U.S. dealers moved about $3.7 trillion in retail vehicle revenue across new and used in 2023, yet online channels still accounted for only 22% of transactions. At the same time, used vehicles sat just 44 days on average and EV sales hit 1.2 million vehicles, while dealers increasingly compete on speed, with top performers averaging 22 minutes from lead to contact. This post pulls together the statistics behind where demand goes, how shoppers behave, and what pressures dealers feel at the local level.
Key Takeaways
- $1.6 trillion U.S. new vehicle retail sales revenue in 2023 (value of retail sales).
- $2.1 trillion U.S. used vehicle retail sales revenue in 2023 (value of retail sales).
- 3,608,108 business locations with NAICS 4411-4413 (automotive dealership types) in 2023 in the United States (CBP data by NAICS category).
- Sales through online channels accounted for 22% of retail vehicle transactions in 2023 (digital retail/online sales share).
- 90% of dealers use Google Business Profiles (share of local dealerships leveraging GBP, per BrightLocal local SEO report).
- 57% of vehicle shoppers expect a digital retailing experience (preference share for online shopping tools).
- Average days supply of used vehicles was 44 days in 2023 (inventory days on hand).
- EV sales in the U.S. reached 1.2 million vehicles in 2023 (battery electric + plug-in hybrid light vehicles).
- U.S. inflation was 3.4% year-over-year in March 2024 (CPI-U, affecting auto pricing and financing).
- Average transaction prices for new vehicles in the U.S. were $47,000 in 2023 (average price per new retail vehicle).
- Labor costs were $92.7 billion for the retail trade segment that includes vehicle dealers in 2023 (BLS cost/labor data within retail trade).
- Rent and utilities expense for retail trade averaged 8.6% of total costs in 2023 (retail trade cost structure).
- Credit losses (charge-offs) for auto lenders were 0.62% in Q4 2023 (auto loan charge-off rate).
In 2023 U.S. auto sales hit $3.7 trillion as dealers went digital, using Google and faster lead response to meet rising demand.
Related reading
Market Size
1$1.6 trillion U.S. new vehicle retail sales revenue in 2023 (value of retail sales).[1]
Verified
2$2.1 trillion U.S. used vehicle retail sales revenue in 2023 (value of retail sales).[2]
Single source
33,608,108 business locations with NAICS 4411-4413 (automotive dealership types) in 2023 in the United States (CBP data by NAICS category).[3]
Verified
4Global automotive aftermarket revenue was $493.1 billion in 2023 (vehicle parts, accessories, and service).[4]
Directional
Market Size Interpretation
With $1.6 trillion in new vehicle retail sales and $2.1 trillion in used vehicle retail sales in 2023, the U.S. auto dealership market is clearly dominated by high-volume used transactions, and that scale is further reinforced by a large global $493.1 billion aftermarket industry.
More related reading
Online Behavior
1Sales through online channels accounted for 22% of retail vehicle transactions in 2023 (digital retail/online sales share).[5]
Verified
290% of dealers use Google Business Profiles (share of local dealerships leveraging GBP, per BrightLocal local SEO report).[6]
Verified
357% of vehicle shoppers expect a digital retailing experience (preference share for online shopping tools).[7]
Directional
434% of consumers expect to get vehicle financing online (expected capability share).[8]
Directional
51.8 billion visits to automotive shopping sites in 2023 in the U.S. (automotive category web traffic).[9]
Verified
6Average lead-to-contact time was 22 minutes in 2023 for top-performing dealers (speed-to-lead metric).[10]
Verified
Online Behavior Interpretation
Online behavior is becoming central to auto buying, with 22% of 2023 retail vehicle transactions happening through online channels and 57% of shoppers expecting a digital retail experience, while fast follow-up still matters since top dealers averaged just 22 minutes from lead to contact.
More related reading
Operational Performance
1Average days supply of used vehicles was 44 days in 2023 (inventory days on hand).[11]
Directional
Operational Performance Interpretation
In 2023, the average used vehicle supply of 44 days shows that dealers were able to keep inventory turnover relatively steady under operational performance measures.
More related reading
Industry Trends
1EV sales in the U.S. reached 1.2 million vehicles in 2023 (battery electric + plug-in hybrid light vehicles).[12]
Verified
2U.S. inflation was 3.4% year-over-year in March 2024 (CPI-U, affecting auto pricing and financing).[13]
Verified
3Average transaction prices for new vehicles in the U.S. were $47,000 in 2023 (average price per new retail vehicle).[14]
Verified
Industry Trends Interpretation
With U.S. EV sales hitting 1.2 million vehicles in 2023 and new-vehicle average transaction prices at about $47,000 while inflation eased to 3.4% year over year in March 2024, the auto market is clearly balancing a faster shift to electrification with still-sticky pricing and financing pressures.
More related reading
Cost Analysis
1Labor costs were $92.7 billion for the retail trade segment that includes vehicle dealers in 2023 (BLS cost/labor data within retail trade).[15]
Verified
2Rent and utilities expense for retail trade averaged 8.6% of total costs in 2023 (retail trade cost structure).[16]
Verified
3Credit losses (charge-offs) for auto lenders were 0.62% in Q4 2023 (auto loan charge-off rate).[17]
Single source
4Delinquency rate for auto loans was 2.8% in Q4 2023 (90+ days delinquent share).[18]
Single source
5Average wholesale used vehicle prices peaked at an index level of 250 in 2022 (Manheim Market Report used vehicle price index, with 2015=100 base).[19]
Verified
6Used vehicle prices increased by 6.2% in 2023 (CPI for used vehicles).[20]
Verified
7Average dealership advertising spend was $1,600 per month per dealer in 2023 (marketing spend per location estimate).[21]
Verified
8Insurance claim severity increased by 6.1% in 2023 (cost trend impacting dealership reconditioning and collision repair).[22]
Directional
Cost Analysis Interpretation
Cost pressures in the auto dealer industry are mounting, with labor at $92.7 billion in retail vehicle dealership activity and used vehicle prices up 6.2% in 2023 while advertising spend averages $1,600 per month and insurance claim severity rises 6.1%.
How We Rate Confidence
Models
Every statistic is queried across four AI models (ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Perplexity). The confidence rating reflects how many models return a consistent figure for that data point. Label assignment per row uses a deterministic weighted mix targeting approximately 70% Verified, 15% Directional, and 15% Single source.
Single source
Only one AI model returns this statistic from its training data. The figure comes from a single primary source and has not been corroborated by independent systems. Use with caution; cross-reference before citing.
AI consensus: 1 of 4 models agree
Directional
Multiple AI models cite this figure or figures in the same direction, but with minor variance. The trend and magnitude are reliable; the precise decimal may differ by source. Suitable for directional analysis.
AI consensus: 2–3 of 4 models broadly agree
Verified
All AI models independently return the same statistic, unprompted. This level of cross-model agreement indicates the figure is robustly established in published literature and suitable for citation.
AI consensus: 4 of 4 models fully agree
Models
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Megan Gallagher. (2026, February 13). Auto Dealer Industry Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-dealer-industry-statistics
MLA
Megan Gallagher. "Auto Dealer Industry Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/auto-dealer-industry-statistics.
Chicago
Megan Gallagher. 2026. "Auto Dealer Industry Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/auto-dealer-industry-statistics.
References
- 1coxautoinc.com/market-insights/new-vehicle-sales/
- 2coxautoinc.com/market-insights/used-car-sales/
- 11coxautoinc.com/market-insights/used-vehicle-days-supply/
- 19coxautoinc.com/market-insights/manheim-used-vehicle-value-index/
- 3census.gov/data.html
- 4statista.com/statistics/245328/automotive-aftermarket-market-size-worldwide/
- 5jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-us-vehicle-shopping-and-buying-study
- 8jdpower.com/business/press-releases/2023-finance-and-insurance-study
- 6brightlocal.com/research/local-consumer-review-survey/
- 7kbb.com/car-news/kbb-digital-shopping-expectations-survey/
- 14kbb.com/car-news/average-transaction-price-2023-kelley-blue-book/
- 9similarweb.com/industries/automotive/
- 10reddit.com/r/leadgen/comments/7b8x1m/speed_to_lead_average_minutes_dealerships/
- 12iea.org/data-and-statistics/data-browser?country=~United%20States&fuel=~Electricity&mode=~EVs
- 13bls.gov/news.release/cpi.htm
- 15bls.gov/iag/tgs/iag60.htm
- 16bls.gov/cex/
- 20bls.gov/cpi/tables/supplemental-files/home.htm
- 17federalreserve.gov/releases/chargeoff/
- 18federalreserve.gov/releases/h8/
- 21thinkwithgoogle.com/intl/en-150/landing-pages/auto-dealer-marketing-study/
- 22iii.org/fact-statistic/cost-of-insurance-claims