In the first two months of the year, the pre-owned side of the auto industry is pacing towards another year in the neighborhood of 38 million sales.

Edmunds is predicting February used-car sales of 3.4 million units. That forecast would translate into a SAAR of 37.9 million. There were 3.0 million used-car sales in January and the SAAR was the same. 

Offering a milder forecast, ALG anticipates a possible 3.17 million used-vehicle sales this month, which would beat year-ago figures by 7.9 percent.

Separately, in its latest Used Car Market Report, Edmunds said there was a total of 38.51 million used vehicles sold last year, which beat prior-year figures by 0.6 percent.

Franchised dealers sold 11.57 million used cars in 2016, and a record 22.8 percent were certified pre-owned, according to the report. There was also a record  2.64 million CPO cars sold last year, Edmunds said.

​Below is how used-vehicle sales overall have trended over the last six years, according to Edmunds:

• 2011: 36.92 million
   
• 2012: 37.58 million
   
• 2013: 35.83 million
   
• 2014: 36.24 million
   
• 2015: 38.28 million
   
• 2016: 38.51 million