Vehicles at Ford, Nissan, and GMC dealerships in Richmond, California on March 3, 2025. David Paul Morris/Bloomberg/Getty Images New York —

New car buyers can expect to shell out an average of more than $50,000 for the first time, according to a report from Kelley Blue Book.

The average price customers paid for a new vehicle in the US was $50,080 in September, a reflection in part of the steadily rising prices in the wake of automotive tariffs.

But while tariffs have certainly impacted prices, Kelley Blue Book — which tracks prices in the auto industry — said the 3.6% year-over-year average transaction price increase was fueled by luxury vehicles and expensive EVs.

“The $20,000-vehicle is now mostly extinct, and many price-conscious buyers are sidelined or cruising in the used

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