Average Used Car Purchase Price Falls Below 1 Million Yen in March - Uncertainty Remains for April Onwards Due to Hormuz Blockade / Used Car Purchase Price Trend Report (April 2026 Edition)
Fabrica Communications announced in a report from its used car appraisal site "Kuruma Erabi Dot Com Kaitori" that the average used car purchase price in March fell to 995,000 yen, dropping below 1 million yen for the first time since last summer. The report predicts continued uncertainty for market recovery from April onwards due to export restrictions to the UAE caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
📋 Article Processing Timeline
- 📰 Published: April 30, 2026 at 23:00
- 🔍 Collected: April 30, 2026 at 14:31
- 🤖 AI Analyzed: April 30, 2026 at 15:25 (53 min after Collected)
Fabrica Communications Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Naka-ku, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture; President and CEO: Masato Taniguchi), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Fabrica Holdings Co., Ltd., is pleased to announce a report from its used car appraisal website "Kuruma Erabi Dot Com Kaitori" (https://www.kurumaerabi.com/kaitori/). This report analyzes used car purchase market trends in March and forecasts market trends from April onwards, based on purchase market data from the past 2 to 5 years.
**Key Points of This Report:**
- The average used car purchase price in March was 995,000 yen, falling below 1 million yen for the first time since last summer.
- Uncertainty remains for market recovery from April onwards due to export restrictions to the UAE caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
- Vehicles around "5 years old," which were affected by production cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to command high prices due to insufficient supply.
The April 2026 edition of the used car purchase market trend report and past reports can be viewed at the following URLs:
April 2026 Used Car Purchase Market Trend Report: https://www.kurumaerabi.com/kaitori/marketprice/
Past Report Archive: https://www.kurumaerabi.com/magazine/tag/125/
**Brief Pause Due to Middle East Situation**
*Calculated based on used car auction market prices over the past 5 years and "Kuruma Erabi Dot Com" purchase prices.
Since the beginning of 2026, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been impacting the global economy. Its effects are not limited to disruptions in crude oil supply but are also beginning to ripple through Japan's domestic used car market.
Japanese used cars are highly regarded overseas due to their low mileage and regular inspections and maintenance under the vehicle inspection system, and they are exported to various countries worldwide. Among these, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the top destination for Japanese used car exports for two consecutive years in 2025, accounting for approximately 250,000 units (about 15% of total exports). (*1)
However, the current Strait of Hormuz blockade has disrupted operations at Jebel Ali Port in the UAE, leading to a backlog of vehicles in Japan that have lost their export destination. This port also serves as a re-export hub for the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, and this stagnation is having some impact on distribution to other countries.
Furthermore, direct routes to East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania are being explored for some vehicles, but their effectiveness as an alternative is limited due to country-specific import regulations, port infrastructure constraints, and rising transportation costs.
Against this backdrop, there is increasing downward pressure on domestic used car purchase prices overall, and price differences by vehicle type are expanding. In particular, SUV-type vehicles, including Land Cruisers, which are expected to be in demand in the Middle Eastern market, have seen auction prices decline since the blockade. In addition, light cars and compact cars are relatively less affected due to strong domestic demand, but the overall market uncertainty has led used car buyers to suppress appraisal values, contributing to a downward push on average purchase prices across all categories.
*1 Source: Based on 2025 Foreign Trade Statistics (e-Stat) and 2024 Foreign Trade Statistics (e-Stat).
**Used Car Purchase Trends**
*Calculated based on used car auction market prices over the past 2 years and "Kuruma Erabi Dot Com" purchase/trade-in statistics.
The average purchase price, which had been trending at record highs since last summer, fell to 995,000 yen in March 2026, dropping below 1 million yen. Annually, prices tend to bottom out in April after the new lifestyle demand period and rise towards summer, and our company's data shows similar seasonality. However, with significant restrictions on exports to the UAE due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade, a slowdown in demand in the Middle East and Central Asia is a concern, and the market outlook is expected to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future.
On the other hand, vehicles around "5 years old," which were manufactured during the period when domestic manufacturers were forced to reduce production due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, continue to be in short supply in the market and remain at high prices.
Furthermore, if alternative routes to the UAE export route are established, the overall impact on used car exports could be mitigated, and average purchase prices might recover.
Additionally, with global gasoline prices remaining high due to rising crude oil prices, demand for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles from domestic manufacturers, including Toyota, may increase.
**Used Car Purchase Ranking by Body Type**
Introducing Kuruma Erabi Dot Com's latest used car purchase ranking by body type.
*"Kuruma Erabi Dot Com"'s body type-specific purchase ranking is based on auction market prices and proprietary statistical data.
**Key Points of This Report:**
- The average used car purchase price in March was 995,000 yen, falling below 1 million yen for the first time since last summer.
- Uncertainty remains for market recovery from April onwards due to export restrictions to the UAE caused by the Strait of Hormuz blockade.
- Vehicles around "5 years old," which were affected by production cuts during the COVID-19 pandemic, continue to command high prices due to insufficient supply.
The April 2026 edition of the used car purchase market trend report and past reports can be viewed at the following URLs:
April 2026 Used Car Purchase Market Trend Report: https://www.kurumaerabi.com/kaitori/marketprice/
Past Report Archive: https://www.kurumaerabi.com/magazine/tag/125/
**Brief Pause Due to Middle East Situation**
*Calculated based on used car auction market prices over the past 5 years and "Kuruma Erabi Dot Com" purchase prices.
Since the beginning of 2026, the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has been impacting the global economy. Its effects are not limited to disruptions in crude oil supply but are also beginning to ripple through Japan's domestic used car market.
Japanese used cars are highly regarded overseas due to their low mileage and regular inspections and maintenance under the vehicle inspection system, and they are exported to various countries worldwide. Among these, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) was the top destination for Japanese used car exports for two consecutive years in 2025, accounting for approximately 250,000 units (about 15% of total exports). (*1)
However, the current Strait of Hormuz blockade has disrupted operations at Jebel Ali Port in the UAE, leading to a backlog of vehicles in Japan that have lost their export destination. This port also serves as a re-export hub for the Middle East, Africa, and Central Asia, and this stagnation is having some impact on distribution to other countries.
Furthermore, direct routes to East African countries such as Kenya and Tanzania are being explored for some vehicles, but their effectiveness as an alternative is limited due to country-specific import regulations, port infrastructure constraints, and rising transportation costs.
Against this backdrop, there is increasing downward pressure on domestic used car purchase prices overall, and price differences by vehicle type are expanding. In particular, SUV-type vehicles, including Land Cruisers, which are expected to be in demand in the Middle Eastern market, have seen auction prices decline since the blockade. In addition, light cars and compact cars are relatively less affected due to strong domestic demand, but the overall market uncertainty has led used car buyers to suppress appraisal values, contributing to a downward push on average purchase prices across all categories.
*1 Source: Based on 2025 Foreign Trade Statistics (e-Stat) and 2024 Foreign Trade Statistics (e-Stat).
**Used Car Purchase Trends**
*Calculated based on used car auction market prices over the past 2 years and "Kuruma Erabi Dot Com" purchase/trade-in statistics.
The average purchase price, which had been trending at record highs since last summer, fell to 995,000 yen in March 2026, dropping below 1 million yen. Annually, prices tend to bottom out in April after the new lifestyle demand period and rise towards summer, and our company's data shows similar seasonality. However, with significant restrictions on exports to the UAE due to the Strait of Hormuz blockade, a slowdown in demand in the Middle East and Central Asia is a concern, and the market outlook is expected to remain uncertain for the foreseeable future.
On the other hand, vehicles around "5 years old," which were manufactured during the period when domestic manufacturers were forced to reduce production due to the spread of the novel coronavirus, continue to be in short supply in the market and remain at high prices.
Furthermore, if alternative routes to the UAE export route are established, the overall impact on used car exports could be mitigated, and average purchase prices might recover.
Additionally, with global gasoline prices remaining high due to rising crude oil prices, demand for fuel-efficient hybrid vehicles from domestic manufacturers, including Toyota, may increase.
**Used Car Purchase Ranking by Body Type**
Introducing Kuruma Erabi Dot Com's latest used car purchase ranking by body type.
*"Kuruma Erabi Dot Com"'s body type-specific purchase ranking is based on auction market prices and proprietary statistical data.