Used car prices have been falling since July. Compared like for like, the market as a whole is down 4.3%. Brand by brand, though, the slide ranges from a little over 2% to nearly 9%.
| Brand | Change, July to mid-October |
|---|---|
| Tesla | +2.9% |
| Mazda | -1.7% |
| Lexus | -2.1% |
| Toyota | -2.2% |
| Honda | -3.1% |
| Whole market | -4.3% |
| Mercedes-Benz | -6.2% |
| Kia | -6.3% |
| Buick | -6.3% |
| Audi | -6.6% |
| Dodge | -7.0% |
| Lincoln | -8.5% |
| Chrysler | -8.6% |
Every brand except Tesla lost value, but the order is clear. Mazda, Lexus, Toyota and Honda held up best. Chrysler, Lincoln and Dodge fell fastest, with German premium brands close behind.
All figures compare identical model, model year, mileage band, state and type of seller across months, so they measure price movement rather than changes in which cars happen to be listed.
Model by model
| Model | Change, July to mid-October |
|---|---|
| Mazda CX-5 | +0.1% |
| Toyota Tundra | -0.3% |
| Toyota Camry | -1.0% |
| Toyota Tacoma | -1.5% |
| Lexus ES | -1.5% |
| Ford F-150 | -5.2% |
| Jeep Compass | -6.4% |
| Audi Q5 | -6.4% |
| BMW X5 | -6.6% |
| Mercedes-Benz E-Class | -6.7% |
Among models with at least 1,500 matched listings, a used Camry has barely moved since July, while an E-Class or an X5 has lost almost seven times as much. The F-150, the most-listed vehicle in our data, lost 5.2%, more than the market.
Tesla is the exception everywhere. The Model 3 rose over the period, the only high-volume model to do so. Its sample is smaller than the others', but the direction is consistent month to month.
Why the order looks like this
It roughly follows how long buyers expect a car to last and how expensive it is to keep running. Brands with a reputation for reliability have deep demand on the used market, so prices hold even when the season turns. Luxury models, especially German ones, cost more to maintain out of warranty, and the market prices that in faster as they age, the same effect that makes a luxury SUV lose its badge premium by year fifteen.
Chrysler, Dodge and Lincoln have shrinking new-car lineups, which leaves fewer reasons to pay up for one used.
What to do with it
If you are buying, the brands at the bottom of the table are where the autumn discounts are biggest. That's a better deal on a well-maintained car with a clean history and a worse one on a car with a known weak point, so check the model's reliability record before treating a lower price as value.
If you are selling a Toyota, Honda or Mazda, there's no rush. If you are selling a German luxury car or a Chrysler, the market is moving more than 2% a month against you. Our depreciation calculator shows how the model has aged so far.
Frequently asked questions
Which used car brands held their value best in 2026?
From July to mid-October 2026, like for like, Mazda (-1.7%), Lexus (-2.1%), Toyota (-2.2%) and Honda (-3.1%) held up best, against -4.3% for the whole market. Tesla rose 2.9%.
Which used car brands lost value fastest?
Chrysler (-8.6%), Lincoln (-8.5%), Dodge (-7.0%), Audi (-6.6%), Kia and Buick (-6.3%) and Mercedes-Benz (-6.2%). Among models, the Mercedes E-Class (-6.7%) and BMW X5 (-6.6%) fell fastest.
Is now a good time to buy a used luxury car?
Prices for German premium models fell about twice as fast as the market this autumn, so they are cheaper relative to summer. Out-of-warranty running costs are higher, so the value depends on a clean history and a model without a known expensive weak point.
Denis Kataev is a serial solopreneur and the founder of ForCar. With 15+ years in software engineering and 10 years in SEO, he builds data-driven products end to end — backed by a sharp eye for design. At ForCar he mines proprietary vehicle datasets, turning raw numbers into buying advice you can actually trust.
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