Manheim Australia has reported that vehicle selling prices at its auctions increased 5.2 percent in February 2025 (over January 2025) and are the highest they’ve been since April 2024 – when prices were still trending downwards from mid-2022 era record highs.
The Manheim Price Index now sits at 138.3, meaning vehicles are selling at auction now for 38.3 percent more than they were in December 2019. The Index dipped below 130 in both August and October last year, having hit 167.6 in mid-2022 amid vehicle shortages.
Monthly sales volumes in February 2025 increased 4.1 percent over the previous month and 1.7 percent YoY, which represents a slowdown over the growth seen consistently across 2024. However, Manheim still projects sales growth of 10 percent or more across the full year.
Manheim cites strong volume increases for vehicles consigned by car dealers (44 percent), and by finance companies, usually repossessions (14 percent). Fleet & lease volumes are down slightly over 2024’s company record tally after two months, but the company expects a volume uptick in the near term.
Of note to fleet management organisations (FMOs), prices are trending upwards on younger assets. The Price Index for 2–4-year-old sold vehicles at auction this year is up 7.3 percent since January 1, more than the market average.
Traditional passenger cars such as hatchbacks and sedans remain the most inflated in price compared to pre-COVID, with a Price Index of 144.8 compared to 126.5 for SUVs and 139.5 for Utes. Passenger vehicles are also the fastest to sell at 18 days on average.
However, the highest pricing increases being observed right now are on utes. The price index for these LCVs is up 4.6 percent in the past three months, and 6.6 percent in the past six months. Selling prices of 2-4-year-old utes are at 12-month high, up 13.0 percent over the past six months.
Over the same time, average selling prices of 5–7-year-old utes are up a more modest 1.4 percent.
Across February, Manheim unsurprisingly saw improved clearance results across its national sites, with a regular highlight being the weekly QFleet government vehicle auctions which tend to average north of 90 percent clearance rates.
Melbourne Altona remains Manheim Australia’s largest site by volume, however the Brisbane site in Eagle Farm is showing robust growth of 39 percent this year and is the second-biggest site by sales. Perth (up 11 percent) and Townsville (up 26 percent) are also performing well.
Top 5 vehicles sold at Manheim in 2025:
- 1. Ford Ranger: Up 48.1 percent
- 2. Toyota HiLux: Up 48 percent
- 3. Toyota Corolla: Up 20.9 percent
- 4. Isuzu D-Max: Up 23.2 percent
- 5. Mitsubishi Triton: Up 8.2 percent
Top 5 vehicles aged 2-4 years sold at Manheim in 2025:
- 1. Ford Ranger: Up 48.9 percent
- 2. Toyota Corolla: Up 59.4 percent
- 3. Toyota HiLux: Up 110 percent
- 4. Nissan X-Trail: Down 18.2 percent
- 5. Isuzu D-Max: Up 62.5 percent
