Used Car Market Slows in Turkey as Real Prices Keep Falling

The Turkish second-hand automobile market continued to cool in December 2025, according to the latest report jointly prepared by BETAM and sahibinden.com. While nominal vehicle prices continued to rise, inflation-adjusted values declined further, signaling weakening demand and slower market turnover.

The data highlights a growing disconnect between listed prices and real purchasing power. Even as headline prices rise, declining sales ratios and longer listing durations point to a market losing momentum rather than gaining strength.

Nominal Prices Rise, Real Values Continue to Erode

As of November 2025, the average nominal price of a used car stood at 1.101 million TL, a 22.4 percent year-on-year increase. On the surface, this suggests continued price growth. However, once inflation is taken into account, the picture changes significantly.

Real prices fell by 6.6 percent compared to the same period last year, underscoring the ongoing erosion in real asset values in the used car market. Every month, real prices rose by a modest 0.5 percent, but this slight rebound was not enough to offset the broader downward trend.

This divergence confirms that nominal price growth is inflation-driven mainly rather than demand-led.

B-Segment Vehicles Lead Price Increases

Price movements varied considerably across vehicle segments. B-segment vehicles recorded the largest annual increase, with average prices rising 26.6 percent to 731,740 TL. This segment’s relatively affordable positioning appears to have given it stronger pricing power than others.

C-segment vehicles followed closely, with prices rising 25.3 percent to 974,458 TL. D-segment models saw a 25.6 percent increase, pushing average prices to 1.406 million TL, while E-segment vehicles experienced a 21.7 percent rise, reaching 2.266 million TL on average.

Despite these increases, analysts note that rising prices have not translated into stronger sales performance.

Newer Models Show Signs of Softening

When prices are examined by model year, older vehicles continued to see steady gains. Cars produced between 2014 and 2018 posted an average annual price increase of 16.2 percent, while cars from 2004 to 2008 recorded a more modest 5.6 percent rise.

Among newer models, 2019 vehicles experienced the highest annual increase at 17 percent, reflecting continued interest in relatively recent used cars. However, a notable shift emerged at the top end of the age spectrum. 2024 model vehicles registered a monthly price decline of 1.1 percent, bringing their average price down to 2.023 million TL.

This decline suggests that even newer used cars are beginning to face price resistance as demand weakens.

Electric Vehicles Lag Behind Other Fuel Types

Fuel type analysis revealed price increases across all categories, though at differing rates. Petrol-powered vehicles saw their average prices rise 20.4 percent to 1.342 million TL. Diesel vehicles followed with an 18.9 percent increase, while LPG-powered cars rose 17.4 percent.

Hybrid models recorded a 15.1 percent increase, indicating more moderate demand growth. Electric vehicles posted the lowest annual increase at just 6 percent, despite having the highest average price level at 3.448 million TL.

The limited rise in electric vehicle prices points to cautious consumer behavior, likely driven by high upfront costs, concerns about charging infrastructure, and uncertainty about long-term resale value.

Demand Index Signals Market Cooling

Demand-side indicators reinforce the narrative of a slowing market. The automobile demand index declined 7.1 percent month-on-month and 1.6 percent year-on-year, reflecting weakening buyer interest.

At the same time, the number of active listings fell by 0.9 percent, while the number of vehicles sold dropped sharply by 8.7 percent. As a result, the ratio of sold vehicles to total listings decreased to 21.2 percent, a clear sign that cars are taking longer to find buyers.

Cars Stay Listed Longer

Another key indicator of market slowdown is the average time vehicles remain listed for sale. In November, the average listing duration for user-closed advertisements increased to 20.7 days, up 0.7 days from the previous month.

Longer listing durations typically indicate reduced buyer urgency and rising price sensitivity, further supporting the conclusion that the market is cooling rather than stabilizing.

Outlook for the Used Car Market

The December 2025 report shows a used car market caught between rising nominal prices and falling real demand. Inflation continues to push up prices, but consumers are increasingly cautious, leading to slower sales and longer listing periods.