleet Safety
Drivers, supervisors, and data often speak different safety “languages.” Getting on the same page will drive better results.
Read More →
2026 CAR Awards Celebrate Industry Excellence
CAR’s annual Fleet Remarketing Awards opened a reimagined 2026 conference designed to bridge the worlds of fleet management and automotive remarketing.
Read More →
The Predictive Pivot: How AI and Data Are Redefining Auto Logistics in 2026
AI is no longer a luxury but the baseline for profitability in 2026. Auto haulers that adopt these tools now will quickly outpace those using manual workflows and taking a wait-and-see approach.
Read More →
The Predictive Pivot: How AI and Data Are Redefining Auto Logistics in 2026
AI is no longer a luxury but the baseline for profitability in 2026. Auto haulers that adopt these tools now will quickly outpace those that use manual workflows or take a wait-and-see approach.
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 →
CAR 2026: Get the Wall Street Update on the Key Players in Remarketing
From a Wall Street analyst's take on remarketing's key players to whether fleets need their own version of Carfax, CAR 2026's afternoon roundtables will answer key operational and industry questions.
Read More →
CAR 2026 Session to Uncover the Missing Data That's Costing Fleets at Disposal
Work trucks lose value at remarketing, not because they aren't worth more, but because the data to prove it rarely makes it to the auction.
Read More →