Dealers had more used cars on their lots in September. Cox Automotive counted 2.21 million used vehicles in dealer inventory, up 3.9% from August, and 49 days' supply, up from 44 (Cox Automotive, Oct. 16, 2026). Cheap used cars were the exception. Vehicles listed under $15,000 had only 34 days' supply, and supply in that price band was down 16.2% from a year earlier. For a Texas seller, that means dealers overall have less urgency to buy, but they're still short on affordable cars. Since you can't know which group your car falls into, getting several dealers to compete is the safest way to find out.
From Cox's September used-vehicle inventory report, based on vAuto data from franchised and independent dealers:
These are national figures, not Texas or East Texas figures.
More supply overall. With 49 days of cars on the lot instead of 44, many dealers don't need to buy any given car this week. Some may be choosier about condition, mileage, or trims they already have plenty of.
Fewer affordable cars. Supply under $15,000 fell 16.2% in a year. If your car is likely to sell in that range, a dealer short on affordable stock may want it more than a dealer full of late-model units. Cox doesn't say how much more anyone will pay, though, and this data can't predict an offer for any specific car.
Listing prices aren't your offer. The $27,235 average is what dealers ask on their lots, not what they pay to buy. A dealer's offer reflects what the car is likely to bring at wholesale, plus reconditioning and resale costs. See what MMR is and how dealers use it.
When inventory is high in some segments and thin in others, dealers can value the same car very differently. One may already have five like it; another may have none. A single trade-in quote doesn't show you that spread, and competing offers do. Here's how competing offers work.
Before the appraisal:
PriceForMyTrade connects vehicle sellers with local dealerships that compete for the car:
For East Texas sellers, start at sell my car in East Texas.
Cox's September data shows used inventory building to 49 days' supply nationally while affordable cars under $15,000 stay scarce at 34 days. That split is why one quote isn't enough. Let several dealers appraise your car and compete.
Ready to see what dealers will offer? Get competing offers. It's free to sellers, first responses typically come the same day (not guaranteed), and offers are confirmed after a physical appraisal.