Your quick catch-up on the used-car and auction market for the week ending July 13, 2026.
Used prices: still climbing, EVs and hybrids leading
The Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index — the benchmark for wholesale used prices — closed June up about 2% year over year, capping a first half in which typical retail used-car prices rose between $1,350 and $3,600 depending on segment, per CARFAX data.
The standouts are electrified vehicles: used EVs were up roughly 13–14% year over year at mid-June, and hybrids have climbed almost 12% since January. Higher gas prices tied to the Middle East conflict pushed commuters toward efficient cars, and tariff pressure on new-car prices keeps spilling demand into the used market.
For buyers: if you're shopping a used hybrid or EV, you're buying into the hottest segment of the market — negotiate accordingly, and check whether a comparable gas model has quietly become the better deal. Wholesale supply remains tight at around 27 days, so don't expect a sudden price break this summer.
Recall watch: 1.08 million Jeeps with a park-outside warning
Stellantis recalled 1,076,999 Jeep Wranglers and Gladiators (model years 2021–2025) for a wiring fault in the electric power steering pump that can overheat and start a fire — even while the vehicle is parked and off. NHTSA counts 51 fires linked to the defect so far. Owner notification letters started going out July 9, and until the free dealer repair is done, NHTSA says to park outside and away from structures.
Separately, Ford has now recalled over 10 million vehicles in 2026 alone, and roughly 4.8 million cars on US roads still carry unrepaired Takata airbag inflators.
For buyers: if a 2021–2025 Wrangler or Gladiator is on your shortlist — and they're auction regulars — run the VIN and confirm the steering-pump recall repair is documented before you bid. An open park-outside recall is leverage on price, but only if the fix is actually available at your dealer.
Salvage auctions: IAA keeps eating Copart's share
The salvage-auction duopoly is shifting. Industry tracking shows IAA's volumes up 4.7% year over year while Copart's are down 2.8%, with IAA winning roughly 90% of Progressive's salvage business in recent weeks. Analysts at Bank of America expect 2026 to be RB Global's first "clean year" since the IAA acquisition, with mid-single-digit volume growth.
For buyers: more insurance volume flowing to IAA means the inventory mix at each auction house is changing. If you've historically only watched Copart, it's worth running your searches on both — the car you want may increasingly land on the other lot.
Tariff corner: a court ruling trims the bill
A US Supreme Court ruling on tariffs imposed under emergency-powers authority knocked roughly $500 million off GM's expected 2026 tariff costs; the automaker now guides to $2.5–3.5 billion. Cheaper tariff bills won't lower sticker prices overnight, but they ease one of the forces that pushed buyers into the used market this year.
Sources: Cox Automotive / Manheim Used Vehicle Value Index, CARFAX Used Car Index, NHTSA recall announcements (via Edmunds, AARP), Transportation Today, Dealership Guy News. Market conditions change fast — figures above are as reported the week of July 6–13, 2026.