APEX, N.C. -

Finding enough supply. It’s a challenge that has been spotted on almost every level of the certified pre-owned business.

And it’s causing dealers to change the way they look for CPO-worthy cars.

In discussing the CPO market, Hendrick Automotive Group chairman Rick Hendrick told Auto Remarketing on Monday that dealers are oftenturning to the existing customer base to secure these vehicles.

“In some cases you have to contact the customers and see if they’re willing — for the right kind of payment — to come in, bring their car and trade,” Hendrick said. “And you’re having to go to the customer owner base to find the cars.”

Hendrick was speaking to Auto Remarketing following a celebration for the opening of Hendrick Toyota Scion Apex in the suburb of Raleigh, N.C.

The store’s general manager, John Futrell, also shared his insight, noting that like many peers in the business, the big challenge he has found is “product availability at a reasonable price.”

He said that with prices so high in the wholesale lanes, his store has, instead, tapped into the local market.

“Most of the stuff you’re seeing coming off on the fleet side of the business are year-old vehicles with extremely high miles and prices, that by the time you do reconditioning and certify it, your variable between new and used is extremely small, and it’s extremely tough,” said Futrell.

“We’re trying to reach out more and resource cars locally rather than the auto auctions,” he added. “The numbers are just very difficult to make it work right now.”

But relief could be on the way.

Days’ supply of used vehicles is at its highest level of the year, with July’s numbers up 11.55 percent year-over-year, according to CNW Research.

“For franchised new-car dealers, improving new sales have brought a welcome number of trade-ins, replenishing badly depleted inventory,” said CNW president Art Spinella.

“That, along with a shortage of five-year-old and newer models at independent dealerships has boosted the overall industry to 47.5 days’ supply,” he added

What’s more, used prices are falling.

In fact, the most recent week-over-week decreases in the used prices for both truck and car segments were the steepest they’ve been all year, according to Black Book’s Ricky Beggs.

While Beggs acknowledged that price decline likely won’t continue at the same rate, it should come as welcome signs for dealers trying to grab those hard-to-secure used units.