Automotive Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Car Depreciation Accelerates in August, Trucks Steady

Rising car depreciation put a drag on used vehicle sales, which fell in value significantly more sharply in August compared to July and August from a year ago, according to Black Book.

by Staff
September 8, 2016
Car Depreciation Accelerates in August, Trucks Steady

Photo of 2012 Ram 1500 courtesy of FCA.

2 min to read


Photo of 2012 Ram 1500 courtesy of FCA.

Rising car depreciation put a drag on used vehicle sales, which fell in value significantly more sharply in August compared to July and August from a year ago, according to Black Book.

Ad Loading...

Vehicles from the 2011 to 2015 model years depreciated 2.4% compared to the 1.5% rate in July. Depreciation rates for the last three years of August were 1.4% for 2015, 1.9% for 2014, and 1.3% for 2013.

Ad Loading...

Car categories depreciated 3.1% in August, while truck categories depreciated 1.8%. Among the car categories, entry luxury cars depreciated 3.7% to $18,112 and declined 19.5% from a year ago. This category includes the Audi A4, BMW 3-Series, Cadillac ATS, and Lexus IS250.

Full-size pickups registered the strongest retention rate by depreciating only 0.6% to $24,372. These vehicles fell 10.2% in value from a year ago.

"As fall approaches, depreciation trends continue to accelerate as we head toward the last few months of the year," said Anil Goyal, senior vice president of automotive valuation and analytics. "We can expect to see lower retention in cars across all segments as the year continues, and we'll continue to monitor truck levels to see if they also see weaker retention overall."

Other segments with weak retention included subcompact cars (3.5% to $6,970), sporty cars (3.4% to $14,951), luxury cars (3.3% to $22,517), and compact cars (3.3% to $8,737). Segments with stronger retention included subcompact luxury CUVs (1.5% to $18,242, small pickups (1.5% to $19,809), and full-size vans (1.6% to $19,823).

More Remarketing

Technician kneels beside a white commercial van, examining damage to the rear bumper and body panel while holding a tablet.
Remarketing•October 21, 2026

When Should a Fleet Repair Vehicle Damage Before Remarketing?

Not every dent, scratch, or mechanical issue is worth fixing before selling a fleet vehicle. Learn how to weigh repair costs, resale value, market demand, and downtime to determine when reconditioning pays off and when selling as-is makes more sense.

Read More →
Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index chart for September 2026, showing wholesale used-vehicle values declining to 205.9, presented in a blue graphic frame.
Remarketing•by News/Media Release•October 9, 2026

Wholesale Used-Vehicle Values Fall as Cox Automotive Cuts 2026 Forecast

Wholesale used-vehicle prices declined in September as depreciation accelerated, prompting Cox Automotive to lower its year-end forecast.

Read More →
Leadership update graphic featuring four FLD executives, from left to right, Gary Mott, Ron Sanders, Santiago Ramirez, and Richard Mallek, against a red, black, and gray background with bold “Leadership Update” lettering.
Remarketing•by Staff and News Reports•October 8, 2026

FLD Promotes Three Executives in Leadership Changes

FLD has promoted three longtime executives, naming Gary Mott CEO, Richard Mallek president, and Ron Sanders managing partner.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Ford Pro commercial vehicles representing the types of trucks and vans eligible for the Ford Pro Advantage certified pre-owned program.
Remarketing•by Faith Howell•September 30, 2026

Ford Pro Launches Certified Pre-Owned Program for Commercial Vehicles

Ford Pro Advantage will offer certified pre-owned Class 1-7 commercial vehicles through more than 700 Ford Pro Commercial Vehicle Centers.

Read More →
Copart and ACV logos with cars in background
Remarketing•by Staff•September 10, 2026

Copart to Acquire ACV in $1.9 Billion Deal

The acquisition would expand Copart beyond its traditional salvage business into dealer-to-dealer wholesale remarketing while adding ACV’s vehicle data, inspection, and valuation technology.

Read More →
Blue bar graphs showing changes in wholesale used vehicle prices based on vehicle segments.
Remarketing•by News/Media Release•July 9, 2026

Manheim Index Shows Used-Vehicle Wholesale Prices Up 2.1% in June

The market is seeing stronger appreciation in older used vehicles this year, and the most affordable segments have been among the year’s best performers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Green and black bar graphs showing 2026 versus 2025 fleet sales.
Vehicle Research•by Martin Romjue•July 8, 2026

Commercial Fleet Sales Contribute To June, YTD Gains

The fleet sector has boosted its vehicle purchases at a reliable pace in the first half of this year compared with 1H 2025.

Read More →
Series of colored line graphs showing the recent history of average used listing prices.
Remarketing•by News/Media Release•June 12, 2026

Used Vehicle Prices Climb Higher As Sales Pace Slows

The higher prices at used retail reflect strong wholesale values earlier in the spring, particularly for older, more affordable vehicles.

Read More →
Dark blue bar graphs showing percentage gains in average wholesale used vehicle prices
Remarketing•by News/Media Release•June 5, 2026

Wholesale Used Vehicle Market Sustains Moderate Rise In Values, Prices

Trends continue to normalize after a strong start to the year, as consumers contend with higher gas prices in the coming summer months.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Green and black bar graphs show May 2025 v. 2026 fleet vehicle sales into commercial, rental, and government fleet sectors.
Vehicle Research•by Martin Romjue•June 3, 2026

Commercial Fleet Sales Still Lead Sectors Despite May Mini Dip

The U.S. economy's continued growth and positive business investment are creating a favorable environment for fleet vehicle demand.

Read More →