In an effort to satisfy demand on the lots, which cars and trucks are dealers looking for in the lanes this spring? 

Black Book tracked the most in-demand used car and truck segments this spring season, and found that dealers are buying up vehicles at a rapid rate in three particular segments.

For seven of the past eight weeks, the entry-level cars, the entry midsize cars, and the upper midsize cars — at an average segment price ranging from $6,141 to $8,721 — have consistently increased in retention activity, Black Book’s Ricky Beggs reported.

And the pricing on these unite are well below the overall car segment average price of $14,316, which currently includes vehicles from three to eight years old.

So, why are dealers in such a hurry to get these units on their lots?

Black Book explained that these segments are a “prime target” of tax refund shoppers looking for used vehicles under $10,000.

Interestingly, this trend could be due to seasonality, as well; these were also the strongest segments during this time of the year for 2012 and 2011.

On the truck side of the market, a couple of the lower average priced segments — the cargo and passenger minivans, with average prices of $4,977 and $7,667, respectively —  “are also tracking at the better week-over-week retention levels behind the three pickup segments (compact, midsize and full-size),” Beggs said.

“The remaining 12 truck segments all are at five-digit-level pricing, with the overall average truck segment currently priced at $13,182,” he added.

Tax season could also be playing a part in renewed interest in this segment, as well.

“This past week with 10 of the 14 truck segments increasing week-over-week; the trucks finished with an overall positive retention change,” Beggs said.

“With the better retention segments within the cars and the trucks being the lower priced segments confirms our thoughts that the tax season cars fit into a price level that most every consumer can afford even though they might not actually be an entry-level price buyer.”

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