BANDON, Ore. -

When 2012 full-year used-vehicle sales are tallied, the sum is expected to be a five-year high, according to CNW Research.

The firm’s Retail Automotive Summary released Friday afternoon said the industry’s final used sales count will likely reach 40.53 million units, which would be a 4.5-percent year-over-year hike.

What’s more, this would be the best yearly total since 2007, when 41.42 million used cars were sold. It would also end a four-year streak of used sales coming in under 40 million each year.

Franchised dealers are projected to have moved about 15 million used units in 2012 for an 8.3-percent  year-over-year gain, with independents up 1.8 percent with 14.02 million used sales. CNW is forecasting full-year private-party sales to hit 11.52 million, a 3-percent rise.

As for December’s expected results, CNW is calling for 3.15 million used sales this month, which would be on par (up 0.3 percent) with December 2011 figures.

However, this sum includes private-party sales, which are forecasted to fall 28.1 percent year-over-year at 860,030 units. Dealers, though, appear to have fared much better.

Franchised stores are expected to bring in 1.15 million used sales (up 17.3 percent from December 2011), and independents are projected to move 1.14 million units for an 18.2-percent gain.

In the analysis, CNW president Art Spinella addressed why private-party sales will fail to hit the 900,000 mark after reaching 1.2 million sales in December 2011.

“Major reason: Solid trade-in values from dealers and a growing number of those who are undecided about buying new or used falling onto the new-car side,” Spinella said.

“Outlook for 2013? Expect private-party sales to remain soft with franchised dealers grabbing a larger overall share over total used sales — perhaps as much as 40 percent, depending on the strength of the new-car market.”

Edmunds.com also released expectations for December sales. Read our story on that analysis here.