BANDON, Ore. -

For the first time since last September, independent stores sold more used vehicles than franchise dealers in February, according to CNW Research.

The firm compiled the February used-vehicle sales data and found independent dealers sold 668,276 units, representing 37.08 percent of the month’s total. CNW determined that franchise stores moved 619,214 units in February, 34.35 percent of the monthly amount.

Add in the 514,938 units sold through private-party transactions and CNW came up with a total of 1,802,429 used-vehicle sales in February. The sum represented an 11.79-percent rise over the same month a year ago.

February’s gain by independent stores computed into a 19.03 percent year-over-year jump. As mentioned, independents hadn’t sold more than franchise operations since September 2010. That’s when CNW said independent lots sold 1,118,378 units as compared with 1,067,425 vehicles moved by franchise dealers.

Last September also marked the last time either franchise or independent dealers sold more than 1 million used vehicles in a single month. Moreover, that month was the finale to a string of six in a row where independents sold more used vehicles than franchise operations and both dealer categories moved at least 1 million used models.

CNW calculated there have been 3,808,852 used vehicles sold so far this year. Through the first two months of 2010, dealers and private-party activity generated 3,499,471 used-vehicle sales.