Black Book: August Used Values Softened—Your Trade-In

If you’ve been putting off a trade-in, this week’s timing matters more than the holiday sale banners.

Here’s the real hook: On September 3, 2026, Black Book published its August Used Vehicle Retention Index. The seasonally adjusted number slipped 1.2% (about 1.7 points) to 144.3, down from 146.0 in July. That’s the third consecutive month of decline, and the index sits about 1.5% below where it was in August 2025.

Laura Wehunt at Black Book put it in plain English: we’re not staring at a crash, but depreciation is expected to keep rolling through the rest of the year — especially if manufacturers lean harder into fourth-quarter incentives. Used values are still roughly 30% higher than 2019, so nobody’s “giving cars away.” They’re just not holding every dollar they held in early summer.

What that means on a Texas lot

Dealers don’t price your trade off a feeling. Wholesale auction comps, segment demand, mileage, condition, and options all move the number. When retention softens three months in a row, the practical takeaway for owners is simple:

• An offer from June or July may already be stale.
• Waiting for “one more month” can cost you real money if your segment is cooling.
• Prestige luxury and sporty cars held up better than expected in August’s data — but most daily drivers still follow the broader soft trend.

We’re not inventing doom. We’re saying: know today’s number before you walk into a Labor Day negotiation.

How to protect your equity this week

1. Get a current estimate using your year, make, model, mileage, and honest condition — not last month’s memory of a KBB screenshot.
2. Separate the trade from the purchase. Negotiate the new payment and the trade dollars as two conversations so a shiny payment quote doesn’t hide a soft trade.
3. Mind the clock into Q4. If Black Book’s outlook holds and OEM incentives rise later this year, used values often feel more pressure — not less.

If you’re shopping a truck, SUV, or family car in Texas this Labor Day week, a fresh appraisal takes minutes and keeps you from guessing.

Soft CTA: Ready for a no-pressure trade-in estimate? Submit your vehicle details on the form at priceformytrade.com and we’ll help you see where you stand before you commit.

Takeaway: Black Book’s August index confirmed another soft month for used retention. Before you trade this week, get an updated number — not last season’s guess.