A vehicle can look like a great buy at auction until a dealership factors in what it will cost to get it to the lot. Transportation has always been part of the cost of acquiring inventory for a dealership. But these days, it’s a whole new ballgame. With diesel prices shifting, carrier availability changing and […] [Read More]

Since we’re back in San Diego for Used Car Week 2026, I’ll start with a hot take on “Top Gun,” arguably the most famous San Diego-based movie of all time (sorry, Ron Burgundy?). Like “The Godfather” or “Star Wars,” it’s one of the few films eclipsed by its sequel. “Top Gun: Maverick” is a masterpiece […] [Read More]

Even before Hurricane Isaias reached landfall as the first Atlantic hurricane of the year, there were already potentially 48,000 vehicles sustaining flood damage in the U.S. from storms in 2026, according to Carfax estimates. Those vehicles add to a vehicle population that already included more than 500,000 water-damaged vehicles currently on U.S. roads, the company […] [Read More]

Rising fuel costs. Spiking interest rates. Overall economic pressure. These are some of the biggest factors pushing Manheim’s Used Vehicle Value Index down in September as wholesale vehicle depreciation sped up. The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index fell to 205.9 last month, down 0.6% year-over-year and 1.1% from August. The September results finished out a […] [Read More]

Affordability challenges and economic volatility certainly have impacted the car business, as the latest financing data from Edmunds  showed. But one place where those headwinds haven’t influenced what’s rolling over dealership curbs came to light on Tuesday, according to the JD Power 2026 U.S. Automotive Brand Loyalty Study. Researchers said brand loyalty averaged 50.2% across […] [Read More]

The past several years reshaped the economics of automotive retail, creating operating conditions that were never likely to last. Dealers who thrived on thin supply and outsized margins are now addressing a harder operating environment: rising floorplan costs, more price-sensitive consumers, and compressed per-vehicle gross. The dealers who will outperform the next five years are […] [Read More]

Used-vehicle prices are up just 0.2% this month, a $40 increase, according to Carfax. On the surface, that may seem steady. However, there are some basic economic drivers at play that are balancing out the market, Carfax says in analysis around its monthly index, and that could have implications for both dealers and consumers. Especially […] [Read More]

With apologies to Sergio Leone, Clint Eastwood and Co., it’s a bit of the “The Good, the Bad and the Neutral” in the used-car market. As the sun sets on the third quarter and Cox Automotive updates its 2026 projections, used-car sales are showing true grit, while other market indicators may have the industry potentially […] [Read More]

Think about the last time you had a need that could be fulfilled by a brand and its products or services. Maybe you were in need of a new tool to fix something in your house or you needed a specific outfit for an event. In these cases, your mind likely turned toward a few […] [Read More]

In this installment of Auto Remarketing’s 40 Under 40 franchise, we feature the 2026 honorees in the “40 Under 40: Industry” program, which is sponsored by IAA and focuses on consignors, auctions, auto finance, vendors, tech companies, associations and other players within the used-car space. Honorees will be recognized in the October issue of Auto Remarketing and […] [Read More]