04/20/2026
Used vehicle prices just jumped $1,500 since mid-March. The average used car is now $25,500.
CARFAX's take: dealers need to be "creative in sourcing inventory, looking at all options."
Here's what that means in practice: your past customers have more equity in their vehicles right now than they did 60 days ago. That means better trade-in responses, better appraisal conversations, better appointments.
The dealers who are winning this market aren't finding better auction cars. They're not bidding harder at Manheim. They're going back to their own database first.
Trade Agent AI does exactly that β autonomously reaches out to your past buyers, identifies who's in the equity sweet spot, and books appointments. Koons Motors: 27 trade-ins a month from their existing customer list. $171K gross in month one.
The inventory is already yours. You just haven't asked for it yet.