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Used Car Dealers in Canada - Market Research Report (2014-2029)

Evan Jozkowski Evan Jozkowski New York, United States Last Updated: October 2024 NAICS 44112CA

Revenue

$17.5bn

2024

$17.5bn

Past 5-Year Growth

Profit

$XXX.Xm

Employees

16,939

Businesses

7,867

Wages

$X.Xbn

Used Car Dealers in Canada industry analysis

Used vehicle sales have heavily fluctuated through the current period due to an undersupply of new vehicles and a restrictive economic environment. In particular, the economy's post-pandemic recovery coincided with semiconductor and new car shortages in 2021, prompting growth in used car sales. Lower unemployment and greater access to credit also encouraged vehicle purchases for part of the current period; consumers turned to used cars when they found new car lots empty. Even so, climbing interest rates and volatile consumer markets have deterred vehicle purchases in the latter half of the period. Revenue for Canadian used car dealers has climbed at an expected CAGR of 2.7%, reaching $17.5 billion through the current period, including a 3.9% jump in 2024, where profit will reach 2.1%. 

Trends and Insights

  • A shortage of new cars prompted a surge in used car sales. The post-pandemic recovery simultaneously boosted consumer confidence, inflating demand for used vehicles.
  • Improving vehicle quality has supported demand for parts and repair services. Better designs mean consumers hold onto existing vehicles for longer, creating demand for ancillary after-sale services.
  • Ontario is the most popular location for used car dealers. Regions with high populations and robust business activity generate greater demand and attract more car dealerships.
  • Companies primarily rely on price and inventory quality to differentiate from competitors. Some companies also offer various extra services like financing, insurance and repair warranties to ensure repeat customers.

Access hundreds of analysis and data

  • Market estimates from 2014-2029
  • Critical performance data and rankings
  • Detailed analysis of competitive forces and the external environment
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Industry Statistics and Trends

Market size and recent performance (2014-2029)

Industry revenue has grown at a CAGR of 2.7 % over the past five years, to reach an estimated $17.5bn in 2024.

Trends and Insights

Dealers have emphasized online services

  • Websites and mobile apps have increasingly enabled consumers to browse for used vehicles anytime, making car shopping more convenient and driving vehicle sales. The proliferation of the internet has also increased competition for brick-and-mortar car dealers as consumers increasingly prefer completing some or all of their car purchase process online.
  • Additional trends and insights available with purchase
Used Car Dealers in Canada
Revenue (2014-2029)
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry outlook (2024-2029)

Market size is projected to grow over the next five years.

Trends and Insights

Easing supply chain conditions may diminish demand for used cars

  • Semiconductor and other input shortages will end at the start of the outlook period, expanding the supply of new cars and reducing the market’s reliance on used cars. This trend will reinvigorate competition from new car dealers. Expanded inventories at new car dealerships will draw consumers away from used car dealers, which previously benefited from the new car undersupply.

Biggest companies in the Used Car Dealers in Canada

Company
Market Share (%)
2024
Revenue ($m)
2024
Profit ($m)
2024
Profit Margin (%)
2024
AutoCanada Inc.
2,570.3
34.7
1.4

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Products & Services Segmentation

Used Car Dealers in Canada
Products & Services
IBISWorld Logo Source: IBISWorld

Industry revenue is measured across several distinct product and services lines, including Used vehicles, Parts and services and Financing and insurance. Used vehicles is the largest segment of the Used Car Dealers in Canada.

Trends and Insights

Light vehicle sales outpace used cars

  • This segment includes all passenger vehicles, including automobiles and light trucks. This segment also includes sport-utility vehicles, vans, trucks, compacts, small cars and luxury or sport vehicles.
  • More insights available in the full report

Table of Contents

About this industry

Industry definition

The Used Car Dealers industry in Canada sells used passenger vehicles, which include cars, light trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans. Used car dealers also provide parts, repair services, financing and insurance.

What's included in this industry?

Selling used carsSelling used light trucksWholesaling used vehiclesOffering vehicle financing

Companies

AutoCanada Inc.

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Related Terms

LEMON LAWCAR LEASEFLEETCURBSTONERS

Industry Code

NAICS 2007

NAICS 441120 - Used Car Dealers in Canada

Performance

Get an indication of the industry's health through historical, current and forward-looking trends in the performance indicators that make or break businesses.

Analyst insights

A shortage of new cars prompted a surge in used car sales. The post-pandemic recovery simultaneously boosted consumer confidence, inflating demand for used vehicles.

In this chapter (4)

  • Current Performance
  • Outlook
  • Volatility
  • Life Cycle

Key metrics

  • Annual Revenue, Recent Growth, Forecast, Revenue Volatility
  • Number of Employees, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Employee
  • Number of Businesses, Recent Growth, Forecast, Employees per Business, Revenue per Business
  • Total Profit, Profit Margin, Profit per Business

Charts

  • Revenue, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Employees, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Businesses, including historical (2014-2023) and forecast (2024-2029)
  • Profit, including historical (2014-2024)
  • Industry Volatility vs. Revenue Growth
  • Industry Life Cycle

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in supply, demand and current events that are driving current industry performance
  • Expected trends, economic factors and ongoing events that drive the industry's outlook
  • Key success factors for businesses to overcome volatility
  • How contribution to GDP, industry saturation, innovation, consolidation, and technology and systems influence the industry's life cycle phase.

Products and Markets

Learn about an industry's products and services, markets and trends in international trade.

Analyst insight

Improving vehicle quality has supported demand for parts and repair services. Better designs mean consumers hold onto existing vehicles for longer, creating demand for ancill...

In this chapter

  • Products & Services
  • Major Markets

Key metrics

  • Largest market segment and value in 2024
  • Product innovation level

Charts

  • Products & services segmentation in 2024
  • Major market segmentation in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Trends impacting the recent performance of the industry's various segments
  • Innovations in the industry's product or service offering, specialization or delivery method
  • Key factors that successful businesses consider in their offerings
  • Buying segments and key trends influencing demand for industry products and services

Geographic Breakdown

Discover where business activity is most concentrated in an industry and the factors driving these trends to find opportunities and conduct regional benchmarking.

Analyst insights

Ontario is the most popular location for used car dealers. Regions with high populations and robust business activity generate greater demand and attract more car dealerships...

In this chapter (1)

  • Business Locations

Charts

  • Share of revenue, establishment, wages and employment in each province
  • Share of population compared to establishments in each region in 2024

Tables

  • Number and share of establishments in each province in 2024
  • Number and share of revenue each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of wages each province accounts for in 2024
  • Number and share of employees in each province in 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Geographic spread of the industry across North America, and trends associated with changes in the business landscape
  • Key success factors for businesses to use location to their advantage

Competitive Forces

Get data and insights on what's driving competition in an industry and the challenges industry operators and new entrants may face, with analysis built around Porter's Five Forces framework.

Analyst insights

Companies primarily rely on price and inventory quality to differentiate from competitors. Some companies also offer various extra services like financing, insurance and repa...

In this chapter (4)

  • Concentration
  • Barriers to Entry
  • Substitutes
  • Buyer & Supplier Analysis

Key metrics

  • Industry concentration level
  • Industry competition level and trend
  • Barriers to entry level and trend
  • Substitutes level and trend
  • Buyer power level and trend
  • Supplier power level and trend

Charts

  • Market share concentration among the top 4 suppliers from 2019-2024
  • Supply chain including upstream supplying industries and downstream buying industries, flow chart

Detailed analysis

  • Factors impacting the industry’s level of concentration, such as business distribution, new entrants, or merger and acquisition activity.
  • Key success factors for businesses to manage the competitive environment of the industry.
  • Challenges that potential industry entrants face such as legal, start-up costs, differentiation, labor/capital intensity and capital expenses.
  • Key success factors for potential entrants to overcome barriers to entry.
  • Competitive threats from potential substitutes for the industry’s own products and services.
  • Key success factors for how successful businesses can compete with substitutes.
  • Advantages that buyers have to keep favorable purchasing conditions.
  • Advantages that suppliers have to maintain favorable selling conditions.
  • Key success factors for how businesses can navigate buyer and supplier power.

Companies

Learn about the performance of the top companies in the industry.

Analyst insights

AutoCanada is the largest used car dealer in Canada. Most dealerships are independent, but AutoCanada owns many different locations in several provinces and the United States...

In this chapter

  • Market Share Concentration
  • Companies
  • Company Spotlights

Charts

  • Industry market share by company in 2020 through 2024
  • Major companies in the industry, including market share, revenue, profit and profit margin in 2024
  • Overview of AutoCanada Inc.'s performance by revenue, market share and profit margin from 2018 through 2024

Detailed analysis

  • Description and key data for AutoCanada Inc., and factors influencing its performance in the industry

External Environment

Understand the demographic, economic and regulatory factors that shape how businesses in an industry perform.   

Analyst insights

Companies receive little public support. Most used car dealers are members of various trade associations and benefit indirectly from government infrastructure spending.

In this chapter

  • External Drivers
  • Regulation & Policy
  • Assistance

Key metrics

  • Regulation & policy level and trend
  • Assistance level and trend

Charts

  • Regulation & Policy historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 
  • Assistance historical data and forecast (2014-2029) 

Detailed analysis

  • Demographic and macroeconomic factors influencing the industry, including Regulation & Policy and Assistance
  • Major types of regulations, regulatory bodies, industry standards or specific regulations impacting requirements for industry operators
  • Key governmental and non-governmental groups or policies that may provide some relief for industry operators.

Financial Benchmarks

View average costs for industry operators and compare financial data against an industry's financial benchmarks over time. 

Analyst insights

Canadian used car dealers rely on skilled employees for sales, repairs and administrative tasks. Labour shortages have posed a threat to the industry, especially in the servi...

In this chapter

  • Cost Structure
  • Financial Ratios
  • Key Ratios

Key metrics

  • Profit margin, and how it compares to the sector-wide margin
  • Average wages, and how it compares to the sector-wide average wage
  • Largest cost component as a percentage of revenue
  • Industry average ratios for days' receivables, industry coverage and debt-to-net-worth ratio

Charts

  • Average industry operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Average sector operating costs as a share of revenue, including purchases, wages, depreciation, utilities, rent, other costs and profit in 2024
  • Investment vs. share of economy

Data tables

  • Liquidity Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Coverage Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Leverage Ratios  (2017-2022)
  • Operating Ratios (2017-2022)
  • Assets (2017-2022)
  • Liabilities (2017-2022)
  • Cash Flow & Debt Service Ratios (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Employee (2014-2029)
  • Revenue per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Establishment (2014-2029)
  • Employees per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • Average Wage (2014-2029)
  • Wages/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Establishments per Enterprise (2014-2029)
  • IVA/Revenue (2014-2029)
  • Imports/Demand (2014-2029)
  • Exports/Revenue (2014-2029)

Detailed analysis

  • Trends in the cost component for industry operators and their impact on industry costs and profitability 

Key Statistics

Industry Data

Data Tables

Including values and annual change:

  • Revenue (2014-2029)
  • IVA (2014-2029)
  • Establishments (2014-2029)
  • Enterprises (2014-2029)
  • Employment (2014-2029)
  • Exports (2014-2029)
  • Imports (2014-2029)
  • Wages (2014-2029)

Top Questions Answered

Unlock comprehensive answers and precise data upon purchase. View purchase options.

What is the market size of the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada in 2024?

The market size of the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada is $17.5bn in 2024.

How many businesses are there in the Used Car Dealers in Canada industry in 2024?

There are 7,867 businesses in the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada, which has grown at a CAGR of 0.6 % between 2019 and 2024.

Has the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada grown or declined over the past 5 years?

The market size of the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada has been growing at a CAGR of 2.7 % between 2019 and 2024.

What is the forecast growth of the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada over the next 5 years?

Over the next five years, the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada is expected to grow.

What are the biggest companies in the Used Car Dealers market in Canada?

The biggest company operating in the Used Car Dealers market in Canada is AutoCanada Inc.

What does the Used Car Dealers in Canada include?

Selling used cars and Selling used light trucks are part of the Used Car Dealers industry.

Which companies have the highest market share in the Used Car Dealers in Canada?

The company holding the most market share in Canada is AutoCanada Inc..

How competitive is the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada?

The level of competition is high and increasing in the Used Car Dealers industry in Canada.

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Methodology

How are IBISWorld reports created?

IBISWorld has been a leading provider of trusted industry research for over 50 years to the most successful companies worldwide. With offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany and China, we are proud to have local teams of analysts that conduct research, data analysis and forecasting to produce data-driven industry reports.

Our analysts start with official, verified and publicly available sources of data to build the most accurate picture of each industry. Analysts then leverage their expertise and knowledge of the local markets to synthesize trends into digestible content for IBISWorld readers. Finally, each report is reviewed by one of IBISWorld’s editors, who provide quality assurance to ensure accuracy and readability.

IBISWorld relies on human-verified data and human-written analysis to compile each standard industry report. We do not use generative AI tools to write insights, although members can choose to leverage AI-based tools within the platform to generate additional analysis formats.

What data sources do IBISWorld analysts use?

Each industry report incorporates data and research from government databases, industry-specific sources, industry contacts, and our own proprietary database of statistics and analysis to provide balanced, independent and accurate insights.

Key data sources in Canada include:

  • Statistics Canada
  • Industry Canada
  • Canadian Business Patterns

Analysts also use industry specific sources to complement catch-all sources, although their perspective may focus on a particular organization or representative body, rather than a clear overview of all industry operations. However, when balanced against other perspectives, industry-specific sources provide insights into industry trends.

These sources include:

  • Industry and trade associations
  • Industry federations or regulators
  • Major industry players annual or quarterly filings

Finally, IBISWorld’s global data scientists maintain a proprietary database of macroeconomic and demand drivers, which our analysts use to help inform industry data and trends. They also maintain a database of statistics and analysis on thousands of industries, which has been built over our more than 50-year history and offers comprehensive insights into long-term trends.

How does IBISWorld forecast its data?

IBISWorld’s analysts and data scientists use the sources above to create forecasts for our proprietary datasets and industry statistics. Depending on the dataset, they may use regression analysis, multivariate analysis, time-series analysis or exponential smoothing techniques to project future data for the industry or driver. Additionally, analysts will leverage their local knowledge of industry operating and regulatory conditions to impart their best judgment on the forecast model.

IBISWorld prides itself on being a trusted, independent source of data, with over 50 years of experience building and maintaining rich datasets and forecasting tools. We are proud to be the keystone source of industry information for thousands of companies across the world.

Learn more about our methodology and data sourcing on the Help Center.