Two years ago, buying any car felt like winning the lottery. Delivery times stretched close to a year, discounts had vanished, and buyers had little choice but to accept whatever was available. That balance has now completely flipped. New annual figures from RDC show dealers are drowning in stock, cars are sitting idle for months, and buyers are finally back in control. For consumers, that shift translates into one thing: leverage.
The key indicator is turnover speed—and it’s slowing fast. In 2024, more than half of used cars were sold within 30 days. By 2025, that number drops below 49 percent. At the same time, the group of vehicles sitting unsold for two to six months is growing rapidly, tying up dealer capital and putting pressure on showroom floors.
