Expert Says Dealerships Are Preparing for a Major 'Market Correction' That'll See Car Prices Change by 30%

Anyone thinking about buying a car in the next few months might want to hit pause. 

A warning is circulating through the automotive industry that suggests something big is coming. And according to one insider, dealerships are already preparing for it behind the scenes.

Salesperson Warns of Impending Price Drop

In a viral video with more than 344,000 views, car expert Molly Baxter (@mollybaxter_cars) shared a warning about what she’s hearing in the car world. 

Baxter says dealerships are preparing for a "market correction" unlike anything seen since the 2008 financial crisis.

"I don't know exactly what day it's gonna happen, but I do know there's about to be a 30% drop in vehicle prices in a singular day sometime within the next three months," Baxter shares in the video.

Baxter's advice to potential car buyers is simple: wait.

"If you're looking into getting a new car, just wait. Just wait until that drop happens," she adds.

In her caption, Baxter added a warning to current car owners, "Hold onto your old cars folks, we're in for a bumpy ride."

The video doesn't provide details about what specific factors are driving this predicted correction, what her role in the industry is, or what sources she's basing this timeline on. 

Baxter also doesn't clarify whether she's referring to new cars, used cars, or both, though a 30% price drop across the board would represent a significant market shift.

Gallery: Where Does The Collector Car Market Stand On Prices?

Is This Major Car Market Change Really Happening?

Baxter's prediction of a sudden 30% price drop stands in stark contrast to what automotive industry analysts are actually seeing in the market.

Credit.org notes that there are two schools of thought: One is that prices will increase due to tariffs. The other is that prices are returning to pre-pandemic levels, and greater access to chips means manufacturers can start lowering MSRPs.

But which is true? 

“The answer is probably both, and economic shifts are complex and hard to predict,” the site notes. “On the one hand, tariffs will make import prices go up, but new car prices for domestic cars could very well drop. Combine that with improvements to people's personal finance habits and changes to interest rates, and the consensus leans toward better car prices in the coming year.”

However, according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB), a leading authority on vehicle pricing, car prices have been "remarkably stable in recent months.” The average new car buyer paid $49,077 in August 2025, just 2.6% higher than July (the largest one-month increase in nearly two years) but far from a collapse.

Used car prices actually dropped in August, but only by $124 compared to July's average. KBB notes this as relatively good news in the current market, not a sign of impending catastrophe.

Rather than predicting falling prices, KBB warns that car prices may actually continue to rise. Automakers have begun warning analysts "that they may not be able to maintain that price stability for much longer" due to tariffs. Several manufacturers have already used the arrival of 2026 models to raise sticker prices and delivery fees.

KBB's analysis suggests that any price changes happen gradually over months, not in a single day. 

"Increased manufacturer's suggested retail prices (MSRPs) take months to reach the average buyer," the publication notes, as dealers typically keep about two months' worth of inventory in stock.

The automotive pricing authority makes no mention of a 2008-style market correction or any sudden, dramatic price drops. Instead, KBB advises that "the remainder of this year is likely to be one of major disruptions to the car market," but describes a scenario of gradual shifts rather than a single-day crash.

A 30% price drop in one day would be unprecedented in modern automotive history, even during the 2008 financial crisis when the market disruption unfolded over many months.

Commenters React to Alleged Car Market Shift

“I’ve been hearing this since 2021,” a top comment read.

“30%? Needs to be more like 50%,” a person pointed out.

“Keeping mine til it falls apart,” another shared.

Motor1 reached out to Baxter for comment via email and Instagram direct message. This story will be updated should she respond.