New Cars

Small is beautiful

Used cars always depreciate in value, right?

Well, how's this for depreciation: if you sold a 3-year-old Citroen 1.0 litre Rhythm today you'd likely get around £830 MORE for it than you would have 12 months ago.

These figures were released by Parkers, the used car information and price guide specialists. They highlight the rather startling rises in average prices for most used cars, but smaller models in particular.

(We've said it before and we'll say it again. If you've got a nearly-new or good quality smaller used car, sell it now for the best profits.)

Parkers also points out that larger cars have experienced rises. Even last year's pariahs - the 4x4s – are holding strong. (Compare it to August 2008 when people with 4x4s were pleading “please buy my car” and could barely even give them away!)

In fact, of all the models that Parkers tracked, the only one to fall in value was the Renault Espace Dynamique, though even that was a fairly insignificant fall.

We've reported on high used values for months now, and the spectre of a rapid price drop has loomed in the background. However, the unknown quantity has always been precisely how low stock levels will remain throughout the year (with some early trade rumours of hidden stockpiles verging on paranoid conspiracy theory!)

Yet, as AM-Online points out, dealers are facing an all-time low of stock availability. The lack of nearly-new vehicles and recently released fleet stock means that dealers are turning to older models. This competition for quality cars and slightly older vehicles is perhaps contributing to increased overall average prices.

If all of this news of scrappage, price rises, stock shortages and market data is giving you a headache (and all you're thinking is “I want to sell my car, how can I get the best price) – give us a call at Sell Car UK, or try our fast, easy online car quote!