A CarGurus Intelligence read summarized by CBT News on September 10 put August used-vehicle demand up 2.3% year over year, with average used prices stuck at about $30,200 for a fourth straight month. Inventory dipped slightly but stayed above year-ago levels, and supplies of two- and three-year-old vehicles improved—a potential sign that more off-lease units are reaching wholesale and retail channels.
That mix matters for East Texas sellers who keep waiting for “the market” to bounce. Retail asking prices can look flat while dealer appetite for your VIN still moves with age band, condition, and what else just landed on the lot.
When dealers can source more two- and three-year-old inventory, a clean late-model trade is less scarce. That does not automatically crush every offer—but it does mean a single desk number can be softer than last spring if the used manager already has similar cars in transit.
Wholesale context from Cox Automotive’s August Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index (released September 8) still sits behind those retail reads: the seasonally adjusted index was 208.2, down 0.9% month over month and up 0.4% year over year. Useful background. Not a promise about your car.
CBT also notes used prices usually cool in the final third of the year; whether elevated demand keeps them propped up is still an open question. Waiting for a clearer answer while your miles, wear, and local supply shift is how sellers leave money on the table.
Get competing offers—not one padded trade. PriceForMyTrade helps sellers collect competing offers from local dealerships. Competition is handled manually; dealers contact you directly. First responses are often the same day, but timing is not guaranteed. Offers are confirmed after a physical appraisal. Dealers can buy outright—you do not have to purchase another vehicle. Submitting a request takes about 30 seconds; that is not the same as receiving an offer in 30 seconds. The service is free to the seller.
Separate the cash/trade number from any purchase price. Flat retail averages make it easier for a desk to hide a weak allowance inside a high selling price. Ask for the offer on its own line, plus payoff handling if you still owe.
Prep for appraisal like inventory is available. Clear photos, service records, two keys, and honest notes on dings matter more when the buyer has alternatives in the same age band.
Match the path to your goal. Selling with a loan payoff, trading, or selling outright are different conversations—see /sell-car-with-loan-payoff, /trade-in-vs-selling-outright, and /how-competing-offers-work. East Texas sellers can start on /sell-my-car-east-texas.
Takeaway: August used demand stayed firm while average prices sat flat near $30,200 and late-model supply improved. Shop competing offers this week so local dealers price your car—not last month’s average screenshot.