LAWRENCEVILLE, Ga.– Spurred by concerns over rising new car prices due to the Trump Administration tariffs, used vehicle valuations increased in February, marking the first hike in 2025.
Black Book’s Used Vehicle Retention Index for February increased 0.1% (0.1 points) to 146.4 from January 2025 (146.3), which is 2.7% below where it was at the same time in 2024.
"February began with significant uncertainty regarding the potential tariffs on Canadian and Mexican imports, but an extension to March provided some relief," stated Laura Wehunt, vice president of data and analytics. "Auction activity in February was robust, with a conversion rate averaging 59% and most segments experiencing less than typical depreciation for this time of year. As the month ended, the first indications of spring appeared, with a few segments showing early springtime increases in values."
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.