Compare cars with similar mileage, condition, and history. Keep the purchase price and trade-in offer separate when evaluating your deal.
What to know
Cox Automotive’s September Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index was 205.9, down 1.1% from August and 0.6% from a year earlier. The index adjusts wholesale prices for vehicle mix, mileage, and seasonality.
Wholesale auction trends are not the same as retail asking prices or an individual trade-in offer. Local demand, reconditioning, and vehicle history still matter. A falling aggregate index also does not mean every vehicle category is moving in the same direction.
Read the used-car buying guideOriginal analysis and practical guidance based on the linked sources. Lead source published October 7, 2026; checked October 13, 2026.
