With new car and gas prices remaining stubbornly high, drivers are turning to used hybrid and electric vehicles in record numbers.
Used EV sales in March reached 42,924 units, which is the most recent data available, according to a report from Cox Automotive. The figure is up 53.9% from February 2026 and it’s also 27.7% higher than last March. Additionally, demand for used hybrids is up 41.8% in the first three months of 2026, compared to the first quarter of 2025, according to a new report from the website iSeeCars.com.
“Many people assumed the recent spike in gas prices would mean a resurgence in EV demand, but hybrids have proven to be the real benefactor of rising fuel costs,” iSeeCars Executive Analyst Karl Brauer said in a statement. “Hybrids are selling faster, retaining more value, and growing their market share faster than electric vehicles, though Tesla’s EVs are also doing quite well.”
The finding comes as the average price of gas rose to $4.30 per gallon on Thursday, April 30, up from an average of $4.03 one week ago on April 23. Analysts say they are expecting gas prices to keep rising in the coming weeks as the U.S.-Iran war continues.
“Americans will spend half a billion dollars more on gasoline over the next 24 hours compared to March 1,” Patrick De Haan, head of petroleum analysis at GasBuddy, wrote in an X post.
“Since March 1, Americans have spent $21.7 billion more on filling their tanks with gasoline,” De Haan continued. “That includes today’s addition to that figure — $509 million.”
What Are the Fastest-Selling Used EVs and Hybrids?
The USA TODAY Cars team looked at the average length of time the fastest-moving used EVs and hybrids are remaining on dealership lots and their average used prices according to CarGurus.com.
1. Tesla Model XAverage used car price: $45,920Average days on the market: 25.6
2. Lexus RX 350hAverage used car price: $33,276Average days on the market: 27.6
3. Honda Civic Hybrid (Hatchback)Average used car price: $29,014Average days on the market: 27.6
4. Lucid AirAverage used car price: $47,161Average days on the market: 31.6
5. Tesla CybertruckAverage used car price: $82,708Average days on the market: 33.3
6. Tesla Model YAverage used car price: $30,924Average days on the market: 34.6
7. Mazda CX-50 HybridAverage used car price: $30,540Average days on the market: 38.7
8. Tesla Model SAverage used car price: $30,901Average days on the market: 39.1
9. Toyota Camry (Hybrid)Average used car price: $20,797Average days on the market: 39.5
10. Toyota Grand Highlander HybridAverage used car price: $52,085Average days on the market: 40.1
Reporting by Keith Laing, USA TODAY / USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
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