Perth Used Car Market Report May: 2026 Year To Date Snapshot

Welcome to our Perth used car market report covering the year to date through May 2026. As a Licensed WA Motor Vehicle Dealer and Motor Trade Association of Western Australia member, our team at Sell My Car Pro sits at the intersection of seller activity, dealer stock movement and the broader used market every week. The figures here come from the WA Vehicle Market Report dashboard, covering the last 6 months of WA vehicle sales totalling 141,436 vehicles.

The numbers tell a story Perth sellers will feel rather than just read. The market is busier than it was at the start of the year, but it is also harder. Stock has climbed faster than demand, prices are firming on dollar value while softening on retained value, and the patient seller who priced realistically is winning the kind of clean sales that the over-confident seller is missing. Below we break down the headline stats, the class-by-class story, the top makes and models, the marketplace channels driving Perth sales, and the strategic decisions sellers should make heading into EOFY.

WA Used Car Market At A Glance (Year To Date 2026)

May 2026 delivered 23,021 total sales across the WA used car market, up 6.1 percent on the previous month, with total stock on the market climbing to 38,212 vehicles, up 5.4 percent. The implied six-month run rate sits at around 23,573 vehicles a month, so May tracked just under the year to date average while showing positive month-on-month momentum.

The other six headline numbers worth keeping front of mind:

• Average sale price: $36,062, up 2.2 percent
• Average retained value: 70.2 percent, down 0.8 percent
• Average supply days: 51.3, up 7.5 percent
• Average days to sell: 51.8, up 8.7 percent
• Dealer share of stock: 27,450 vehicles (72 percent)
• Private share of stock: 10,762 vehicles (28 percent)

A pattern jumps out of the numbers. The Perth used car market is more active than it was at the start of the year, with car sales volume rising, but the activity comes with more buyer choice and longer sell-through times. Pricing power has tilted away from sellers compared with the supply-constrained surge of 2022 to 2023, and the market is now rewarding sharply priced, well-presented vehicles over inflated asking prices. Our guide on how to maximise your car’s resale value walks through the presentation steps that lift the result in current conditions.

Total Sales And Stock On Hand: Where The Numbers Are Heading

The 23,021 May sales translate to roughly 16.3 percent of the last six months of WA used car sales, consistent with a market building momentum. Vehicle prices are firm on the dollar value but softening on retained value.

Total stock on hand of 38,212 vehicles is the highest figure we have tracked year to date. Dealer inventory makes up 27,450 of those listings, with private sellers carrying the remaining 10,762. The growth in stock without an equivalent surge in demand creates competitive pressure. A car that would have moved in 47 days in February now sits on the market for closer to 52 days on average.

For Perth sellers thinking about timing the sale, the practical takeaway is straightforward. A well-priced vehicle still moves quickly, but the days of pricing aggressively and waiting for buyers to come to you are behind us. A Burswood seller who came to us last month is a good example. She had her 2019 Mazda CX-5 listed privately at $32,500 for seven weeks with little interest. The market data showed comparable CX-5s clearing between $28,500 and $30,800 once the kilometres and trim level were factored in. She accepted our offer at $29,750 the same week, the paperwork cleared in two days, and she avoided another month of unanswered phone calls. Our analysis on when is the best time to sell your car in Perth covers the seasonal lift heading into EOFY in more detail.

Average Sale Prices And Retained Value

The $36,062 average sale price in May is a 2.2 percent month-on-month lift, but the more important number for sellers is the retained value at 70.2 percent, measuring how much of the vehicle’s benchmark price the seller is recovering at the point of sale.

The 0.8 percentage point drop in retained value reinforces what we are hearing from sellers across the Perth metro. Vehicles are still selling, but at a slightly softer percentage of original value than earlier in the year. Compare your asking price not just to similar Facebook or Carsales listings but to the retained value benchmark for your vehicle’s age, kilometres, and class. Our guide on how to find your car’s market value covers the benchmarking approach we use to price accurately.

Dealer Versus Private Sales: Where The Margins Sit

The May data shows a meaningful split between dealer and private sales channels. Dealer listings carry 27,450 of the 38,212 vehicles on the WA market and contributed 13,379 of May sales. The dealer channel achieved an average sale price of $38,633 at retained value of 73.5 percent, but takes an average of 58.1 days to sell.

Private sellers sit at 9,642 May transactions against a much smaller stock pool of 10,762 vehicles. Private sellers achieved an average sale price of $31,037 at a retained value of 63.7 percent, with the strongest sell-through speed in the market at 39.6 days. Selling through the dealer channel delivers a higher dollar price and stronger retained value, but ties the vehicle up for nearly three weeks longer than a private sale.

Our service sits between these two paths. We buy directly from sellers as a Licensed WA Motor Vehicle Dealer, giving sellers dealer-channel dollar value with private-channel speed. A Maddington tradie who sold us his 2017 Mitsubishi Triton in April collected $24,200 the same day as the inspection, against private listings sitting at $25,500 to $26,000 but averaging six weeks on Carsales. The $1,500 trade-off freed driveway space and finance for his next ute. For every exit option compared, see our most profitable way to sell your car breakdown.

Vehicle Class Performance: SUV, Ute And Passenger Trends

The class-by-class breakdown highlights how different segments of the Perth used car market are behaving so far this year.

Light commercial vehicles and utes hold the strongest retained value at 73.2 percent but take the longest to sell at 55.1 days. SUVs sit in the middle at 69.8 percent retained value and 52.5 days. Passenger cars are the fastest segment at 47.7 average days to sell, but carry the lowest retained value at 68.7 percent. Ute and SUV demand remains high relative to supply, but sell-through is slower because buyers are negotiating harder at premium price points.

For Perth ute owners, holding firm on price usually pays off if you can absorb the longer sell-through window. SUV sellers will find the sale hinges on presentation and pricing accuracy. Passenger car sellers get the fastest sell-through, but the trade-off is the lowest retained value.

Top-Performing Makes And Models In WA

The make and model rankings give a clear picture of which brands and cars are anchoring WA used car sales activity year to date.

By total sales across the three-month dashboard view, Toyota is the dominant car giant in the WA used market with 13,222 transactions, more than double Ford in second place at 5,664. Hyundai is third at 5,596, followed by Mazda at 4,644 and Mitsubishi at 4,524. Holden, Nissan, Volkswagen, Kia and Subaru round out the top 10. Toyota’s depth across passenger cars, SUVs and 4WDs is exactly what you would expect given its presence in six of the top 10 model spots.

The Ford Ranger leads the model list at 2,859 sales, just ahead of the Toyota Hilux at 2,690. The Toyota LandCruiser comes in third at 1,849, with the Corolla fourth at 1,652, and the LandCruiser Prado, RAV4, Hyundai i30, Camry, Mitsubishi Triton and Outlander completing the top 10. Utes and SUVs are carrying the volume, with passenger cars holding strong positions through the Corolla, i30 and Camry.

At the underperforming end, Renault sits at 501 sales, Tesla at 625, and Land Rover at 777. Tesla near the bottom is notable given the EV attention, and consistent with EV share remaining small versus petrol and diesel in WA. If you are selling a luxury vehicle in this lower-volume bracket, our explainer on the luxury car tax in Australia covers the thresholds and resale implications.

Fuel Type And Marketplace Channel Distribution

The fuel type breakdown shows petrol holding the dominant position at 57.7 percent of sales, with diesel a strong second at 33.9 percent. Hybrid, electric and PHEV vehicles make up the remaining share. The WA used car market still sits firmly in the petrol-and-diesel category. For sellers of hybrids and EVs, the lower volume environment means presentation and pricing need to be sharper than for volume petrol models.

The marketplace distribution is equally important for any seller thinking about where to list. Facebook leads at 41.2 percent share of marketplace activity, followed by Carsales at 24.4 percent, ATG at 19.7 percent, and Drive at 14.7 percent. Facebook accounts for more than two-fifths of marketplace distribution, making it the most critical channel for WA private sellers. A multi-channel listing strategy (Facebook for reach, Carsales for serious enquiries) delivers the best results for private sales in current conditions.

What The Year To Date Numbers Mean For Perth Sellers

The year to date data tells Perth sellers three things. First, the market is more competitive than 12 months ago, so price discipline matters more. Second, sell-through times are extending, so a listing going live in early June lands inside the strongest EOFY demand window. Third, the dealer versus private split means sellers should match the channel to the outcome they want.

For sellers in Wembley, Innaloo, Karrinyup, Victoria Park, Belmont, South Perth and the wider Perth metro who want a fast, clean sale without the private-listing grind, our used car buying service delivers a sale price aligned with the dealer channel benchmark and a settlement timeline closer to the private channel speed. If your car still has finance owing, our selling a car with finance owing page covers how settlement is structured through the lender.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Is The Average Used Car Sale Price In Perth Right Now?

The May 2026 dashboard shows an average sale price of $36,062 across all WA used car transactions, up 2.2 percent month-on-month. Dealer transactions averaged $38,633 and private sales averaged $31,037. Your individual sale price will depend on the vehicle’s make, model, age, kilometres, condition and sales channel.

How Long Does It Take To Sell A Car In Perth Currently?

The current average days to sell across the WA market is 51.8 days, up 8.7 percent. Private sellers move cars faster at 39.6 days, while dealer listings take 58.1 days. Light commercial vehicles take the longest at 55.1 days, while passenger cars are fastest at 47.7 days.

Is The Perth Used Car Market Strong Year To Date In 2026?

The Perth used car market is active, with total sales up 6.1 percent and total stock up 5.4 percent in May. Retained value softened by 0.8 percentage points and days to sell rose 8.7 percent, signalling a more competitive environment. The market is still strong, but pricing discipline matters more than 12 months ago.

Which Vehicles Hold The Best Value In The Perth Used Market?

Light commercial vehicles and utes hold the strongest retained value at 73.2 percent, followed by SUVs at 69.8 percent and passenger cars at 68.7 percent. The Ford Ranger and Toyota Hilux remain the strongest individual sellers, with Toyota the dominant make overall at 13,222 sales across the three-month dashboard view.

Should I Sell Privately Or Through A Dealer In Perth?

The data shows private sales achieve a faster average sell-through (39.6 days versus 58.1 for dealers) but a lower average sale price ($31,037 versus $38,633). Our most profitable way to sell your car breakdown compares each path, including the direct car buyer route that sits between the two.

Conclusion

The Perth used car market year to date in 2026 is shifting beneath sellers’ feet. Total sales of 23,021 in May, with last 6 months sales of 141,436, confirm strong baseline activity, while the lift in stock and the softening of retained value tell us supply is growing faster than demand and pricing discipline matters more than ever. Toyota leads the make rankings, the Ford Ranger remains the top individual model, and petrol and diesel still dominate the WA fuel-type mix despite the broader Australian shift toward electric vehicles.

For Perth sellers thinking about the next move, the year to date data points to a clear strategy. Price into the current retained value benchmark, list in early June to ride the EOFY lift, and choose the sales channel that matches the outcome you want. Our guides on how to sell a car in Western Australia and how to maximise your car’s resale value cover the paperwork and presentation steps that matter most.

If you want to skip the listing process entirely and move from valuation to settlement in days rather than weeks, talk to our team at sell my car Perth. As a Licensed WA Motor Vehicle Dealer and MTA WA member, we buy cars across Perth every day, with on-site valuations, same-day payment, and the Department of Transport paperwork handled cleanly. Get an instant valuation through our custom tool or call 1300 313 777 to find out what your car is worth in today’s Perth market.