Used car prices fall in February

Used car prices fell by 0.1% in February, when compared with figures from January, according to What Car? used car valuation figures.

Of all sectors, superminis represented the best bargains for buyers, with a drop of 0.7% in price, while cabriolets made the biggest gains with a rise of 0.9%.

Average prices for petrol models fell 0.1%, while diesel versions dropped by 0.2%.

Across all used cars, one-year-old models fell in price by 1.6% against February 2012 figures, while three-year-old cars dropped by an average 0.5%. Five-year-old models bucked the trend, with a 1.5% increase in average value.

Retained values for one-year-old models were up by an average of 0.2% at 69.1%, while three-year-old cars were unchanged at 52.3%. Five-year-old models increased their retained value by 0.2% to 37.6%.

4x4s were worth the most after one year, with an average of 78.2%, while MPVs retained the least value with an average of 63.4%.

After three years, 4x4s remained the highest in value at 60.7%, but luxury cars were at the bottom of the list with just 44.1% average retained value.

What Car? Used Car Valuations

Great-value used buys based on What Car? figures:

Best buys superminis
Ford Fiesta 1.25 Zetec 5dr
'09/09, 35,000 miles, 5975
Diesel Trader

Bargain 1-year-old nearly new models down 1.6% compared with February 2012
Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer 2.0 CDTi 160 Elite Nav Auto
'12/12, 15,000 miles, 16,499 (Saving more 15,000 off list price)
Motorpoint

Browse What Car? Approved Used cars for sale >>

By Rory White