deepblue4you · iStock.comBuying a used car during the pandemic was not fun. It felt less like shopping for the car you wanted and more like surrendering to whatever the dealer had in stock, no matter how gaudy or "not you" the car was. Car dealers had very little inventory during this time, allowing them to price these cars extremely high. Whenever you tried to think over your very limited options, someone else would snatch up that car you didn't even want in the first place. Unfortunately, used cars are still expensive compared to the pre-pandemic era of 2019 and supply is still tighter than anyone would consider normal. AdvertisementAdvertisementBut something has changed since then: buyers have leverage again. That's why some auto experts are calling 2026 the best used car buying environment since before the pandemic.What's Different About 2026 vs. Pandemic-Era Used Cars?The used-car market remains elevated compared with pre-pandemic levels. According to Cox Automotive, average retail used-vehicle prices in 2024 are roughly 32% higher than in 2019, so shoppers still aren't back in the bargain-bin territory we were hoping for. But 2026 still feels different from 2021 through 2023 because: More trade-ins are returning to the market, improving secondhand selectionsShoppers can compare similar vehicles across multiple lots againDealers are facing more resistance to grossly overpriced used cars. AdvertisementAdvertisementThese three factors are giving prepared buyers more room to negotiate than they had during the peak pandemic years, per AP News.Why Do Buyers Have More Leverage Without a Price Crash?The most interesting thing about this market is that prices haven't fallen dramatically, but negotiating power has improved. CarEdge recently noted that CarMax's average retail selling price fell slightly in its fiscal fourth quarter, even as wholesale values remained high. That creates a squeeze for dealers because they are paying up to acquire inventory, yet consumers are less willing or able to absorb every dollar of that cost. That pressure can make dealers more willing to trim retail prices, especially on vehicles that are taking longer to sell.According to Cox Automotive, wholesale used-vehicle values rose again in March, so dealers aren't suddenly restocking their lots with cheap inventory. But that doesn't give them a free pass to charge whatever they want.AdvertisementAdvertisementTariffs are adding additional problems, although so far they've had less of an impact on actual transaction prices than some early predictions suggested. Per Kelley Blue Book (KBB), new-vehicle list prices rose 10.4% across a 37-week comparison of model-year 2025 and 2026 vehicles, while the prices consumers actually paid increased 5.9%, suggesting that dealers absorbed part of the increase through discounts and negotiation. That matters for the used market because pricier new cars can keep more budget-conscious shoppers looking at pre-owned options.Many shoppers are still boxed in by high monthly payments and high interest rates. Simply put, used cars remain far more expensive than they were before the pandemic. Which Buyers Benefit Most Right NowThe strongest position belongs to shoppers who are flexible.A buyer who is open to color, trim, mileage or even model year can compare more listings and walk away from a weak deal. That alone changes everything about the transaction. Someone trading in a paid-off or high-equity vehicle may benefit even more, since Edmunds found that seven-year-old trade-ins averaged $14,400 in 2025, far above 2019 levels (a 72% increase, actually), as reported by AP News.AdvertisementAdvertisementA large wave of off-lease electric vehicles (EVs) hitting the market is also helping used-EV shoppers find more attractive options. This is not a market where everyone wins. Affordable sub-$15,000 used vehicles are still in short supply, but prepared shoppers with a realistic budget, who've searched and compared their options and who've prearranged their financing so it's ready to go will find something they've badly missed during the pandemic: room to push back.This article was provided by MoneyLion.com for informational purposes only and should not be construed as financial, legal or tax advice.More From MoneyLion:AdvertisementAdvertisementSave Up to $1,100 on Car Insurance in MinutesForbes' Most Trusted Gold Company of 2026 — See Why Investors Are Taking NoticeLooking to Buy Investment Properties? These Loans Offer Fast FundingCash In Your Unused Gold at Today's Top Prices