One of the key considerations when leasing or buying a new vehicle is how well it will retain its value, also known as the depreciation rate. Our handy guide breaks down depreciation, looking at what factors affect devaluation and how you can avoid losing significant value from your car.
Car depreciation is the difference between the car’s value when you buy it and the amount you receive when you sell or trade it in. Depreciation is one of the biggest overlooked costs when it comes to cars, as a vehicle begins to lose value as soon as it leaves the dealership. Cars typically lose the most value during the first year of being owned, but this depreciation slows after around three years. While every vehicle is subject to depreciation, the rate of value loss varies greatly between makes and models.
In leasing, the residual value of a vehicle is how much it is worth once the agreement ends. With contract hire, you don’t need to worry about depreciation, as your monthly payments take into account the car’s retail price, predicted loss in value, mileage, and condition over the course of your contract. If a car is worth £20,000 new and your contract is for three years with a 10,000 mileage allowance per annum, the finance company may predict the car will be worth £6,500 once the agreement ends. Therefore, you’ll need to pay £4,500 per year over three years.
The rate of depreciation typically slows with age. On average, a car depreciates by 15-25% in the first year and up to 60% over three years, assuming it travels 10,000 miles annually. A new car depreciates faster than a used model, losing 10% of its value as soon as it is driven off the lot. For example, if you purchase a new car for £33,556, it will lose £3,356 in value as soon as you drive it and around a further £17,780 over the next three years.
This loss in value varies between models – while an Audi may depreciate by 40% on average over three years, a Porsche may lose just 25% over the same period. The manufacturer, model, size, condition and year of the car are all factors that affect the depreciation rate of a car. For example, if the manufacturer has a reputation for reliable, strong and durable vehicles, this can help withstand depreciation.
While 99% of cars depreciate, there are some factors that can dramatically impact the amount that a vehicle loses in value. These include:
The age of a car is the biggest factor in depreciation, as new cars depreciate the fastest. Most brand-new vehicles lose around 10% of their value as soon as they’re driven from the dealership and a further 10-20% before the end of the first year. After that, the depreciation levels out to between 15% and 25% per year, for an average loss of 60% by the third year. Because vehicles depreciate the most in the first year, buying a used car can save you roughly 20-30%, as value loss averages 17.5% after the first year.
Instead of buying a new or used car, you could choose to lease. With contract hire, there’s no need to take vehicle age into consideration as the cost of depreciation is included in the monthly payments, based on the car’s expected residual value.
The higher the demand for a car, the less it will depreciate over time. Conversely, if there are more sellers than buyers, resale value may go down. Even the colour of a car will affect the resale value – although a uniquely coloured car may appeal to you, it will narrow down the amount of potential buyers interested in the car when you come to sell. Black, white or silver cars are the best choices to reduce depreciation.
Another factor to take into consideration is the time of year you choose to sell. For example, you’ll get less for a convertible if you decide to sell during the winter, and less for a 4×4 in summer. Furthermore, if the manufacturer just updated or discontinued your model, the resale value will go down unless it’s a particularly rare or desirable car.
Although fuel efficiency alone doesn’t determine depreciation, MPG is a key influencer in resale value. Larger vehicles and larger engines require more fuel more frequently, meaning they suffer more from depreciation. Diesel vehicles tend to depreciate slower than petrol cars as they are generally more fuel efficient, with petrol-engine saloons tending to suffer the most. For example, a Ford Focus 1.0-litre petrol Ecoboost with Zetec trim costs £12,000 less than a 1.5 TDCi 120 model in the same spec. Despite this, the diesel model will be worth £1,050 more than its petrol counterpart after three years.
The average mileage is around 10,000 miles a year. Mileage is one of the biggest factors that affects the value of a car – the more miles, the more wear and tear to the vehicle and the less a car is worth over time. If a new car has an RRP of £20,000 and is sold with 40,000 miles on the clock a few years later, it would be worth around 40% less at resale based on mileage alone.
You don’t have to worry about mileage and depreciation when it comes to leasing, as the payments are based on an annual mileage allowance as stipulated in your contract. It’s vital to choose a mileage allowance that accurately reflects your requirements, as you’ll be subject to excess charges if you exceed your mileage limit.
The general condition of a car will affect depreciation, as damage to the bodywork, interior and exterior will reduce the resale value. Modifications like a new stereo, spoiler or alloy wheels can also impact how much a car is worth, as most buyers will prefer purchasing the model in its original condition. It’s important to keep a complete service history of your car, as regular maintenance and proof of your car’s condition will reduce depreciation
Any depreciation values given are only estimations of what the residual value of your car will be by the time it comes to replacing it. If you want to help your car keep as much of its value for as long as possible, some of the simple things you can do include:
GAP insurance covers the depreciation of your car. It’s designed to cover the difference between what your car insurance provider pays out and what you paid or still owe on the car, depending on the type of policy. For example, if your car is worth £10,000 and is written off after three years, the insurance will pay out around £5,000 – the market value of the car at the time of the claim, based on a 50% depreciation rate. With GAP insurance, you’d get the full value back – £5,000 from the insurance policy and the other £5,000 from GAP cover.
With leasing there’s no concerns about the car’s depreciation as you don’t own the car, so it’s not your responsibility. The payments you make when leasing cover the difference between the value of the car new and the anticipated residual value once you hand it back – in other words, the depreciation. Even if market conditions lead to your vehicle’s depreciation being greater than predicted, the finance company absorbs this loss – not you. You often find that you pay less over a fixed-term contract than you would if you’d purchased the car and sold it on after the same time period.
There are many things you need to factor in when working out how to limit the value loss of your next car. However, it’s clear that leasing has a lower financial outlay when it comes to depreciation than buying.
If you’re looking for a new lease vehicle, contact our dedicated team today to discuss your requirements.
With leasing there’s no concerns about the car’s depreciation as you don’t own the car, so it’s not your responsibility. The payments you make when leasing cover the difference between the value of the car new and the anticipated residual value once you hand it back – in other words, the depreciation. Even if market conditions lead to your vehicle’s depreciation being greater than predicted, the finance company absorbs this loss – not you. You often find that you pay less over a fixed-term contract than you would if you’d purchased the car and sold it on after the same time period.
