The short answer
About 39 days for a typical used car at an independent dealer, by AutoRaptor’s count of 164,673 sales. Across the US market, dealers had 49 days of used supply in September 2026 (Cox Automotive). Every extra day costs about $40 a car, by one industry estimate.
- Median days to sell: 39, at independent dealers in the US and Canada, January 2024 to October 2026.
- Market-wide: 49 days’ supply, 2.21 million used cars on US lots, September 2026.
- Holding cost: about $40 a day a car (NCM Associates); up to $85 by another estimate.
39 days
How long a typical used car takes to sell at an independent dealer.
AutoRaptor: median of 164,673 retail sales, Jan 2024 to Oct 2026.
49 days
Of used supply on US dealer lots, at September’s sales pace.
Cox Automotive, September 2026.
$40 a day
What a car costs to hold, for most domestic vehicles.
NCM Associates, as reported by CBT News.
$27,235
The average used listing price in September 2026, the highest since 2022.
Cox Automotive.
Which cars sit longest
| Model | Median days to sell | Sales counted |
|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Navigator | 26 | 166 |
| Chevrolet Trailblazer | 30 | 326 |
| Audi Q7 | 31 | 882 |
| Kia Sorento | 32 | 708 |
| Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | 36 | 3,787 |
| Kia Optima | 41 | 597 |
| Jeep Wrangler | 44 | 1,747 |
| Kia Soul | 49 | 744 |
| Cadillac XT5 | 49 | 270 |
| Mazda CX-30 | 50 | 199 |
Lincoln Navigator
- Median days to sell
- 26
- Sales counted
- 166
Chevrolet Trailblazer
- Median days to sell
- 30
- Sales counted
- 326
Audi Q7
- Median days to sell
- 31
- Sales counted
- 882
Kia Sorento
- Median days to sell
- 32
- Sales counted
- 708
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Median days to sell
- 36
- Sales counted
- 3,787
Kia Optima
- Median days to sell
- 41
- Sales counted
- 597
Jeep Wrangler
- Median days to sell
- 44
- Sales counted
- 1,747
Kia Soul
- Median days to sell
- 49
- Sales counted
- 744
Cadillac XT5
- Median days to sell
- 49
- Sales counted
- 270
Mazda CX-30
- Median days to sell
- 50
- Sales counted
- 199
What a day on the lot costs
NCM Associates puts the holding cost of most domestic vehicles at about $40 a day a car; Dale Pollak writes in his book Like I See It that used cars are closer to $85. At $40, a car that sells on day 60 instead of day 30 has cost $1,200 more to keep. A former vAuto performance manager put it plainly: “figure out how to sell the most cars in the first 30 days.”
A 30-45-60 day plan
Day 1
Just arrived
Photos, the price and a Just arrived post the day it lands, and a reel the same day.
Day 7
Carousel
Five photos in one swipe, for the buyers who want a closer look.
Day 21
New reel style
A new look from the same photos, for everyone who scrolled past the first.
Day 30
Pick of the week
Feature it. If it gets views but no calls, look at the price next.
Price drop
Day 45
Price drop
A Price drop post with the old price and the new one, both typed by you.
Keep it or wholesale it
Day 60
Decide
Keep it or wholesale it, but decide. At $40 a day, two more months is $2,400.
The day it goes
Sold
Say it. A Sold post shows your lot moves cars.
Why is my car not selling on Marketplace?
When a car gets views but no messages, it’s usually one of four things: the price is above the cars around it, the first photo doesn’t show the car well, the listing is missing the km or the trim, or people have seen the same post so often it looks stale. Fix the one you can see, then give the car a fresh post. The 12 photos a listing needs
Where StudioOS fits
- A new reel or post for a car that’s sitting, from the photos you already have.
- Price drop posts with the old and new price, typed by you and printed exactly.
- Eight reel styles, so the same car can look new on day 21.
- Sold posts, free.
3.7 min
Median time from tap to finished reel in StudioOS: 24 reels, September 30 to October 23, 2026. Half took between 2.6 and 6.1 minutes.
StudioOS’s own records. Most were test reels made by StudioOS.
Sources
- Used vehicle turn time by model, AutoRaptor, updated October 15, 2026.
- Used-vehicle inventory builds as September sales pace slows, Cox Automotive, October 2026.
- Dealers & experts discuss inventory holding cost erosion, CBT News.
Try it on a car from your lot.
Add a few photos, or paste the listing link.
20 free credits. No card.
