Experian's latest data confirms that more buyers than ever are crossing state lines to find better car deals - for new and used cars, mainstream vehicles, luxury cars, and exotics alike.
13.1% of exotic and luxury car shoppers crossed state lines for their purchase in Q1 2026, up from 10.4% five years ago. Mainstream shoppers are doing it too - 9.3% purchased out-of-state in Q1, compared to 7% in 2021.
Digital retailing, online shopping, and services like Carvana delivering cars directly to your driveway have made out-of-state shopping easier than ever. Buyers also have more tools than ever to search across makes, models, and specific options - far beyond just local dealer websites.
Experian tracks 298 million vehicles currently on American roads, up from 293.5 million in Q1 2025. In Q1 2026 alone, 11.3 million light vehicles went out of service while 39.7 million used vehicles found new owners.
Simply being the "local" dealer no longer means buyers will accept higher prices, even if local competition is slim.
Bottom line for car buyers: Price-shopping across state lines is increasingly mainstream - not just for luxury or exotic buyers. If your local dealers are overpriced, the data says more buyers than ever are willing to look elsewhere, and the tools to do so have never been better.
Whether you are buying local or out-of-state, a Car Inspection Score is the way to go!
Thanks for reading everybody!
-Paul