The average three-year-old used car in the Charlotte metro area costs $33,845, up 46.1% from $23,164 in 2019, according to a new iSeeCars study.

That ranks Charlotte third among the 25 largest U.S. metro areas for used car price growth. Only Salt Lake City (48.3%) and Atlanta (46.5%) saw steeper climbs. Miami-Ft. Lauderdale trailed just behind at 46.0%.

Charlotte's increase outpaced the national average of 38.2% by a wide margin. Nationwide, the average price rose from $23,624 to $32,651. Charlotte's rate was 1.21 times the national figure.

North Carolina ranked fifth among all 50 states, with prices climbing 44.2% to $33,469. Raleigh-Durham placed seventh among metro areas at 43.2%. All 10 of the metro areas with the largest increases sit in the South or inland West.

iSeeCars attributed the surge to supply chain disruptions and increased demand. The firm analyzed more than 2 million three-year-old used cars sold from January through June of 2019 and 2026.

The company cautioned that the rankings work best as local market context, not as a direct affordability guide. A smaller percentage increase does not necessarily mean lower prices. QC News reported on the study's Charlotte findings on Saturday, Aug. 29.