Highlights:

  • 1- to 5-year-old used car sales have been slowing for the past seven months, taking an average of over 45 days to sell since August
  • February was the slowest month since January 2024, with the average used car taking 53 days to sell
  • The Tesla Model X, Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV, and Tesla Cybertruck are the three fastest-selling used cars
  • The Volvo XC60 plug-in hybrid, BMW i5, and Dodge Hornet plug-in hybrid are the three slowest-selling used cars
  • Four Teslas (Models X, 3, Y, and Cybertruck) are among the fastest-selling used cars

Used car prices have increased dramatically over the past 6 years, but consumer patience for their high cost may finally be wearing thin. The number of days the average 1- to 5-year-old used car takes to sell (days on market) has been increasing since August. Last month, the average used car took 53 days to sell – a 40.6% jump from a year earlier, and the highest days on market in over two years, since January 2024.

“Used car prices have stabilized over the past 18 months, and they actually dropped slightly in January and February,” said iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer. “But it’s still taking longer to sell these cars, as more consumers either hang on to their current vehicle or shop for older used models to save money.”

 

Used Cars Now Languishing on the Lot

A year ago in February 2025, the average 1- to 5-year-old used car was sitting on dealer lots for 37.7 days. But since August, the monthly average days on market has increased to 40 to 50 days. In October 2025, the days on market increased 53.5% compared to a year earlier, and last month (February 2026) it increased 40.6%.
Average Days on Market for 1- to 5-Year-Old Used Cars By Month - iSeeCars Study
Year Month Days on Market Days on Market, Previous Year % Difference Year-over-Year
2026 February 53.0 37.7 40.6%
2026 January 51.7 43.5 18.9%
2025 December 46.9 34.1 37.5%
2025 November 49.8 37.4 33.2%
2025 October 51.1 33.3 53.5%
2025 September 45.8 36.2 26.5%
2025 August 45.1 39.9 13.0%
2025 July 38.2 42.9 -11.0%
2025 June 39.2 44.9 -12.7%
2025 May 37.3 42.3 -11.8%
2025 April 34.9 41.5 -15.9%
2025 March 40.4 34.2 18.1%
“The slowing trend in used car sales is undeniable over the past 7 months,” said Brauer. “If used car shoppers are both tired of high prices and feeling less confident about their spending power, that days-on-market number will likely increase.”

Used EVs Are Selling Faster Than Traditional Cars, But Sales Are Still Slowing

Used electric vehicles are selling faster than the average car, with February’s EV number at 47.4 days compared to the overall average of 53 days on market. But used EVs are also taking longer to sell than before, with increases in monthly average days-on-market year-over-year starting in August. In October 2025 used EVs took 48.4% longer to sell than in 2024, and last month used EVs took 13.4% longer to sell compared to February 2025. 
Average Days on Market for 1- to 5-Year-Old Used EVs By Month - iSeeCars Study
Year Month Days on Market Days on Market, Previous Year % Difference Year-over-Year
2026 February 47.4 41.8 13.4%
2026 January 46.0 44.6 3.1%
2025 December 44.0 31.3 40.6%
2025 November 47.6 34.3 38.8%
2025 October 46.6 31.4 48.4%
2025 September 46.6 35.2 32.4%
2025 August 52.6 38.6 36.3%
2025 July 36.6 38.5 -4.9%
2025 June 38.6 44.0 -12.3%
2025 May 36.7 45.2 -18.8%
2025 April 34.0 50.7 -32.9%
2025 March 37.1 36.5 1.6%
“With electric vehicles making up a tiny fraction of the used car market it takes less demand to keep them moving off dealer lots,” said Brauer. “And with new EV volume and sales dropping in recent months, it’s likely the used EV market will remain relatively strong.”

 

Used Tesla Demand Is Keeping Overall Used EV Numbers Strong

It’s worth noting that Tesla still makes up the bulk of used EV sales, and that’s why used EVs appear to be selling faster than used cars overall: Tesla's rapid sales are pulling the average EV days on market down. 

The table and chart below show what happens when used EVs, excluding Tesla sales, are calculated. The days on market numbers over the past 7 months shift from the mid- to high 40s to the mid- to high 50s.

Average Days on Market for 1- to 5-Year-Old Used Non-Tesla EVs By Month - iSeeCars Study
Year Month Days on Market Days on Market, Previous Year % Difference Year-over-Year
2026 February 57.3 49.8 15.1%
2026 January 56.2 52.5 7.0%
2025 December 44.7 35.2 27.0%
2025 November 50.3 38.3 31.3%
2025 October 57.6 35.5 62.3%
2025 September 57.0 41.3 38.0%
2025 August 73.6 47.7 54.3%
2025 July 43.8 50.3 -12.9%
2025 June 45.7 54.6 -16.3%
2025 May 40.8 53.0 -23.0%
2025 April 42.0 62.2 -32.5%
2025 March 47.4 43.0 10.2%
“As with the overall used car market, used EV sales have slowed dramatically since August and even more dramatically when Tesla is broken out,” said Brauer. 

 

The 20 Fastest-Selling Used Cars

The fastest-selling used cars are a mix of electric, hybrid, and traditional models, including four Teslas and many high-performance or sports cars like the BMW M2, Mazda Miata, Toyota Supra, and Volkswagen Golf R. These models all sold substantially faster than the 53-day average in February.
Fastest-Selling 1- to 5-Year-Old Used Cars: February 2026 - iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Days on Market Compared to Average
1 Tesla Model X 22.6 0.43x
2 Mercedes-Benz EQS (suv) 26.9 0.51x
3 Tesla Cybertruck 27.4 0.52x
4 Mazda MX-5 Miata RF 29.3 0.55x
5 Toyota GR Supra 30.0 0.57x
6 Genesis G90 30.4 0.57x
7 Rivian R1S 30.8 0.58x
8 Toyota GR Corolla 31.1 0.59x
9 Hyundai Kona Electric 31.4 0.59x
10 Volkswagen Golf R 31.8 0.60x
11 Lexus GX 550 32.4 0.61x
12 Lexus RX 500h 33.0 0.62x
13 Tesla Model 3 33.1 0.62x
14 Nissan LEAF 33.8 0.64x
15 Honda Civic Hybrid 34.8 0.66x
16 Tesla Model Y 34.9 0.66x
17 Toyota GR86 35.1 0.66x
18 BMW M2 35.4 0.67x
19 BMW X5 M 35.5 0.67x
20 Cadillac Escalade-V 35.6 0.67x
Overall Average 53.0 --
“With four of Tesla’s five models among the fastest-selling cars, it’s clear the used market’s appetite for Elon’s cars hasn’t been impacted by his high-profile political activity over the past 18 months,” said Brauer.

 

The 20 Slowest-Selling Used Cars

With nine electric vehicles among the slowest-selling used cars, it further demonstrates  that many EVs are struggling to sell, even as Teslas and a few non-Tesla EVs (Hyundai Kona, Mercedes-Benz EQS, Nissan LEAF, and Rivian R1s) remain popular with used shoppers. Add in hybrid models, and 15 of the 20 slowest-selling used models are alternative fuel vehicles.
Slowest-Selling 1- to 5-Year-Old Used Cars: February 2026 - iSeeCars Study
Rank Model Days on Market Compared to Average
1 Volvo XC60 (hybrid) 170.2 3.21x
2 BMW i5 (electric) 153.0 2.89x
3 Dodge Hornet (hybrid) 123.7 2.33x
4 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid 118.0 2.23x
5 GMC Sierra EV 116.1 2.19x
6 Ford Escape Plug-In Hybrid 112.3 2.12x
7 Volvo XC90 (hybrid) 108.7 2.05x
8 Nissan Z 107.9 2.04x
9 Genesis GV60 101.6 1.92x
10 Land Rover Discovery 101.5 1.92x
11 Dodge Charger (electric) 96.7 1.82x
12 Chevrolet Blazer EV 96.3 1.82x
13 Cadillac Escalade IQ 93.8 1.77x
14 Cadillac XT6 91.6 1.73x
15 BMW 8 Series 91.4 1.72x
16 Lincoln Corsair (hybrid) 90.6 1.71x
17 Chevrolet Silverado EV 87.7 1.65x
18 Cadillac LYRIQ 87.4 1.65x
19 GMC HUMMER EV (suv) 87.2 1.65x
20 Dodge Hornet 87.2 1.65x
Overall Average 53.0 --
“With hybrids and EVs on both the fastest- and slowest-selling used car lists, it’s clear the powertrain matters less than the specific model’s execution and desirability,” said Brauer. “And with both the new and used electric and hybrid incentives gone, all of these vehicles will now live or die on their own merits in this highly competitive market.”

 

Methodology

iSeeCars analyzed over 960,000 1- to 5-year-old used car sales from February 2026. The number of days that each car was listed for sale on iSeeCars.com was aggregated at the make and model levels, and the average days on market for each was mathematically modeled. Heavy-duty vehicles, models no longer in production prior to the 2025 model year, and low-volume models were excluded from further analysis.

 

About iSeeCars.com

iSeeCars.com is a data-driven car search and research company that helps shoppers find the best car deals by providing key insights and valuable resources, including the iSeeCars VIN Check report and Best Cars Rankings. iSeeCars has saved users over $448 million so far by applying big data analytics powered by over 25 billion (and growing) data points and using proprietary algorithms to objectively analyze, score and rank millions of new cars and used cars.