Car sales surge across the U.S. as panic-buying spreads. President Trump’s looming 25% tariffs on imported vehicles and auto parts have sparked a mad dash to dealerships, reoports CBS.
The tariffs take effect April 3 at 12:01 a.m. Manufacturers are bracing for cost hikes. Consumers are scrambling to avoid getting slammed with sticker shock.
According to experts, new tariffs could add $5,000 to $10,000 to the price of an average car. That reality is driving many Americans to make fast buying decisions—before it’s too late.
Trump’s ‘Liberation Day’ Creates Auto Frenzy
Trump called it “Liberation Day.” But for buyers, it looks more like “Panic Day.”
Last week, the president dropped the tariff bomb. Car shoppers immediately took notice. Sales began to spike nationwide.
Joe McCabe, CEO of AutoForecast Solutions, says it’s a critical window. “If you’re in the market, now’s the time,” he told CBS. “Inventory on lots hasn’t been impacted yet.”
Once the tariffs kick in, though, that will change fast.
Already German made Volkswagen has announced an “Import Fee”. Ferrari has implemented a 10% increase in sales prices, even though this affects not too many people.
Ford Reports Massive March Sales Surge
The numbers don’t lie. Ford Motor Company revealed Tuesday that retail sales jumped 5% in the first quarter.
March alone saw a staggering 19% increase. Buyers rushed to grab vehicles before potential price hikes took hold.
While Ford didn’t directly tie the sales boost to Trump’s tariffs, the timing says enough. With the clock ticking, Americans clearly aren’t waiting around.
Car Buyers Get Creative
Vermont artist Val Hird wasn’t taking chances. She had her heart set on a Toyota RAV4 Plug-in hybrid.
But when her local dealer didn’t have one in stock, and news of the tariffs broke, she changed plans fast.
She didn’t dare place an order. If the car hadn’t entered the U.S. yet, she feared it would get caught in the new pricing mess.
So she found a used RAV4 at a dealership in Rhode Island—and bought it immediately for $45,453.
Had she not found it, Hird said, she would have skipped buying a car altogether. “I don’t live in a world where I can spend an extra $10,000,” she explained.
Traffic Spikes on Auto Shopping Sites
Online car searches also soared.
Data from Cox Automotive revealed a 27% increase in visits to Kelley Blue Book the day Trump made the announcement. Dealer.com reported a 54% jump in new car inquiries. Used car leads on AutoTrader rose 16%.
Erin Keating, an executive at Cox Automotive, wasn’t surprised. “People are trying to understand where prices stand right now,” she said.
The message is clear. Buyers are researching, comparing, and closing deals—before tariff-driven inflation sets in.
Analysts Warn of Coming Price Pain
Wedbush analyst Dan Ives didn’t sugarcoat the impact. “This will cause chaos in the global auto industry,” he warned.
U.S. consumers will likely face price hikes immediately. And the idea that most American cars are built entirely in the U.S.? That’s a myth.
“Parts come from all over,” Ives said. Building a car purely from domestic parts would take years—and billions in investment.
For now, the added costs will be passed straight to consumers.
Dealers Say Inventory Still Stable—for Now
Aaron Bragman of Cars.com says most inventory on dealership lots won’t be hit by tariffs. That’s because those cars have already cleared customs.
“If you see a ‘tariff adjustment’ on a current vehicle, question it,” he advised.
Still, Bragman says the landscape is changing fast. Dealers know demand is heating up. As a result, they’re getting more selective—and less likely to cut deals.
Dealers Are Bracing for Impact
Joe McCabe says dealerships are already shifting strategy. They know supply and demand are about to flip.
“There are vehicles to be had right now,” he said. “But that could change overnight.”
His advice is simple: If you need a car and can afford one, don’t wait. Buy now.
Tariffs Hit Low-Income Buyers Hardest
For lower-income Americans, the stakes are even higher.
Any increase in price—even just a few thousand dollars—could push a vehicle out of reach. Analysts warn that these buyers will be the first to drop out of the market.
“If you start tariffing these buyers, they’ll stop shopping,” McCabe said.
And once they’re priced out, it’s hard to get them back.
What Happens Next?
With just days left before tariffs hit, uncertainty rules. Will more Americans flood showrooms this weekend? Probably.
Will dealers raise prices preemptively? Possibly.
One thing’s certain: After April 3, the car market will change.
So while Trump’s tariff push is meant to encourage American-made vehicles, most buyers just want to get behind the wheel—before the cost climbs out of reach.
