Why Car Prices Are Finally Falling

Two years ago, David Rosenberg’s dealership lots were virtually empty; cars would sell as soon as they arrived. Today, Rosenberg, president of DSR Motors, which has 12 dealerships across New England, says he’s offering up huge deals to get vehicles off the lots because he has so much inventory.

Rosenberg has been forced to offer big price cuts for brands like Stellantis (formerly Chrysler) and Nissan, as well as some Subaru models. “For some cars it’s a buyers market,” he says. “We’re taking off $25,000—crazy numbers.” 

Car prices aren’t just falling at Rosenberg’s lots. New vehicle prices in May were down nearly 1% from a year ago, representing the eighth month in a row that prices have dropped, according to estimates by Kelley Blue Book. 

One big reason dealers like Rosenberg have so much inventory compared to a year ago is pandemic-related. As automakers suspended production during COVID-19, shipping lanes became clogged, and semiconductors were in short supply. Dealers had a difficult time getting cars on their lots as a result. There were so few cars available in 2021 and 2022 that sellers could charge soaring prices to people desperate for a vehicle. (Including me.) Consumers, flush with cash from stimulus packages, competed over the limited number of cars available, driving up prices further.

Read More: How To Negotiate With Car Dealers.

This continued until the end of last year, Rosenberg says. Now, though, dealers have a lot more cars—so many that they are incentivized to sell them if they sit around too long. There were 2.89 million cars available at the beginning of June, the highest number since late 2020 and a 55% increase from a year ago, according to Cox Automotive’s vAuto Live Market View.

The relief for consumers represents a big shift from a year ago, when prices were still climbing. In May 2023, new vehicles cost 4.7% more than they did the previous year, according to government data. That same government data shows new car prices are down 0.8% from a year ago.

It’s not all good news for car buyers. Interest rates for car loans are roughly four percentage points higher than they were in April 2022, according to a recent report from the Bank of America Institute. The cost of car insurance is skyrocketing. Even if prices drop further, the costs of borrowing and insurance could make consumers’ monthly payments higher than they have been. A recent Bank of America / Market Landscape Insights study found that 45% of respondents said they had trouble paying vehicle loan payments and vehicle maintenance costs.

“Even though prices are down, you may not be feeling as much relief as you’d hoped for,” says Kevin Roberts, CarGurus’ director of industry insights and analytics. 

There are some options from people who want to get a good deal. Many dealers still have 2023 models on their lots, and 2025 models are going to roll out soon, so dealers will likely offer specials, says Roberts. Used-car prices have dropped 9.3% from a year ago, according to government data.

Read More: Why We’re Spending So Much Money.

Even electric cars are getting more affordable, thanks to increased competition, faster production, and government tax credits. Research from CarGurus suggests that prices on some used EV models are a whopping 36% lower than they were a year ago. 

Of course, the cost of both new and used cars is still higher than it was before the pandemic. That’s probably not going to change anytime soon. Wages are higher. Parts are more expensive. Today, everything costs more.  

Related Posts

ClubWPT Gold $5M Sweepstakes Freeroll to Headline WPT World Championship at Wynn Las Vegas

The WPT World Championship festival at Wynn Las Vegas is making headlines again by hosting the largest freeroll in poker history, the ClubWPT Gold $5M Invitational Freeroll. This groundbreaking event not only…

Affilka by SoftSwiss sees further marketplace growth via new FizzSlots project

Affilka, the affiliate management platform developed by SoftSwiss, is set to launch its latest project, FizzSlots. Operating on the Curaçao license, the new online casino brand will…

New Bill Enabling Measured Cardroom Growth Signed By California Governor

On May 24, Governor Gavin Newsom officially signed California Assembly Bill 341, a bipartisan legislation backed up by over 40 California tribes and cardrooms that will assist…

TODOS los atuendos en Zelda- Echoes of Wisdom y cómo conseguirlos

Estos son todos los atuendos, ropajes y trajes secretos que puedes desbloquear para Zelda en The Legend of Zelda: Echoes of Wisdom. Descubre cómo conseguirlos para cambiar…

Slots Evolution and Their Impact on the Gambling Industry

Casinos are designed to entice and influence visitor’s behavior and there is no better example of that than slot machines. Along with layout and other key elements…

Groupe Partouche opens the world’s first drive-through casino service

French casino operator Groupe Partouche has reportedly heralded the opening last month of the world’s first drive-through casino service for its Casino Grande-Motte facility in the south…