States with the biggest increase in used vehicle purchases during COVID-19
COVID-19 outbreaks over the last two years have disrupted global supply chains, and carmakers have been particularly hard hit. With a limited number of new vehicles hitting the market, used models are selling at a significant premium. Researchers calculated the percentage change in total used car spending between 2019 and 2020 and ranked states accordingly.
States With the Biggest Increase in Used Vehicle Purchases During COVID-19

Photo Credit: RossHelen / Shutterstock
Inflation has been the dominant story in the U.S. economy for most of the last year. Year-over-year increases in the Consumer Price Index have reached their highest levels in 40 years, with consumers paying more for expenses from food to housing to energy. And one of the categories that has consistently seen the highest price increases in this inflationary period is vehicles, both new and used.
While the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic saw lower demand for vehicles as people avoided travel and commuting, the vehicle market has rebounded strongly since the second half of 2020. COVID-related concerns and transitions to remote or hybrid work have put a dent in public transit ridership, and instead, more former transit users have opted to buy cars. Low interest rates, strong government stimulus, and a rebounding economy have given many households the wherewithal to make vehicle purchases.
A lingering challenge, however, has been supply. COVID-19 outbreaks over the last two years have disrupted global supply chains, and carmakers have been particularly hard hit. Obtaining parts like semiconductor chips has been more challenging, and backlogs at ports worldwide have made it harder to ship new vehicles. In total, manufacturers produced approximately 1.7 million fewer vehicles in 2021 than 2019, and with a limited number of new vehicles hitting the market, used models are selling at a significant premium.
Used car spending jumped by over 10 percent

According to data from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, per capita annual spending on used cars jumped 10.9% between 2019 and 2020, from $460 to $510. This increase was the second highest single-year increase in nearly 25 years. The new vehicle market is historically prone to larger swings, but spending on new vehicles only increased by about 2.1% from 2019 to 2020, from $870 to $889.
Residents in the central US tend to spend the most on vehicles

Car shoppers in some locations have felt the effects of these price increases more than others. Typically, residents of the central U.S. tend to spend the most on both new and used vehicles annually. Residents in these locations are typically more car-dependent because their rural geography puts more distance between people and communities. While residents of less car-oriented locations can spend less or put off vehicle purchases more easily, their car-dependent peers spend more—and now are carrying the extra burden of rising prices.
The data used in this analysis is from the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis’s Personal Consumption Expenditures. To determine the states with the biggest increase in used vehicle purchases during COVID-19, researchers at CoPilot calculated the percentage change in total used car spending between 2019 and 2020. In the event of a tie, the state with the greater total change in used car spending over the same time period was ranked higher.
Here are the states with the biggest increase in used vehicle purchases during COVID-19.
15. Tennessee

Photo Credit: The Speedy Butterfly / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +15.4%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$544,100,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $590
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $516
14. Alabama

Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +15.5%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$396,500,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $601
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $523
13. Alaska

Photo Credit: Marcus Biastock / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +15.7%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$51,700,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $522
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $451
12. Mississippi

Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +16.3%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$210,900,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $508
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $435
11. Oklahoma

Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +16.4%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$398,400,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $711
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $615
10. South Dakota

Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +17.2%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$92,900,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $708
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $609
9. Maine

Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +17.5%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$127,200,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $633
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $541
8. Wyoming

Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +18.3%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$60,000,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $665
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $565
7. Nebraska

Photo Credit: DomVisuals / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +18.4%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$254,600,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $847
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $717
6. Iowa

Photo Credit: f11photo / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +18.8%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$445,600,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $892
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $753
5. South Carolina

Photo Credit: f11photo / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +19.1%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$476,200,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $569
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $485
4. Montana

Photo Credit: Mary Vanier / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +19.3%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$140,100,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $803
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $681
3. Idaho

Photo Credit: Jacob Boomsma / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +19.6%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$161,300,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $540
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $462
2. Utah

Photo Credit: Sean Pavone / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +20.6%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$408,400,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $735
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $618
1. Arizona

Photo Credit: Mark Skalny / Shutterstock
- Percentage change in used car spending (2019-2020): +22.0%
- Total change in used car spending (2019-2020): +$719,200,000
- Used car spending per capita (2020): $537
- Used car spending per capita (2019): $448