Ford Used-Car Sales Surge an Anomaly
Dealers say 14-day guarantee helped fuel industry-rare increase.

Ford added a 14-day money-back guarantee to the 2-year-old Blue Advantage program this year, fueling sales, dealers say.
IMAGE: Ford
Ford is going against an industry grain with a surge in used-car sales through its Ford Blue Advantage program, Automotive News reports.
As industrywide preowned vehicle sales are on pace to fall this year from 2021, the approximately 1,400 dealers who are part of the program cite a 15% year-over-year increase in used-car sales through October, some individual dealers seeing as high as 40% jumps, the publication says. That contrasts with a 12% U.S. industrywide decline.
Dealers have leaned on used-car sales during the pandemic as new-car inventories shrunk and manufacturer incentives waned.
Ford added a 14-day money-back guarantee to the 2-year-old Blue Advantage program this year, fueling sales, dealers say. Inventory includes non-Ford models.
READ MORE: CPO Sales to See Double-Digit Percentage Decline in 2022
More Dealer Ops

Ladies and Gentlemen, This Is a Dealership: Why the Fundamentals Still Decide Who Wins
A teaching moment by a legendary football coach happens to apply perfectly in the auto retail space. Learn what it is and how to use it to your store’s advantage.
Read More →
Timing the Market Can Hurt Long-Term Program Performance
For dealer-owned reinsurance entities, avoiding volatility entirely can mean falling behind inflation and missing market rebounds that drive long term surplus growth. Missing just a handful of strong market days can materially impact cumulative returns—an important reminder for long horizon trust and investment strategies.
Read More →
Dealer Ads and the FTC
The agency has made it clear in recent enforcement actions and warnings, in auto retail and other industries, that advertised prices must include all nonoptional costs to the consumer.
Read More →
Used Autos Supply Dwindles
The March shopping surge, despite high prices, cut into inventory by the most since the thick of the pandemic, Cox Automotive analysts calculated.
Read More →
Managing Risk Effectively Through Changing Times
The variables influencing risk pricing have changed significantly over the past five years. Being proactive and responsive to emerging trends is not optional but essential.
Read More →
Survey Reveals What Won't Fix What's Breaking Car Sales
AutoPayPlus says extra-long auto loans are trapping consumers and threatening the dealer trade-in cycle, and that the industry is leveraging the wrong tools to combat high MSRPs.
Read More →
IA American Appoints Two Execs
Senior vice presidents of the company's agent and dealer channels chosen to support general agents and help auto dealers with sales and performance.
Read More →
Cox Automotive Acquires Inspection Firm
Full ownership of Alliance Inspection Management, or AiM, meant to unlock growth for Manheim inspection capabilities
Read More →
Assurant Expands Partnership With Holman
Extended collaboration delivers training, products and performance development to 30 newly acquired Holman dealerships
Read More →
Franchises, Throughput Down in First Half
A handful of states see franchise growth through June, while EV sales per store boost overall business in U.S.
Read More →