LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.—Used vehicle depreciation his the gas in September, Black Book reported.
The company’s Used Vehicle Retention Index for September decreased 1.4% (2.1 points) to 144.4 from August 2025, which is 1.3% below where it was at the same time in 2024.
“Depreciation accelerated in September, driving a 1.4% decline in the Black Book Used Vehicle Retention Index—the largest monthly drop so far this year,” said Laura Wehunt, vice president of data and analytics at Black Book. “New vehicle sales were strong, fueled by consumers eager to purchase hybrid and electric vehicles ahead of the September 30 federal tax credit expiration. Dealers had hoped the Fed’s rate cut would spur more activity, but with the announcement of two additional cuts planned for 2025, many consumers appear to be holding off on purchases, slowing retail demand.”
The Black Book Used Vehicle Retention Index is calculated using Black Book’s published Wholesale Average value on two- to six-year-old used vehicles, as percent of original typically equipped MSRP. It is weighted based on registration volume and adjusted for seasonality, vehicle age, mileage, and condition.
Click here to obtain a copy of the latest Index data.