Toronto, Ontario -- Concern about the impact of new tariffs placed on auto parts imported into the U.S. by the Trump Administration is pushing up vehicle prices, a new report has found.
The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index rose to 208.5 in June, a 6.3 percent jump from the same time last year and a 1.6 percent increase over May 2025. As the strongest year-over-year gain since 2022, the price surge highlights how rising wholesale prices are adding pressure across the automotive sector.
The data, released by Cox Automotive, shows that used vehicle prices are being pushed up by limited inventory, steady consumer demand as well as Trump's tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts.
The index tracks millions of wholesale transactions each year and is widely used as a market benchmark. Although retail used vehicle sales dipped slightly in June, they remains higher than a year ago.
Electric vehicles saw the biggest gains, with wholesale prices up 12.1 percent year-over-year. Luxury vehicles followed, rising 8.8 percent. Compact cars were the only segment to slip, falling 0.1 percent.
Manheim also reported that wholesale supply remains tight. Listing prices are up, but inventory is moving faster than in 2024. Industry analysts say prices are likely to remain elevated through the rest of the year.
For repairers, higher vehicle prices can mean higher repair values, longer total-loss calculations and growing pressure to repair over replace.
