You Might Find Your Next Used Car In A Place You Never Thought To Look
Trump’s 25% tariff on auto imports, which went into effect today, has sent a shockwave through the US as consumers fear significant vehicle price increases. Some shoppers are realizing they can find better-than-average pre-owned sticker prices through a company that’s occasionally overlooked because of its longstanding status as a car rental service. As of today, Hertz Car Sales is advertising over 49,000 pre-owned vehicles for sale under $30,000. Narrowing the Hertz Car Sales search results reveals almost 24,000 vehicles available under $20,000 and nearly 700 listings under $15,000. These models include pre-owned cars, trucks, SUVs, and hybrids. To further sweeten the deal, Hertz provides an AutoCheck report detailing a vehicle’s history, including accident reports, title status, mileage, and more.
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Some US consumers are rushing to buy used cars to beat price fluctuations from Trump’s new tariffs. On Friday, Auto Trader recorded a 16% increase in used car leads, according to CBS. Goldman Sachs estimates that Trump’s 25% auto import tariff could raise new vehicle prices from $5,000 to $15,000, according to CNN. Higher costs of new cars will incentivize consumers to look toward buying used, which will likely drive their costs up. American cars are fair game for price increases, given that several domestically manufactured vehicles rely on international part sourcing, and the new tariffs will also impact part imports. For example, about 50% of Ford F-150 pickup truck parts originate from outside of the US or Canada.
However, drivers shouldn’t expect vehicle price hikes to happen right after April 2, as dealers still have large inventories of cars imported before the tariffs. Starting today, new US auto import tariffs represent a 22.5% increase over the initial 2.5% rate. Trump’s administration believes the tariffs will facilitate more domestic auto manufacturing and collect tax revenue to finance his tax cut plans.
What Hertz Car Sales Gives Consumers Beyond Competitive Sticker Prices
Many drivers worry that they’re buying a dud, especially when shopping against higher-than-average prices. Hertz Car Sales mitigates these concerns by requiring their listings to follow a strict maintenance plan, which includes rigorous inspections complemented by a powertrain warranty, buy-back guarantee, and additional protection plans. You can also finance a vehicle through Hertz Car Sales since the company partners with multiple lenders and offers online tools like trade-in appraisals.
There are over 40 Hertz Car Sales locations across the country, so shoppers can order a vehicle from one state and pick it up at a site nearest them. Hertz Car Sales primarily sources its inventory of mostly late models via its rental fleet or other Hertz companies, like Dollar Rent-a-Car, Thrifty Rental, Donlen, or Hertz Equipment Rental Corporation. Inventory sourcing also comes from customer trade-ins, dealers, private sellers, and auctions.
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Final thoughts
At this point, it’s unclear when exactly new and used vehicle prices will increase following President Trump’s sweeping 25% auto import tariff, but experts indicate that higher costs appear imminent. However, it’s important not to panic, as dealers are still selling off their pre-stocked import inventories, and there are many resources, like Hertz Car Sales, helping drivers find used cars at better-than-average prices.