A record run on car sales in Alberta has come to an end, but it will be a long time before Edmonton dealerships are running on fumes, according to an industry expert.

"There is a natural tendency for these markets to self-correct," said Dennis DesRosiers, president of DesRosiers Automotive Consultants. "I'm not convinced that it's going to get much worse."

Every other province in Canada saw an increase in new vehicle sales in September. But in Alberta, the numbers plunged.

According to Statistics Canada, $950.6 million worth of new cars and trucks were sold in Alberta in September, down from $1.1 billion in September 2014. That's a decline of 13.5 per cent.

Nationwide, sales were up seven per cent for the same period.

DesRosiers said the wealth generated by Alberta's energy sector had in recent years fuelled record sales for new vehicles. But in the wake of the current economic downturn, things have changed.

"The Edmonton market in particular was incredibly hot. If anything, there was overbuying in the marketplace. So what they've come down to is a more normalized sales level ... and quite frankly that's good news for the car dealers. Car dealers hate volatility."

Though declining sales have left many dealerships feeling vulnerable, DesRosiers said since they rely on parts and service for the bulk of their profits, they will be cushioned from the current slowdown.

In the late 1990s and early 2000s, Albertans bought new vehicles in record numbers. As those vehicles aged, DesRosiers said, the demand for repairs and more affordable used vehicles went up.

"Vehicles are coming off the road in record numbers across Alberta. The vehicle is old, decrepit, ultimately fails, or is too expensive to repair, and it has to be scrapped. What are they going to do? They have to drive something?"

Although statistics specific to the Edmonton market are considered an "industry secret," DesRosiers said dealerships in the city are faring much better than those in Calgary and Fort McMurray. He said he would be shocked to see any businesses fold.

"You can count on your dealer being there for a long, long time."