Index
Timing matters more than you think
Seasonality: the best and worst months to sell
Car age: the sweet spot of depreciation
Before a model or generation change
Before a regulatory change (LEZs, taxation)
According to your personal situation
The perfect moment vs the real moment
Frequently asked questions
Most people sell their car when they need to: it has become too small, they have bought another one, they are moving or they simply no longer use it. Rarely do they consider if that is the best time to sell. And this lack of planning can cost them money.
The used car market is not static. It has seasonal cycles (there are better months than others), turning points linked to the age of the car (depreciation accelerates or slows down depending on when you sell) and external events that move prices (model changes, new LEZ restrictions, variations in fuel prices).
Understanding these cycles does not force you to wait for the perfect moment (which may never arrive), but it does allow you to make more informed decisions and, in many cases, make a few hundred pounds by choosing the right month.
Seasonality: the best and worst months to sell
The used car market has clear seasonal patterns that repeat year after year.
The best months to sell
March to June. This is the best time to sell a second-hand car. Spring and the start of summer concentrate the highest demand for three reasons: people prepare for summer holidays and want to have the car ready (or want to change before long trips), the days are longer and the good weather makes physical viewings easier, and there is a psychological "fresh start" effect that drives purchases.
September. It is a strong month, similar to January in general retail. The return from holidays, the start of the school year and the work routine generate a second wave of demand. Many people who thought about changing cars during the summer make up their minds in September.
November. Dealerships need to close annual targets and look for stock. This can make professional offers particularly competitive during this period. If you sell to dealerships (through Dealcar or directly), November can be a good time.
The worst months to sell
August. It is the worst month. A large part of the population is on holiday, dealerships reduce activity and private buyers are not looking for cars. The volume of transactions drops significantly. If you post in August, prepare for weeks of silence.
January. After Christmas expenses, most families' budgets are tight. The demand for used cars drops. Additionally, January coincides with the launch of new models that divert attention from the second-hand market.
December (first fortnight). Activity drops due to the Christmas holidays. However, the second fortnight can be good for closing deals with dealerships that want to complete stock before the end of the year.
How much seasonality impacts the price
Seasonality does not change the value of your car, but it does affect the speed of sale and negotiation power. In the best months, you receive more contacts, more viewings and the buyer negotiates less because they know there are other interested parties. In the worst months, you receive fewer contacts and the buyer has more power because they know there is low demand.
The difference in final price between selling in spring and selling in August can be 3-5%. On a £15,000 car, that is £450-£750. It is not a fortune, but it is not negligible either.
Car age: the sweet spot of depreciation
The depreciation curve has a sweet spot: the point where the car has already absorbed most of the initial loss but still retains significant value. Selling at this point maximises the ratio between what you recover and the years you have enjoyed the car.
The worst time: first year. If you sell a car that you bought brand new less than a year ago, you lose between 20% and 30% in one go. It is the greatest relative loss of the car's entire life. It only makes sense if there is a force majeure reason.
Reasonable time: 2-3 years. You have enjoyed the car long enough to write off part of the depreciation, but it still retains 50-65% of its value. The car is relatively modern (updated technology, current look) and has good demand.
The sweet spot: 3-5 years. Annual depreciation has eased (from 15-20% in the first year to 8-10%). The car has absorbed most of the initial loss. It still has enough residual value to make the sale worthwhile. And demand is good because second-hand buyers look for 3-5 year old cars as the optimum point between price and modernity.
Acceptable time: 5-8 years. Depreciation has stabilised at 5-7% annually. The car is worth less, but loses value more slowly. If you sell now, you recover a reasonable amount and avoid the expensive repairs that start to appear after 7-8 years (timing belt, clutch, turbo in diesels).
Limit time: more than 10 years. The residual value is low (15-25% of the original price). Depreciation is no longer the main problem: the problem is that repairs cost more than the value of the car. If your car is running and has demand, selling before an expensive repair is the smart decision.
For concrete depreciation figures by year, check our guide on car depreciation: how much your car loses each year.
Before a model or generation change
When a manufacturer launches a new generation of a model, the previous generation loses value sharply. This happens because second-hand buyers compare the old generation with the new one and the price adjusts downwards.
Real example. When the new Hyundai Tucson came out (2021), the previous generation Tucsons (2015-2020) lost between 5% and 10% of additional value in a few weeks. Buyers who were going to buy a used 2019 Tucson saw that for a little more they could access a completely new model.
How to anticipate it. Manufacturers announce model updates months in advance (through specialised media, motor shows and leaks). If your car is a model that is going to be updated in the next 6-12 months, selling before the launch gets you a better price.
Where to find information. Websites such as KM77, Autobild, Motor.es and automotive magazines publish schedules of planned launches. A quick search for "new [your model] 2026/2027" will tell you if there is an update on the horizon.
Before a regulatory change (LEZs, taxation)
Regulatory changes are the external factor that has had the greatest impact on the second-hand market in recent years. And each announcement of a new restriction pushes prices down for the affected cars.
LEZs: timing matters. Every time a city announces a new phase of restrictions, the affected cars lose value. If your car is in the category that is going to be restricted, selling before it comes into effect gives you access to a wider market of buyers.
Diesel taxation. The EU is moving towards equalising diesel-petrol taxation. Every announcement of an increase in fuel duty on diesel pressures diesel demand and, with it, second-hand prices. If you have a diesel, each passing year is worse than the last. Read how to sell a diesel car in 2026.
Euro 7 standard. The entry into force of the Euro 7 standard (expected for 2025-2026 for new cars) does not directly affect used cars, but it may shift demand towards cleaner vehicles as new standards become generalised in the market.
Scrappage schemes. When the Government launches a scrappage scheme or a support program for purchasing new cars (such as the 2026 Auto+ Plan), the second-hand market can be affected in two ways: more people want to sell their old car (higher supply, downward pressure) and more people buy subsidised new cars instead of used ones (lower demand). Check our guide on Plan Renove and grants in 2026.
According to your personal situation
Beyond market cycles, your personal situation is the factor that should weigh heaviest in the decision.
You have already decided to sell. If the decision is made, the best time is now. Every month you wait thinking "I'll do it later" is a month of depreciation you lose. Seasonality can add 3-5%, but monthly depreciation subtracts 0.5-1%. If you wait 3 months for the "best seasonal time", the depreciation of those 3 months may have eaten up the seasonal advantage.
You are considering whether to sell or not. Value your car with Dealcar to see what dealerships are offering today. That data helps you decide: if you think the price is good, sell. If not, wait, but knowing exactly how much you lose each month that passes.
You need to coordinate selling and buying. If you are going to change cars, the time of selling the old one must be coordinated with buying the new one. Check our guide on how to sell a car to buy another.
Your car has an expensive pending repair. If the timing belt, clutch, turbo or any expensive component needs replacing, selling before the repair is almost always better than repairing and selling afterwards. The investment in the repair is rarely 100% recovered in the sale price.
Your car is going to lose its emission category due to regulatory changes. If LEZ restrictions are going to affect your car in the coming months, selling before they come into force gives you a significantly better price than waiting.
The perfect moment vs the real moment
The perfect time to sell would be a Thursday in April, with your car newly serviced, MOT passed, in a market with no new generation of the model in sight and no regulatory changes on the horizon. That moment rarely exists.
The real moment is always imperfect: either it is not the best season, or you do not have the paperwork ready, or the market is unsettled. And while you wait for the perfect moment, your car loses value every day.
What is in your hands is preparing the car. Check how to prepare your car to sell it for more money.
The rule of thumb is simple: if you have already decided to sell, the best time is as soon as possible. Depreciation does not wait. Restrictions tighten. New models arrive. And today's price is, with a very high probability, the highest you are going to get.
What you can do is optimise within the real moment: prepare the car, gather documentation, generate competition among buyers. That is in your hands and has a measurable impact. Market timing is secondary compared to preparation.
Dealcar: value your car for free and receive offers from dealerships
Do not wait for the perfect moment. Act with information. With Dealcar, you value your car for free in less than 30 seconds and receive offers from more than 1,000 dealerships competing with each other. The offers tell you exactly what your car is worth today, not what it will be worth in three months.
100% free for you. No commissions or hidden costs.
You get paid before handing over the keys. Bank transfer before delivering the car.
They collect the car from your home. No travel required.
No paperwork. The buyer handles the transfer, DGT, and all the paperwork.
On average, 1,400 euros more than selling on Wallapop.
More than 12,000 cars sold and an average rating of 4.9 out of 5.
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best month to sell a car?
March to June is the best period due to high demand (holiday preparation, good weather for viewings). September is also strong (return to routine). August and January are the worst.
How old should my car be when I sell it?
The sweet spot is between 3 and 5 years: you have already absorbed most of the initial depreciation but it still retains significant value. From 7-8 years onwards, expensive repairs start to be a risk that can reduce more value than the depreciation itself.
Should I wait for the best month to sell?
Only if the wait is short (1-2 months). If you are going to wait 4-5 months "for the best month", the depreciation of those months may have eaten up the seasonal advantage. If you have already decided to sell, prepare the car and do it as soon as possible.
How do I know if my model is going to be updated?
Search "[your model] new generation 2026/2027" on Google. Specialised media publish launch schedules months in advance. If there is an update in sight, selling before the launch protects you from the price drop.
Does seasonality affect the sale the same way if I sell to dealerships as if I sell to private buyers?
Less so. Dealerships buy stock all year round because they need to maintain their showroom. Seasonality affects sales between private individuals more (where final buyer demand fluctuates more). If you sell through Dealcar, the seasonal impact is lower because dealerships compete for your car regardless of the month.
