Time To Buy? Used Car Prices Tumble As Lease Returns Continue To Mount

Car sales in the U.S. have been rising for seven consecutive years now, and it's denting the value of whatever is currently parked in your garage or driveway. With so many new cars rolling out of dealerships lots and instantly becoming used cars, the secondary market is glutted and the pace of depreciation is rapidly accelerating.

Your not-that-old car might not be a clunker quite yet, but it's probably a lot closer than you think.

CANADIANCOMMENTS - 8/22/2017 9:09:06 AM

+2 Boost

My 4Runner was a lease return. Mint condition. 50% of it's original MSRP. I would buy a lease return (Toyota Canada company car in this case) again in a heartbeat.

Manny99 - 8/22/2017 10:45:01 AM

+3 Boost

Scored a great deal on a 3 year old Lincoln MKZ back in June. Also mint condition and bought it CPO'd from the dealership for 53% off of the original MSRP, with new brake pads, rotors, tires and filters. With everyone buying SUV's these days, dealerships are even more desperate to unload used cars.

MDarringer - 8/22/2017 9:01:46 PM

+1 Boost

Indeed these lease returns can be tremendous buys.