It seems dealers, buyers, and auction owners alikemight be seeing higher values and volumes in the lanes as 2013 gets under way. This week, National Auto Auction Association president-elect Jack Neshe and NAAA president Paul Lips joined Black Book’s Ricky Beggs during his “Beggs on the Used Car Market” video report.

After years of low volume and inventory struggles the industry is starting to pick back up, and Beggs asked the pair where they see the market going in the next year.

In response, Lips said, “I’m excited. I think this is the first time in four to five years we can look out at the next year and see the potential for growth. With new-car sales having rebounded for about three years in a row now; leasing is picking up, and it seems credit has loosened up a little bit.”

And it seems an increase in repossessed vehicles coming back into the market may help what has been a tight inventory environment for used dealers the past few years.

“Unfortunately, delinquencies, we have heard in the news here lately, have hopped up a little bit. I think we will see some rebounds, off-lease vehicles, repos coming back in the market. So, I think in the tail end of my year (2013), we will begin to see some improvement,” Lips said.

Beggs also asked the pair how rising volumes will affect wholesale values this coming year.

Neshe said, “I think the values are going to come up. I think it is a great opportunity this upcoming year with the forecast of volumes on the rise … I think it is going to be a great opportunity for online, also. I think online is going to be as important as ever with the demand for vehicles rising.”

Beggs also touched on the devastation Hurricane Sandy wreaked on the East coast and dealerships in the affected areas.

Neshe responded:  “New York and New Jersey and some of the other Eastern states suffered some heavy losses in vehicles and property, and I think with the heavy losses that they suffered, it is going to create a demand for vehicles and rising values. And we are going to have to be more diligent than ever to watch for flood-damaged vehicles and what goes through the lanes.”

Beggs, as well as the NAAA leaders, also stressed that the industry is very involved in making sure these flood-damaged vehicles do not make it back into the lanes, and that protecting consumers is a priority.

To listen to the full interviews and video report, see below: