Despite an ongoing trade war, Canadian used vehicles are continuing to cross the border into the United States in substantial numbers, maintaining pressure on an already constrained domestic supply.
New data from DesRosiers Automotive Consultants (DAC) shows that U.S. imports of used vehicles remained at high levels in 2025, with overall volumes largely unchanged from 2024 despite tariffs and uncertainty surrounding cross-border trade.
The findings are significant for Canadian dealers, as the net movement of used vehicles into the United States has contributed to tighter domestic inventory and additional pricing pressure for more than a decade.
“On the surface, the pattern of used vehicle trade between the two countries has remained steady in the face of the ongoing trade war,” said Andrew King, Managing Partner at DAC, in a statement.
The research also revealed differences in the age of vehicles entering the U.S. market. Vehicles from the 2023 model year accounted for 20.7 per cent of total U.S. used-vehicle imports in 2025, representing the largest share. Vehicles from the 2024 and 2022 model years were also prominent.
However, the overall stability masked considerable differences between manufacturers. “While the overall volume and volumes by model year remain broadly within expected ranges, brand-level imports show significant disparity and are heavily stratified,” said King.
DAC cautioned that continued uncertainty surrounding Canada-U.S. trade relations could influence future cross-border vehicle movements, with potential consequences for Canadian used-vehicle supply and prices.
The findings are included in DAC’s annual Used Vehicle Report, which examines Canadian used-vehicle sales by province, sales channel and selected brands, alongside U.S. import trends and long-term market forecasts.
