Car Depreciation Rankings (2026)
Which cars hold their value and which lose money fastest? On a typical depreciation curve, a car keeps just 56% of its value after 3 years.
Estimates from a typical depreciation curve, not market prices for any one car.
£7,024
Smallest 3yr loss
56%
Typical 3yr retention
£25,462
Biggest 3yr loss
Depreciation is the single biggest cost of car ownership for anyone buying new. A £25,000 family car will lose around £11,000 in the first three years on a typical curve. That is about £305 per month, before you even fill the tank.
Understanding depreciation helps you make smarter buying decisions. Buying a 3-year-old car instead of new avoids the steepest part of the curve and saves thousands. This page shows roughly how much each category of car loses over time on a typical curve, so you can factor it into your total cost of ownership.
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Depreciation by Car Category (3 Years)
Estimated value after 3 years on the same typical curve, so every category keeps the same share; sorted by pounds lost, smallest first.
| # | Category | After 3yr | % Retained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Car Aygo, C1, Up, Picanto, i10 | £8,976 | 56% |
| 2 | Small Hatchback Fiesta, Corsa, Polo, Clio, Ibiza | £10,098 | 56% |
| 3 | Budget SUV Duster | £12,342 | 56% |
| 4 | Family Hatchback Focus, Golf, Astra, Leon, Civic | £14,025 | 56% |
| 5 | Compact SUV Juke, Captur, Ecosport, Mokka | £14,586 | 56% |
| 6 | MPV Touran, Scenic, Zafira, Verso | £14,586 | 56% |
| 7 | Van (Private) Transit, Caddy, Berlingo | £14,586 | 56% |
| 8 | Mid-Size SUV Qashqai, Tucson, Sportage, Tiguan | £16,830 | 56% |
| 9 | Large SUV Kodiaq, Sorento, Santa Fe | £17,952 | 56% |
| 10 | Large MPV Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra, S-Max | £17,952 | 56% |
| 11 | Premium Compact 1 Series, A-Class, A3 | £17,952 | 56% |
| 12 | Premium SUV (Small) X1, Q3, GLA | £20,196 | 56% |
| 13 | Premium Mid-Size 3 Series, C-Class, A4, XE | £21,318 | 56% |
| 14 | Sports / Coupe TT, Z4, MX-5, BRZ | £21,318 | 56% |
| 15 | Premium SUV (Mid) X3, Q5, GLC | £24,684 | 56% |
| 16 | Premium Executive 5 Series, E-Class, A6, XF | £26,928 | 56% |
| 17 | Premium SUV (Large) X5, Q7, GLE | £32,538 | 56% |
Value Retention After 5 Years
How much is left after 5 years of depreciation? This is the typical age of a "sweet spot" used car. Sorted by pounds lost, smallest first.
| # | Category | After 5yr | % Retained |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | City Car Aygo, C1, Up, Picanto, i10 | £7,597 | 47% |
| 2 | Small Hatchback Fiesta, Corsa, Polo, Clio, Ibiza | £8,547 | 47% |
| 3 | Budget SUV Duster | £10,446 | 47% |
| 4 | Family Hatchback Focus, Golf, Astra, Leon, Civic | £11,871 | 47% |
| 5 | Compact SUV Juke, Captur, Ecosport, Mokka | £12,346 | 47% |
| 6 | MPV Touran, Scenic, Zafira, Verso | £12,346 | 47% |
| 7 | Van (Private) Transit, Caddy, Berlingo | £12,346 | 47% |
| 8 | Mid-Size SUV Qashqai, Tucson, Sportage, Tiguan | £14,245 | 47% |
| 9 | Large SUV Kodiaq, Sorento, Santa Fe | £15,195 | 47% |
| 10 | Large MPV Galaxy, Sharan, Alhambra, S-Max | £15,195 | 47% |
| 11 | Premium Compact 1 Series, A-Class, A3 | £15,195 | 47% |
| 12 | Premium SUV (Small) X1, Q3, GLA | £17,094 | 47% |
| 13 | Premium Mid-Size 3 Series, C-Class, A4, XE | £18,044 | 47% |
| 14 | Sports / Coupe TT, Z4, MX-5, BRZ | £18,044 | 47% |
| 15 | Premium SUV (Mid) X3, Q5, GLC | £20,893 | 47% |
| 16 | Premium Executive 5 Series, E-Class, A6, XF | £22,792 | 47% |
| 17 | Premium SUV (Large) X5, Q7, GLE | £27,540 | 47% |
How the Depreciation Curve Works
-25%
Year 1
-15%
Year 2
-12%
Year 3
-8%/yr
Years 4-6
-5%/yr
Years 7-10
-3%/yr
Years 11+
The first year is the killer. A brand new car loses roughly a quarter of its value in its first year. By year three, it has lost about 44% of its original price. After that, the rate slows considerably. This is why buying a 3-year-old car is often the smartest financial move.
Estimated Values: 5-Year-Old Models
Popular 2021 models (most MOT tests first), valued on the same typical curve. Every model follows the curve, so the share kept is the same; real prices depend on the exact model, trim, mileage and condition.
| # | Car | Est. Now | % Retained | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mercedes A | £15,200 | 48% | |
| 2 | Kia Sportage | £14,250 | 48% | |
| 3 | Nissan Qashqai | £14,250 | 48% | |
| 4 | Toyota Aygo | £7,600 | 48% | |
| 5 | Ford Focus | £11,850 | 47% | |
| 6 | Toyota Yaris Design HEV CVT | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 7 | SEAT Ibiza | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 8 | Toyota RAV4 | £14,250 | 48% | |
| 9 | Kia Picanto | £7,600 | 48% | |
| 10 | Volkswagen Tiguan | £14,250 | 48% | |
| 11 | Honda CR-V | £14,250 | 48% | |
| 12 | Skoda Fabia | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 13 | Volkswagen Polo | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 14 | Volkswagen Polo Match TSI | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 15 | Volkswagen Golf Life TSI | £11,850 | 47% | |
| 16 | Vauxhall Corsa SE | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 17 | Honda Jazz Ex I-MMD CVT | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 18 | Toyota Corolla Icon Tech HEV CVT | £11,850 | 47% | |
| 19 | Nissan Micra | £8,550 | 48% | |
| 20 | Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line TSI S-A | £14,250 | 48% |
Estimated Values: 7-Year-Old Models
Popular 2019 models (most MOT tests first) on the same curve. At 7 years old a car keeps about 42% of its new price on this curve, so the dearer it was new, the more pounds it has lost.
| # | Car | Est. Now | % Retained | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ford Fiesta(2019) | £7,450 | 41% | |
| 2 | Ford Focus(2019) | £10,400 | 42% | |
| 3 | Volkswagen Golf(2019) | £10,400 | 42% | |
| 4 | Mercedes A(2019) | £13,300 | 42% | |
| 5 | Nissan Qashqai(2019) | £12,450 | 42% | |
| 6 | Ford Kuga(2019) | £12,450 | 42% | |
| 7 | Vauxhall Corsa(2019) | £7,450 | 41% | |
| 8 | Volkswagen Polo(2019) | £7,450 | 41% | |
| 9 | Kia Sportage(2019) | £12,450 | 42% | |
| 10 | Mercedes C(2019) | £15,750 | 41% | |
| 11 | Hyundai Tucson(2019) | £12,450 | 42% | |
| 12 | Toyota Yaris(2019) | £7,450 | 41% | |
| 13 | Audi A3(2019) | £14,100 | 41% | |
| 14 | Mercedes E(2019) | £19,900 | 41% | |
| 15 | Vauxhall Mokka(2019) | £12,450 | 42% | |
| 16 | Toyota Aygo(2019) | £6,650 | 42% | |
| 17 | BMW 5 Series(2019) | £19,900 | 41% | |
| 18 | SEAT Leon(2019) | £10,400 | 42% | |
| 19 | Vauxhall Astra(2019) | £10,400 | 42% | |
| 20 | BMW 1 Series(2019) | £13,300 | 42% |
How to Beat Depreciation
Buy at 3 years old
Let someone else absorb the 44% first-three-year drop. A 3-year-old car still has modern features, remaining warranty (sometimes), and years of reliable service ahead.
Choose models that hold value
Some models hold their value much better than others. Our curve is the same for every category, so compare real listings for the exact model, age and mileage before deciding.
Keep mileage reasonable
High-mileage cars depreciate faster. Keeping to average mileage (7,400 miles/year) helps maintain value. Going over 100,000 miles often brings a noticeable drop.
Maintain full service history
A car with a full service history is usually worth noticeably more than one without. Keep every receipt and stamp the book on time.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Which cars hold their value best?
It depends on the exact model more than the type of car. This page uses one typical curve for every category, so on our figures they all keep about 56% of their price after 3 years; what differs is the number of pounds lost, and dearer cars lose more. For used car buyers, the best value is often a 3-year-old mainstream family car that has already absorbed the steepest depreciation.
Which cars depreciate fastest?
In pounds, the most expensive cars lose the most. On our curve a £58,000 car in our Premium SUV (Large) group (X5, Q7, GLE) loses about £25,462 in its first 3 years, against about £7,024 for a £16,000 City Car (Aygo, C1, Up, Picanto, i10). In percentage terms we use the same curve for every category, so the real differences come down to the exact model, condition and mileage.
How much does a new car lose in the first year?
As a rule of thumb, about 25%. A £25,000 car would lose about £6,250 over its first year. Some prestige models lose even more in the first year, while popular models with long waiting lists can sometimes hold on to more.
How much does a car depreciate per year?
As a rule of thumb, a new car loses about 25% of its value in year one, 15% in year two and 12% in year three. After that it slows to about 8% a year for years 4 to 6, 5% a year for years 7 to 10 and 3% a year after that. On that curve a car keeps about 36% of its price after 10 years.
Is depreciation the biggest cost of owning a car?
For new car buyers, usually yes. On a typical curve a £25,000 family car loses about £11,000 in its first 3 years, around £305 a month, which is usually more than fuel, tax and repairs put together. Buying a 3-year-old car instead of new avoids the steepest part of the drop.
Does mileage affect depreciation?
Yes. Cars with significantly above-average mileage (over 12,000 miles a year) depreciate faster, and crossing the 100,000-mile mark often brings a noticeable drop in price. Keeping mileage near the 7,400-mile UK average helps maintain value.
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MOT Failure Rates
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Methodology
Depreciation estimates use one typical depreciation curve, applied to a rough new price for each vehicle category (and, in the model tables, for each model we have a new price for). The same curve is used for every car. The curve models 25% first-year loss, 15% second-year, 12% third-year, 8% for years 4-6, 5% for years 7-10, and 3% for years 11+. Actual depreciation varies by specific model, trim, condition, mileage, colour, and local market demand. These figures provide a useful benchmark for comparison purposes. Individual model values should be verified against current market listings.