Retail Used Vehicle Sales Jump 8 Percent in January

Supplies are expected to remain tight this year because of lingering effects of supply chain and manufacturing issues that began during the pandemic.

Used cars are offered for sale at a dealership in Chicago, Ill., on July 11, 2023. Scott Olson/Getty Images

A higher number of used vehicles were sold across the United States at the retail level last month than a year back, with total sales for 2025 expected to breach 20 million units, according to automotive services company Cox Automotive.

“A total of 1.41 million used vehicles were sold at retail—from both franchised and independent dealers—during January, up 8 percent year-over-year,” the company said in a Feb. 14 statement. Scott Vanner, senior analyst of Economic and Industry Insights at Cox Automotive, said that “used retail vehicle sales usually rise this time of year. Although this year’s sales percentage increase exceeds last year’s, it is still below previous years.”