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The price of used cars is dropping in Canada, thanks in part to the rising number of consumers spending their strong loonies on vehicles south of the border. A new report from Scotia Economics indicates the number of Canadians who have purchased cars in the U.S. this year is up 20 per cent compared with the same period in 2006. Canadians imported 24,873 vehicles in October alone - a 68 per cent jump over September's numbers and twice as many as in October 2006. Scotiabank auto industry specialist Carlos Gomes said the trend to import has significantly increased the supply of used cars in Canada, which is forcing prices down. "Most of the weakness is concentrated on nearly new vehicles - these are models that would be sort of one or two years old," Gomes told CBC News on Monday. "That's where the pressure is greatest, and I think that's because that's where we're finding most of the vehicles coming in from the United States qualify under that age." Gomes predicted the price of both new and used cars in Canada will continue to fall in the coming months, due to an influx of used vehicles. "Plus there's also additional vehicles coming onto the market from off-lease," he said. "We're seeing the used market being a little under pressure here in Canada." Not all U.S. car dealers sell to Canadians, but as the dollar approached and topped parity earlier this year, those that do have been doing brisk business. Depending on the model of vehicle and where it is assembled, Canadian buyers can save thousands of dollars by purchasing in the United States. So many Canadians are car-shopping south of the border that the Canada Border Services Agency began organizing free car-importing seminars to help shoppers learn the process. One seminar has already been held in Vancouver and another is set for Niagara Falls, Ont., but interested consumers can pre-register online for upcoming seminars in the works for Winnipeg as well.