Average new vehicle transaction price hits a record $51,109
The increase over the last record is about $500, though prices rose only 2.1% over the past year, below inflation.
The average price paid for a new vehicle in the U.S. reached a record $51,109, according to a Kelley Blue Book report from Cox Automotive. That is about $500 above the previous record, set in December 2025.
The price is based on what buyers actually paid, including add-ons and minus incentives such as dealer discounts. It does not include auto loan interest, which has climbed as the Federal Reserve kept interest rates high to fight inflation. Edmunds puts auto loan rates at about 11% for used vehicles and over 7% for new ones.
Cox Automotive analyst Erin Keating said the 2.1% annual increase is below inflation. Used cars, which make up about two-thirds of total sales, now average close to $27,000, up 6% from last year.
Key points
- Average new vehicle transaction price: $51,109, a record high
- Up 2.1% from a year earlier, below the rate of inflation
- Auto loan rates: about 7%+ for new cars and about 11% for used, per Edmunds
- Average used car price is close to $27,000, up 6% from last year
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Summarized with AI from the sources above and reviewed before publishing.
