Wealthy PotAverage Car Price in 2026: New, Used, by Type and by Brand
The average new car in the US sold for $50,089 in August 2026, according to Kelley Blue Book's monthly average transaction price. That is what buyers actually paid, about $1,800 below the average sticker price of $51,852. The average used car was listed for $27,239 in August, according to Cox Automotive, the highest monthly average since December 2022. A new car costs about $22,850 more than a used one on these numbers, though the cheapest new segment, compact cars, averaged $27,997, close to the used-car average. This page breaks the averages down by vehicle type, brand and year, and shows what each price works out to per month.
Table of Contents
The Short Answer
- $50,089 was the average price paid for a new vehicle in August 2026, up 1.9% from a year earlier (Kelley Blue Book). The record is $50,612, set in December 2025.
- $51,852 was the average sticker price (MSRP). Incentives averaged 6.5% of the transaction price, about $3,260 a car.
- $27,239 was the average used-vehicle listing price in August 2026, up 7% in a year (Cox Automotive).
- The cheapest mainstream new segment was compact cars at $27,997; full-size pickups averaged $67,446.
- A new electric vehicle averaged $54,813, a 9.4% premium over the average, down from more than 16% a year earlier.
- Since August 2019, the government's price index for new vehicles is up 22.7% and for used vehicles 28.2%, both a little less than overall inflation of 30.6% (BLS).
Average New Car Price: Sticker vs Paid
Kelley Blue Book, part of Cox Automotive, publishes an average transaction price (ATP) every month. It is the average of what buyers actually paid for new vehicles sold that month, across every brand and segment. Two cautions apply: it is a sales-weighted average, so a month with more pickups and luxury SUVs reads higher even if no individual price changed, and it does not subtract consumer incentives such as cash rebates.
| Measure, August 2026 | Amount | Change vs a year earlier |
|---|---|---|
| Average sticker price (MSRP) | $51,852 | +2.2% |
| Average transaction price (paid) | $50,089 | +1.9% |
| Incentives as a share of transaction price | 6.5% | down from 7.2% |
| Average new electric vehicle | $54,813 | -2.7% |
| Tesla average | $52,616 | -3.4% |
August was the first month of 2026 above $50,000. Kelley Blue Book notes that prices usually climb in the second half of the year as next-model-year vehicles arrive, so the late-year months tend to be the most expensive. The average sticker price has stayed above $50,000 every month since April 2025.
Electric vehicles still cost more, but the gap is closing. EV buyers paid a 9.4% premium over the overall average in August, against more than 16% a year earlier, and EV incentives averaged 12% of the transaction price, nearly twice the industry's 6.5%.
Average Price by Vehicle Type
The single average hides a wide range. The five best-selling segments (midsize SUVs, compact SUVs, full-size pickups, subcompact SUVs and compact cars) made up about 65.1% of new-vehicle sales in August.
| Vehicle type | Average paid, Aug 2026 | Aug 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Compact car | $27,997 | $27,203 | +2.9% |
| Subcompact SUV/crossover | $31,149 | $30,464 | +2.2% |
| Midsize car | $33,909 | $33,707 | +0.6% |
| Compact SUV/crossover | $37,722 | $37,313 | +1.1% |
| Small/midsize pickup | $43,806 | $43,294 | +1.2% |
| Minivan | $49,151 | $48,642 | +1.0% |
| Midsize SUV/crossover | $50,315 | $49,526 | +1.6% |
| Luxury compact SUV/crossover | $54,963 | $54,741 | +0.4% |
| Full-size pickup | $67,446 | $66,042 | +2.1% |
| Full-size SUV/crossover | $79,710 | $76,954 | +3.6% |
| All new vehicles | $50,089 | $49,163 | +1.9% |
Someone shopping for a sedan or small crossover is looking at roughly $28,000 to $38,000, well below the headline. The headline is pulled up by full-size pickups, one of the five best-selling segments at $67,446, and by large SUVs and luxury models.
Average Price by Brand
| Brand | Average paid, Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| Mitsubishi | $35,661 |
| Mazda | $36,824 |
| Nissan | $37,343 |
| Subaru | $37,366 |
| Hyundai | $37,382 |
| Honda | $37,805 |
| Kia | $38,681 |
| Toyota | $44,829 |
| Chevrolet | $49,408 |
| Jeep | $52,098 |
| Ford | $59,365 |
| Lexus | $63,434 |
| Ram | $68,461 |
| Mercedes-Benz | $71,999 |
| BMW | $73,590 |
| Cadillac | $85,823 |
| Porsche | $130,403 |
Eight brands averaged under $39,000 (the seven above plus Buick at $36,901). Toyota rose 5.1% and Ford 4.3% over the year, both faster than the market as a whole.
Average Used Car Price
The most current used-car figure from Cox Automotive is the average listing price, the asking price on dealer lots, from its vAuto data. It was $27,239 in August 2026, up 0.9% from July and 7% from a year earlier. What buyers finally pay can be lower after negotiation and higher after fees and taxes.
| Used market, August 2026 | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average listing price | $27,239 |
| Used vehicles on dealer lots | 2.13 million |
| Days' supply (all prices) | 44 |
| Days' supply, vehicles under $15,000 | 29 |
| Share of inventory under $15,000 | 15.1% (20.6% a year earlier) |
| Retail used sales in the month | about 1.50 million |
The tightest part of the market is the cheapest. Supply of used vehicles under $15,000 fell 25.9% in a year, and in July Cox found listing prices for vehicles 15 years and older up 13.9% from a year earlier, against 3% for vehicles under five years old. For a retiree or anyone on a fixed income hoping to replace a car cheaply, that means fewer choices and less room to bargain.
The government's measure tells a slightly different story. The Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for used cars and trucks was 2.3% lower in August 2026 than a year earlier. The two can disagree because CPI tracks the price of comparable vehicles, adjusted for quality, while Cox's average moves with the mix of cars listed. A rising share of newer, pricier used cars raises the Cox average even if each car costs the same.
Car Prices Since 2021
| August of | New: average paid | New: incentives (% of price) | Used: average listing |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $43,355 | 5.6% | $25,890 |
| 2022 | $48,301 | 2.3% | $28,064 |
| 2023 | $48,451 | 4.9% | $26,651 |
| 2024 | $47,870 | 7.2% | $25,172 |
| 2025 | $49,077 | 7.2% | $25,393 |
| 2026 | $50,089 | 6.5% | $27,239 |
New-car prices jumped about 11% from August 2021 to August 2022, a period of tight dealer inventory when incentives fell to 2.3%. They then held near $48,000 for two years as discounts returned (incentives reached 7.2% in 2024), and have edged up since. Used prices peaked in 2022 (Cox recorded a record $28,375 in May that year), fell back, and are now rising again.
Adjusted for inflation, cars have become slightly cheaper since before the pandemic. Using BLS price indexes, August 2019 to August 2026:
| BLS consumer price index | Change, Aug 2019 to Aug 2026 | Change, Aug 2025 to Aug 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| New vehicles | +22.7% | +0.6% |
| Used cars and trucks | +28.2% | -2.3% |
| All items (overall inflation) | +30.6% | +3.4% |
That does not make cars feel affordable: a vehicle is one of the largest purchases most households make, and our average monthly expenses breakdown shows transportation as one of the biggest budget lines after housing.
What These Prices Mean per Month
Most buyers finance. The table below shows a hypothetical loan on each average price with 10% down, ignoring sales tax, registration and dealer fees (which add to the amount financed in real life). The 7% and 10% rates are illustrative, not quotes; used-car loans usually carry higher rates than new.
| Loan (hypothetical) | Amount financed | Rate | 60 months | 72 months |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average new car, $50,089 | $45,080 | 7% | $893/mo | $769/mo |
| Average new car, $50,089 | $45,080 | 10% | $958/mo | $835/mo |
| Average used car, $27,239 | $24,515 | 7% | $485/mo | $418/mo |
| Average used car, $27,239 | $24,515 | 10% | $521/mo | $454/mo |
Stretching from 60 to 72 months lowers the payment but adds interest: on the $45,080 new-car loan at 7%, total interest rises from about $8,478 to $10,257. For what borrowers really pay each month by credit score, see the average car payment, and run your own numbers in the auto loan calculator. If you put little down on a new car, read whether gap insurance is worth it, and add the average cost of car insurance before deciding what you can afford. For drivers who keep cars only a few years, leasing vs buying compares the two.
Sources & Methodology
- Kelley Blue Book, Average Transaction Price report, August 2026 (September 10, 2026), with the data tables (PDF) by manufacturer, brand and segment.
- Kelley Blue Book August ATP releases, 2021 to 2025: 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025.
- Cox Automotive, used-vehicle inventory report, August 2026 (September 11, 2026), the July 2026 report, and the August reports for 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025.
- BLS, CPI new vehicles, CPI used cars and trucks and CPI all items, August 2019 to August 2026.
Method notes. "Average new car price" here means Kelley Blue Book's average transaction price: what buyers paid, before applied consumer incentives, for all new light vehicles sold in the month. "Average used car price" means Cox Automotive's average listing (asking) price at dealers; no current public used-vehicle transaction-price series from a primary source was available, so the two figures measure different things and the gap between them is approximate. Kelley Blue Book revises recent months; we show the latest figure for August 2026 and earlier years as first reported. The incentive dollar estimate (6.5% of $50,089), the BLS percentage changes and the loan table are our arithmetic. The September 2026 Kelley Blue Book report was not yet published on the date of this check.
This article is for general information and is not financial or lending advice. Figures are from Kelley Blue Book, Cox Automotive and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, checked against the primary sources on 2026-10-08. Loan examples are hypothetical and leave out taxes and fees. Prices in your area, and the rate you are offered, depend on the vehicle, your credit and the lender; compare several quotes before you buy.
FAQ
What is the average price of a new car in 2026?
$50,089 in August 2026, the latest month available, according to Kelley Blue Book. That is what buyers paid on average across all new vehicles sold, 1.9% more than in August 2025. The average sticker price was $51,852.
What is the average price of a used car?
Cox Automotive put the average used-vehicle listing price at $27,239 in August 2026, up 7% from a year earlier and the highest monthly average since December 2022. That is an asking price at dealers, not a final sale price.
What is the cheapest type of new car?
Among the main segments, compact cars averaged $27,997 in August 2026, followed by subcompact SUVs at $31,149 and midsize cars at $33,909. Eight brands, including Honda, Hyundai, Kia, Mazda, Nissan, Subaru and Buick, averaged under $39,000.
How much do people pay below sticker price?
In August 2026 the average transaction price was $1,763 below the average MSRP, and manufacturer incentives averaged 6.5% of the transaction price, about $3,250 per vehicle. Incentives were much higher on electric vehicles, at 12%.
Are electric cars more expensive than gas cars?
On average, yes, but by less than before. The average new EV sold for $54,813 in August 2026, a 9.4% premium over the industry average. A year earlier the premium was more than 16%.
Are car prices going down?
Not in dollar terms. New-car prices rose 1.9% in the year to August 2026 and used listing prices 7%. The BLS used-car price index did fall 2.3% over the same year, and since 2019 both new and used vehicle prices have risen a little less than overall inflation.
What was the highest average new car price ever?
$50,612 in December 2025, according to Kelley Blue Book's revised figures. New-car prices usually rise late in the year as next-model-year vehicles reach dealers.
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"Average Car Price in 2026: New, Used, by Type and by Brand." Wealthy Pot, 2026. https://wealthypot.com/average-car-price/
