Segment: Lending

Europe’s biggest used-car markets faced many external factors last year. This included an unstable economic environment, affordability issues, regulatory changes and technological challenges. So, how did used-car markets close out an eventful 2025? Autovista24 journalist Tom Hooker delves into the data with regional experts.

Used-car markets in Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK experienced one consistent trend last year. Residual values (RVs), expressed as a percentage of retained new-car list price (%RV) after 36 months and 60,000km, fell.

However, this was not the only trend that saw significant changes. List prices and supply also saw noticeable increases across most major European markets. Meanwhile, used cars between two and four years old sold more quickly on average.

Varied used-car values

Compared to December 2024, %RVs slumped across Europe’s biggest used-car markets last month. The largest drop was suffered in Italy, recording a 4.6 percentage point (pp) downturn. Switzerland also endured a steep slump of 4pp, while Spain posted a 3.8pp decrease in %RVs year on year.

While %RVs show value retention in percentage terms, absolute trade RVs display values in currency terms. When benchmarked against December 2024, nearly every observed market saw this metric rise. Italy and Switzerland were the exceptions, suffering 10.3% and 3.1% declines, respectively.

Conversely, Austria witnessed the highest RV growth of 6.7% in December. This was followed by the UK, which recorded a 4% increase.

Europe’s soaring list prices

Another recurring pattern in 2025 has been rising new-car list prices. Almost every observed market saw this metric increase in December. This was apart from Italy, which posted a 0.9% year-on-year fall.

List prices saw the biggest increase in Spain, up by 10.5%. France and the UK also saw significant surges of 7.4% and 7.1%, respectively.

The demand for two-to-four-year-old cars rose year on year in most of these markets. The UK and Spain saw the sales-volume index (SVI) in this age bracket soar by 30.7% and 30.6%, respectively. Germany also saw a strong increase of 16.1%. However, Italy and Switzerland recorded a drop in this metric. The former posted a 3.2% slide, while Switzerland witnessed a marginal 0.2% decrease.

Two-to-four-year-old cars sold faster across most of Europe’s major used-car markets compared to 12 months prior, except for France. Models left forecourts 6.3 days sooner on average in Italy, as Austria shifted stock 5.6 days faster year on year.

Market headwinds in Austria

‘Austria’s SVI for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars fell by 3.9% in December compared to November. Year on year, the SVI declined by 3.6%, reflecting continued market headwinds and somewhat weaker demand,’ noted Robert Madas, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations.

The active-market volume index (AMVI) remained stable, showing no month-on-month change. Compared to December 2024, supply was up slightly by 0.9%. This indicated a modest recovery in available stock within this age bracket.

The average time needed to sell a used car in December was 65.9 days, up by 0.9 days compared to November. Year on year, this metric improved significantly by 5.6 days, suggesting faster turnover despite seasonal challenges.

Diesel leads the way

Among powertrains, used diesel-powered continued to lead in turnover speed, taking an average of 60.7 days to sell.

This was followed by petrol-powered models at 64.8 days. Then came full hybrids (HEVs) at 67.6 and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) at 73.3 days. Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) again showed significantly improved turnover speed but continued to take the longest time to sell at 77.5 days.

%RVs stood at 47.3% in December. This represented a 0.1pp increase month on month but a slight 0.1pp fall year on year. In absolute terms, the trade RV was €22,176.5. This figure was virtually unchanged from November but 6.7% higher year on year.

HEVs retained the highest trade value at 49.8%, followed by petrol cars at 49.3%. Then came diesel models with 48.2% and PHEVs with 44.9%. BEVs held the lowest %RV once again, at 38.5%. However, this was an improvement of 0.9pp month on month.

‘Looking ahead, %RVs are expected to decline slightly in the next few years. In December 2026, a 0.7% decline compared to December 2025 is forecasted. A 0.6% decrease in 2027 is expected to follow,’ forecasted Madas.

Used-car stability in France

Overall, RVs remained quite stable in France during December. The difference observed was linked to the absence of many Peugeot models in the comparison.

‘This was due to a significant list price increase 36 months ago. Therefore, both RVs and %RVs for PHEVs, diesel-powered models, and BEVs became artificially inflated in the results,’ explained Ludovic Percier, Autovista Group’s senior RV analyst for France.

Comparing December to the beginning of 2025, increasing list prices have not helped %RVs. The latter metric decreased by 2.4pp year on year, as list prices rose by 7.4%. This resulted in an absolute RV increase of 2.6%. Even in November, with all Peugeot models available, this metric still saw a 1% year-on-year growth.

‘Customers drive the used-car market. This means that increasing list prices are not going to help grow RVs significantly in the sector,’ Percier highlighted.

Mixed powertrain performances

Petrol followed the overall used-car market trend. Meanwhile, diesel fared better thanks to a lower supply on the new-car market. It also benefited from strong demand in the used-car market relative to other powertrains.

‘Hybrids %RVs saw a drop compared to December 2024. This was because more models are now available from mass-market brands, albeit with a lower RV performance. In comparison, Toyota was one of the only big hybrid carmakers in the past,’ said Percier.

PHEVs were stable in terms of absolute RVs compared with 12 months prior. This is even though more premium vehicles are now available with better ranges. The used-car market is crowded with PHEV offers, and the current number of buyers cannot compensate for this.

This is mainly due to the return of leased vehicles to the market. These models were taken by companies in 2022 due to fiscal advantages.

BEVs followed the general market trend, with higher list prices and greater ranges. The technology’s absolute RVs increased slightly in December. Conversely, BEV %RVs fell by 1.5pp year on year.

Germany’s used-car stock recovery

Following a strong November, used-car demand in Germany softened slightly in December. The SVI fell by 0.8% month on month. Compared to December 2024, the SVI declined by 3.5%, indicating persistent pressure on demand.

‘Meanwhile, the AMVI continued to increase. The metric rose by 3.9% compared to November, which suggested a notable improvement in supply. Year on year, the AMVI surged by 16.1%, confirming a strong recovery in stock availability within this age bracket,’ commented Madas.

The average number of days needed to sell a used car in December was 61 days. Compared to November, this was down by 1.4 days, while it marked a decrease of one day year on year. This implied a faster turnover compared to previous months.

The average turnover speed of BEVs increased month on month. The technology was the fastest-selling of any powertrain at 55.3 days. Then came HEVs at 57.9 days. PHEVs followed closely at around 58.7 days, while diesel-powered cars took 61.5 days to sell. Petrol-powered cars sold the slowest, at 63.4 days.

Declining residual values

‘%RVs stood at 48.1% in December, down 0.1pp month on month and 1.5pp year on year. In absolute terms, the trade RV was €21,585.2. This translated to a 0.7% increase month on month and a 2.4% rise year on year,’ outlined Madas.

Petrol cars led the market with a %RV of 49.9%. Then came diesel cars and HEVs, both at 49.2%, followed by PHEVs at 44.2%. BEVs decreased slightly and again retained the lowest level of value at 36.9%.

Looking ahead, RVs are expected to remain under pressure. By the end of 2026, %RVs are forecast to decrease by 1.4% compared with December 2025. Pressure will likely ease in 2027, with a smaller decline of 0.7%.

Italy’s downward used-car trend

December ended largely in line with the trend that has consolidated throughout 2025, without any last-minute surprises. On average, the RV of used cars at 36 months and 60,000 km dropped by nearly €2,000 year on year. This corresponded to a 4.6pp %RV decrease.

‘Looking ahead, we expect this downward trend to continue over the next two years, albeit at a slower pace, reaching a point of stabilisation around 2028,’ forecasted Marco Pasquetti, Autovista Group’s cluster head of forecasting for Spain and Italy.

Out of all powertrains, PHEVs lost the most ground compared to last year. %RVs fell from 44.2% to 36.9%. Meanwhile, BEVs saw the lowest value retention, holding only 26.2% of their original value after 36 months.

Conversely, diesel-powered models and HEVs held better %RVs, at 47.9% and 47.3% respectively. However, these two powertrains also saw significant year-on-year declines.

The SVI was up slightly by 3.5% year on year, while the AMVI showed a moderate decrease of 3.2%. However, these variations were not substantial enough to suggest any abrupt market shifts.

It is too early to assess the impact of potential emission target revisions by the European Commission on used cars. However, developments are being closely monitored.

‘It is reasonable to expect that automakers will adjust their industrial strategies to meet the new objectives, and governments will likely revise incentive plans for adoption. Therefore, it will be crucial to follow the next steps of all stakeholders to fully understand the implications,’ noted Pasquetti.

Positivity in Spain

‘Spain approached the end of 2025 bolstered by strong macroeconomics and generally positive projections. GDP growth sat close to 3%, leading the Eurozone in this regard,’ explained Ana Azofra, Autovista Group’s head of valuations and insights, Spain.

‘Spain also benefited from an increasingly robust labour market and strong domestic demand. This demand has also been reflected in strong new-car sales figures. Although the final results are not yet known, it will be close to pre-pandemic levels, exceeding one million units,’ she stated.

All sectors contributed to this growth. The car-rental channel provided a boost in the first half of the year. Then the private market saw strong growth in the second half. This was accompanied by more moderate but steady increases in the business channel throughout 2025.

This positive market behaviour was not only reflected in the volume of new car sales. It was also displayed in the shift towards more sustainable vehicles. From January to November, electric vehicles (EVs), including BEVs and PHEVs, have increased their market share by more than 8pp year on year.

Furthermore, the recently published Auto Plan 2030 will incentivise the purchase of EVs and expand charging infrastructure. The scheme will help reinforce this positive trend towards electrification.

Low pressure on transaction values

‘This positivity was reflected in the used-car market. Not so much in terms of volume, where growth has been more moderate, but in terms of the low pressure on transaction values,’ said Azofra.

The average price of a three-year-old car with 60,000km in December was €20,032.1, 3.5% higher than in December 2024. The outlook for 2026 is also moderately positive.

In general, the data in the report shows a market that is far from saturated, with very limited stock. The most striking case is that of BEVs.

‘In December 2024, pressure from manufacturers to meet CAFÉ targets increased pressure on BEV sales, which largely ended up swelling stocks in the second-hand market. During this period, the technology was difficult to sell,’ she highlighted.

On average, a BEV took 129 days to sell in December 2024, almost 50 days longer than it takes today. In December 2025, a BEV was the second fastest-selling model in Spain, namely the Tesla Model Y.

This was unusual, as the ranking is usually dominated by hybrid vehicles, which continue to see high demand. First place went to the Yaris Cross, which had already been posting record figures for several months. The MG ZS took third.

Switzerland’s ongoing used-car pressure

After a slight fall in October and November, used-car demand in Switzerland showed further weakness in December. The SVI slipped by 0.3% month on month and was 0.8% lower year on year. This signalled ongoing pressure in the market.

‘The AMVI edged up by 1.1% compared to November. However, it fell slightly by 0.2% year on year. This confirmed that supply remains tight despite a small monthly improvement,’ commented Madas.

%RVs held steady at 42.4% in December, with no month-on-month change. Compared to December 2024, this represents a 4pp decline, underlining significant depreciation pressures. In absolute terms, trade RVs rose marginally to CHF 26,369.6 (€28,392), up 0.2% month on month but down 3.1% year on year.

HEVs retained the most value of any powertrain in November by far at 46.9%. Then came petrol-powered cars at 43.9%, diesel-powered models at 42.3% and PHEVs at 40.1%. BEVs continued to be the worst-performing powertrain, holding only 35.8% of their original list price.

Faster turnover speeds

The average amount of time needed to sell a used car in December was 77.7 days, up 0.6 days from November. Year on year, this metric improved by 5.3 days, indicating faster turnover compared to last year despite a seasonal slowdown.

Petrol-powered models sold fastest at 74 days, followed by HEVs at 74.2 days and diesel cars at 81.5 days. BEVs improved significantly year on year, with an average turnaround time of 78.3 days. This meant they sold slightly faster than diesel cars and significantly faster than PHEVs, which took 90.3 days to leave forecourts.

Looking ahead, %RVs are forecast to decrease further in the coming years, but at a slower pace. By the end of 2026, %RVs are expected to fall by 1.7% compared to December 2025. A further 0.4% drop is anticipated in 2027.

BEV RVs settle in UK

In December, the average %RV of a three-year-old car stood at 49.5% of its original cost-new price. This marked a 0.8pp increase compared to November. However, when measured against December 2024, RVs were down by 1.5pp. This aligned with the expectations outlined in the RV Outlook.

Powertrain performance varied. Petrol model %RVs fell by 2.3pp year on year, while PHEVs dropped 2.4pp. Hybrids were more resilient, declining only 0.2pp compared to 12 months prior.

‘Conversely, diesel-powered models defied the downward trend, rising by 2.8pp. This was likely supported by reduced availability following the ongoing shift away from diesel in the new car market,’ noted Jayson Whittington, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations, UK.

‘BEV %RVs fell by 1.3pp as they continue to settle into a sustainable price point. This was despite being the fastest-selling powertrain throughout 2025,’ he highlighted.

Sales activity slowed toward the end of the quarter. The SVI reported an 11.8% drop in cars sold compared to November. This seasonal dip is typical and even represented an improvement over the same period last year.

Meanwhile, the AMVI recorded a 13.7% month-on-month increase. This rise is unlikely to concern dealers, as January traditionally brings a surge in used-car demand.

‘Looking ahead to 2026, RVs are expected to depreciate at a slower pace, averaging a 1% decline. With wholesale supply remaining steady and retail demand healthy, there is currently a good balance between supply and demand. This should support a stable outlook for RVs in the year ahead,’ forecasted Whittington.

Amid varying scenarios across Europe’s major used-car markets, one trend remains consistent: falling residual values (RVs). But how notable was November’s performance compared to recent months? Tom Hooker, Autovista24 journalist, unpacks the data.

RVs as a percentage of retained new-car list price (%RV) after 36 months and 60,000km continued to decline across Europe. Observed used-car markets included Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

These seven countries have suffered year-on-year %RV drops in every single month so far in 2025. This excludes France from January to April. Yet, November’s performance still stood out, for all the wrong reasons.

It marked just the third time this year that all seven markets also posted a month-on-month %RV decline. This unwanted feat was also recorded in April and October.

Used-car values saw the steepest year-on-year fall in Italy, dropping 4.6 percentage points (pp) to 44.8%. The country also posted the biggest month-on-month %RV decline of 1.3pp.

This was followed by Switzerland, which saw a year-on-year fall of 4.4pp to 42.4%. Conversely, used-car values in Austria held up the best compared to November 2024. %RVs fell by 0.5pp year-on-year to 47.2%.

Germany saw a slightly poorer performance relative to 12 months prior, suffering a 1.8pp %RV decline to 48.2%. However, this equated to just a 0.1pp fall from October, the lowest month-on-month decline of all used-car markets observed.

Lower used-car activity in Austria

‘Austria’s sales-volume index (SVI) for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars rose by 2.7% in November compared to October. However, year on year, the SVI declined by 6.4%, reflecting lower market activity and headwinds,’ stated Robert Madas, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations.

The active-market volume index (AMVI) also increased month on month by 1.9%. Compared to November 2024, the supply was up by 1.2%. This indicates a slight recovery in supply within this age bracket.

The average time needed to sell a used car in November was 65 days, up marginally by 0.4 days compared to October. Year on year, this metric improved significantly by 4.4 days, suggesting an acceleration in turnover.

Diesel-powered used cars were the fastest-selling of any powertrain, taking an average of 59.5 days to sell. This was closely followed by petrol-powered models at 62 days. Then came plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) at 70.9 days and full hybrids (HEVs) at 71.9 days.

Battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) showed significantly improved turnover speed but continued to take the longest time to sell at 80.6 days.

Mixed residual value result

%RVs declined to 47.2% in Austria during November. This marked a 0.3pp drop from October and a 0.5pp year-on-year decrease. In absolute terms, RVs rose slightly month on month and year on year. Compared to October, this translated to a 0.2% rise and a 7.1% increase set against November 2024.

HEVs retained the highest trade %RV at 49.8%, followed by petrol cars at 49.2%. Then came diesel models with 48% and PHEVs with 45.1%. BEVs held the lowest %RV once again, at 37.6%. However, this was an improvement of 0.9pp month on month.

‘Looking ahead, %RVs are expected to remain stable until the end of the year. Forecasts suggest the same level by the end of 2025 compared to December 2024. A 0.7% decline is then expected in 2026, followed by a 0.6% decrease in 2027,’ noted Madas.

Used-car values fall in France

%RVs fell slightly in France during November. Both petrol and diesel-powered cars, as well as PHEVs, recorded marginal decreases. For the former two internal-combustion engine (ICE) powertrains, this does not signify a recurring trend.

‘Values of petrol and diesel-powered cars have not been heavily impacted by the overall market’s slumping %RV trend, which began at the start of 2023. Meanwhile, November’s PHEV result marked a continuation of its decline,’ explained Ludovic Percier, Autovista Group’s senior RV analyst for France.

The decrease in petrol and diesel %RVs was limited. This was because drivers are waiting to replace their current car. Furthermore, fewer new ICE-powered cars are entering the used-car market.

‘Petrol and diesel-powered used cars followed the month’s general trend. Even though strong demand remains for both fuel types in France, potential buyers have less money to spend on these vehicles due to a weakened global economy. Combined with this, their prices are still too high on the used-car market,’ he highlighted.

As many used-car buyers still do not accept the higher prices of PHEVs, the powertrain remained in a %RV decline. However, models with a range above 60km are less impacted by the downward pressure on %RVs.

The average days to sell a PHEV fell slightly last month. Yet, a turnover average of 70 days is still too long for dealers, even with transaction prices continuing to decrease.

PHEV demand and supply remain unbalanced. In previous years, many vehicles were sold to fleets due to fiscal advantages. However, private used-car buyers have no interest in paying such a high transaction price for PHEVs. The powertrain endured a 3.3% fall in the SVI. Smaller and cheaper PHEVs were the easiest to sell.

Hybrid demand increases

HEVs suffered a marginal decrease in November. The technology was once again the fastest-selling powertrain on average. Moreover, it took around five days less to leave forecourts compared to the previous month.

‘Used HEV demand is increasing in France. However, carmakers cannot risk adding big price premiums to these models. This would jeopardise the powertrain’s RVs,’ said Percier.

Three of the five fastest-selling HEVs came from Toyota. The RAV4 took the shortest time to sell of any HEV, while the Yaris and the Corolla also saw quick turnaround speeds. The other top spots were filled by the Hyundai Tucson and the Kia Niro.

%RVs of all-electric models saw a slight increase month on month. The technology also witnessed a rise in list prices, compared to October and 12 months ago. This was due to more premium vehicles appearing in the data. For example, the Audi e-tron GT was the fifth-fastest-selling BEV in November.

Out of all powertrains, BEVs retained the lowest percentage of their original list price after 36 months and 60,000km. The technology recorded a %RV of 35.3%, down 2.1pp year on year.

‘BEVs are being pushed on the new-car market by incentives. However, the current purchase incentive scheme is set to expire at the end of this year. Instead, social leasing is taking the lead with new fiscal advantages for BEV company cars,’ he commented.

Yet, this once again creates an unbalanced demand between the new and used-car markets. In turn, this can impact RVs.

Germany’s increasing used-car demand

Following a modest increase in September and a stable trend in October, used-car demand in Germany strengthened in November. The SVI rose by 4.6% month on month, marking a notable improvement. Year on year, the SVI was stable, indicating that demand was at the same level compared to November 2024.

‘The AMVI climbed by 6.1% compared to October. The used-car market witnessed an even stronger 17.3% increase year on year. This suggests a significant recovery in supply within this age bracket,’ noted Madas.

The average number of days needed to sell a used car in November was 62.4 days. This was one day longer than October and 1.3 days slower than November 2024. The average turnover speed of BEVs slowed month on month. However, the technology was the fastest selling of any powertrain at 60 days.

Then came HEVs at 61.2 days. Diesel-powered cars followed closely at around 62.2 days, while PHEVs took 62.8 days to sell. Petrol-powered cars sold the slowest, at 63.3 days.

Petrol leads used-car market

%RVs declined slightly to 48.2% in November. This was down 0.1pp from October and 1.8pp year on year. In absolute terms, the trade RV fell to €21,438. The result marked a 0.8% month-on-month decrease, but a 2.1% increase compared to November 2024.

Petrol cars led the market with a %RV of 50%. Then came diesel cars at 49.3% and HEVs at 49.1%, followed by PHEVs at 44.1%. BEVs increased slightly but again retained the lowest level of value at 37%.

‘RVs have stabilised recently in Germany. However, the level remains significantly lower than in previous years, and demand is still subdued. Therefore, RVs can be expected to remain under pressure,’ he outlined.

By the end of 2025, %RVs are forecast to decrease by 2.7% compared with December 2024. Pressure will probably ease in 2026, with RVs forecasted to suffer a smaller decline of 1.4%. This is projected to further soften to a 0.7% drop in 2027.

Italy’s weakened outlook

During November, RVs declined more sharply than expected in Italy. Values dropped from 46.1% in October to 44.8%, causing a downward revision of the 2025 RV outlook.

‘A year-end decrease of 9.2% compared to 2024 is now projected. Given that this trend shows no signs of slowing, further declines are anticipated in 2026. However, this is expected to be at a more moderate pace,’ forecasted Marco Pasquetti, Autovista Group’s cluster head of forecasting for Spain and Italy.

‘Despite these figures, the used-car market should not be considered in a crisis when we look at volumes. Analysing adverts from major online used cars portals indicates that stock levels are only marginally lower than last year, with the AMVI falling by 4.6% year on year,’ he outlined.

Meanwhile, sales remained broadly stable, with a 0.7% uptick in the SVI compared to 12 months prior. This trend was confirmed by change of ownership data. Additionally, the average time to sell a vehicle has improved significantly, dropping by eight days compared to October.

Diesel-powered cars and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) models recorded steeper-than-expected month-on-month %RV declines, at 1.5pp and 1.9pp respectively. These fuel types had previously shown resilience against the overall declining trend in RVs, making this result noteworthy.

BEVs and PHEVs also saw substantial drops of 1.2pp and 2pp, respectively. However, this comes as less of a surprise given their overall performance throughout 2025. The two technologies have consistently lagged behind the market average. All-electric models trailed the market average by 17.9pp in November.

Spain’s new-car market aids supply

‘Spain’s new-car registration figures in October provided three important conclusions. Firstly, monthly deliveries exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time,’ commented Ana Azofra, Autovista Group’s head of valuations and insights, Spain. ‘Secondly, we are seeing a clear dominance of hybrid vehicles, which accounted for 43.2% of all registrations.’

‘Thirdly, Spain continues to make steady progress towards electrification. PHEVs and BEVs achieved a market share of 22.4% in October. This was to the detriment of internal combustion engines. For example, diesel vehicles accounted for only 5.6% of sales,’ she explained.

Meanwhile, Spain’s current electric vehicle (EV) incentive scheme, the MOVES III Plan, is being revised. The new scheme will be titled Auto Plan 2030. Further details of the plan will be announced in December, as reported by El Independiente.

The system looks to revitalise the industry, infrastructure and consumer demand. This could help maintain the current pace of growth in the market share of EVs.

Longer used-car selling times

This demand is also evident in the second-hand market where sales of BEVs and PHEVs have grown at a steady pace. This was aided by increased supply and more affordable transaction prices.

This was particularly evident for PHEVs. After 36 months and 60,000km, the technology saw trade residual values on the second-hand market fall by an average of around €400.

Average prices for other powertrains, including petrol and hybrid models, fell slightly. Meanwhile, absolute RVs for diesel-powered cars rose marginally. The fuel type still accounts for half of all used car sales.

‘However, it is important to monitor metrics that show some wear and tear, in what has been such a positive year,’ said Azofra.

For example, it took 12 more days to sell a 24-to-48-month-old used car in Spain compared to the previous month. The current average is 77.5 days, a figure that was comfortably improved upon by the month’s fastest-selling models. The Toyota Yaris Cross, the Kia Rio and the MG ZS all took around 47 days to leave forecourts on average.

Switzerland’s used-car market pressure

‘After a slight decline in October, used-car demand in Switzerland softened further in November. The SVI edged down by 0.6% month on month and was 2.1% lower year on year. These two results signal that pressure remains on the market,’ stated Madas.

‘The AMVI also slipped by 0.5% compared to October. Year on year, supply fell sharply by 7.8%. This confirmed a continued tight supply of used cars in this age bracket,’ he noted.

%RVs declined to 42.4% in November. This represented a 0.3pp drop from October and a 4.4pp decrease compared to November 2024. In absolute terms, the trade RV rose slightly to CHF 26,320. Compared to the previous month, this was a rise of 0.3% month on month but down 4.5% year on year.

HEVs retained the most value of any powertrain in November by far at 47%. Then came petrol-powered cars at 43.8%, diesel-powered models at 42.1% and PHEVs at 40%. BEVs continued to be the worst-performing powertrain, holding only 35.8% of their original list price.

BEVs improved turnover rates

The average number of days to sell a used car in November was 77.1 days, up 0.5 days compared to October. Year on year, this metric improved significantly by 6.6 days, indicating faster turnover.

Petrol models sold fastest at 73 days, followed by HEVs at 77.6 days and diesel cars at 79.5 days. BEVs improved significantly year on year, with an average turnaround time of 82.1 days. This meant they sold faster than PHEVs, which took 87.5 days to leave forecourts.

%RVs are forecast to decrease in the coming years, but at a slower pace. By the end of 2025, %RVs are expected to fall by 7.8% compared to December 2024. A further 1.7% decline is anticipated in 2026, with a 0.4% drop projected in 2027.

UK’s cautious used-car dealers

‘November’s used-car market showed steady activity with some notable shifts. At first glance, the average time to sell a 24-48-month-old used car rose to 37.1 days. This was an increase of 3.2 days compared to October, which might suggest a slowdown,’ outlined Jayson Whittington, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations, UK.

‘However, the SVI tells a different story, showing sales activity actually strengthened, with 8.5% more cars leaving forecourts during the month. Conversely, the AMVI reported 4.7% fewer cars advertised for sale. This indicates dealers are not replenishing stock at the same pace they are selling.’

‘This could point to demand outstripping supply. However, it is more likely that dealers are exercising caution as the year-end approaches. They may be becoming more selective in their acquisition strategies during what is traditionally a quieter period,’ he commented.

Stock moving quickly

Despite the longer selling time in the UK, the country’s performance remains strong compared to other European markets. At 37.1 days, UK dealers sold cars 40 days quicker than in Spain or Switzerland.

Its turnaround rate was nearly 29 days faster than France, 28 days ahead of Austria, and over 25 days quicker than Germany. The UK’s average was also more than 23 days ahead of Italy, the closest market in comparison.

%RVs softened slightly in November, averaging 48.7% of the original cost new price. This equated to a decline of just 0.2pp from October and 2.4pp lower than November last year.

‘Overall, used-car market activity appears fairly busy for the time of year. Dealers seem to be selling well, while keeping a closer eye on what stock they buy as the year comes to an end,’ concluded Whittington.

How did European used-car markets perform during October? Was supply and demand balanced? Were residual values (RVs) stable? Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus explores the trends with experts across Europe.

October saw a continuation of this year’s major used-car market trends across Europe. After 36 months and 60,000km, RVs presented as a percentage of retained new-car list price (%RV) fell in all observed countries. This includes Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland, and the UK.

While declines did not exceed 0.4 percentage points (pp) compared with September, the year-on-year changes were more pronounced. Switzerland saw the greatest drop compared with October 2024, with %RVs down 4.3pp. However, values have been normalising in Europe after COVID-19 halted supply and inflated RVs.

Compared with October 2024, five countries saw the active-market volume index (AMVI) record better results than the sales-volume index (SVI) in their respective locations. This indicates that the supply of 24-to-48-month-old cars outpaced demand across many used-car markets. This trend was less pronounced when comparing October 2025 with September 2025.

However, in Austria, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, these used cars took longer to sell on average month on month. Only Switzerland and the UK saw slightly faster sales rates, though these were marginal improvements of 0.1 and 0.3 days.

Of the observed markets, Switzerland saw the longest average time in stock at 78.5 days. Meanwhile, the UK recorded the fastest turnaround time at 34.4 days. The country is recording a unique trend with battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) taking the smallest number of days to sell. Meanwhile, full hybrids (HEVs) moved the fastest in Austria, France, Spain and Switzerland.

Austria’s persistent used-car headwinds

Austria’s SVI for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars rose by 5.1% in October compared to September. However, year on year, the index declined by 6.6%, reflecting persistent market headwinds.

The AMVI also increased month on month by 5.5%. Yet, compared to October 2024, this was down by 4.1%, indicating a continued supply contraction within this age bracket.

‘The average time needed to sell a used car in October remained stable at 64.9 days. Year on year, this metric improved by 2.1 days, suggesting a modest acceleration in turnover,’ explained Robert Madas, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations.

Among powertrains, HEVs remained the fastest-selling at 57.5 days, closely followed by diesel at 58 days. Then came petrol vehicles at 62.2 days and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) at 73.7 days. BEVs continued to take the longest time to sell at 84.8 days.

The %RV of 36-month-old cars at 60,000km declined slightly to 47.5% in October. This marked a 0.1pp drop from September and a 2.5pp year-on-year decrease. In absolute terms, the trade RV rose to €22,162.1. This was up 0.8% month on month, and an improvement of 3.1% year-on-year.

HEVs retained the highest trade value at 50.3%, followed by petrol cars at 49.8%. Then came diesel models with 48.4% and PHEVs with 45.1%. Once again, BEVs held the lowest %RV, at 36.7%.

Looking ahead, %RVs are expected to remain stable in Austria until the end of this year. Forecasts suggest a 0.5% increase by the end of 2025 compared to December 2024. Then, a 0.7% decline is expected in 2026, followed by a 0.6% decrease in 2027.

France sees value stability

‘RVs were stable in France during October, with slightly higher list prices and very slight percentage value declines,’ said Ludovic Percier, Autovista Group’s senior RV analyst for France.

Compared with September 2025, all powertrains took longer to sell on average. The SVI also dropped year on year as the used-car market reacted to a complicated economic climate.

Petrol-powered cars followed the month’s general trend, while diesel %RVs increased very slightly compared with September. These used models are still in demand in France despite the number of new internal-combustion engine (ICE) registrations shrinking.

HEVs were once again the fastest-selling powertrain. Used models are in increasing demand in France, but carmakers cannot risk adding big price premiums to these units. This would jeopardise the powertrain’s RVs.

Three of the top five fastest-selling HEVs came from Toyota, including the RAV4, the Yaris and the Corolla. The other top spots were filled by the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson, which took the shortest time to sell of any HEV.

PHEVs saw worse results, with used-car buyers not accepting the powertrain’s higher prices. As these models now feature longer ranges, many brands have had to increase list prices. Vehicles with a smaller electric range below 60km have been the most heavily impacted.

Supply and demand imbalance

‘Demand and supply are still unbalanced. In previous years, many vehicles were sold to fleets on the back of fiscal advantages,’ Percier added.

However, private used-car buyers have no interest in paying such a high price for PHEVs. Year to year, the powertrain saw the SVI fall by 13.1%. Smaller and cheaper PHEVs in the C-SUV segment were the easiest to sell.

At 35%, BEVs retained the lowest percentage of their original list price after 36 months and 60,000km. This was down both month on month and year on year. The fastest-selling BEV was the Tesla Model Y, offering a very comprehensive price positioning.

Both the new and used-car markets continue to be crowded. The new-car market will be pushed along by reinforced fiscal advantages for fleets.

Meanwhile, ICE models have been penalised more since the beginning of the year. This will increase the flow of BEVs into an already saturated used-car market. Social leasing will only exacerbate this situation.

Used-car demand flat in Germany

Following a modest increase in September, used-car demand in Germany remained almost unchanged in October. The SVI edged up just 0.1% compared to September. This still marked a 3.3% year-on-year decrease, indicating that market activity remains subdued compared to the previous year.

The AMVI for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars rose more significantly, by 4.3% month-on-month. Compared to October 2024, the index was up 9.1%, suggesting a recovery in supply within this age bracket.

The average number of days needed to sell a used car in October increased slightly to 60.4 days. This was up by 0.8 days from September and by 1.3 days compared with October 2024.

PHEVs sold the fastest at 59 days, followed by diesel models at 59.3 days. HEVs and petrol cars took slightly longer at 61.3 days. BEVs improved their turnover speed significantly and took 60.1 days to leave dealerships in October.

The average %RV of 36-month-old cars at 60,000km declined slightly to 48.3% in October, down 0.1pp from September and 1.6pp year on year. In absolute terms, the trade RV hit €21,599.9, a 0.8% month-on-month decrease but a 3.9% increase compared to October 2024.

Petrol cars led the market with a %RV of 50%. Then came diesel cars at 49.3% and HEVs at 48.9%, followed by PHEVs at 43.9%. BEVs again retained the lowest level of value at 36.7%.

‘Although RVs have stabilised recently in Germany, the level is significantly lower than in previous years, and demand remains rather weak,’ Madas said.

‘RVs can be expected to remain under pressure. By the end of 2025, %RVs are forecast to decrease by 2.6% compared with December 2024. Pressure will probably ease in 2026, with RVs forecasted to suffer a smaller decline of 1.4%,’ he added.

Italy used-car market on trend

‘October confirmed the anticipated trend for 2025 as outlined in the RV outlook. That is, a year-on-year decline in %RVs of 8.5%,’ highlighted Marco Pasquetti, Autovista Group’s cluster head of forecasting for Spain and Italy.

This drop is certainly significant, especially considering that %RVs ended 2024 down 7.5% compared to the previous year. However, it is important to remember that between 2020 and 2023, there was an unprecedented surge in values of over 30% in three years.

‘However, what is happening now should not be interpreted as a crisis in the used-car market. Instead, it should be considered a gradual return to a stable market following an exceptional, and therefore temporary, RV increase,’ Pasquetti highlighted.

There are currently no signs of a trend reversal or clear stabilisation, which means that this decline will likely continue over the next two years.

It is also notable that the volume of active listings was down 11% compared to last year. This decline is evident among PHEVs and BEVs, which still represent a relatively small market share. However, it is also apparent among diesel vehicles, which have dropped by as much as 16.7%. In contrast, full hybrids and LPG models have seen surges of 14.7% and 56.4%, respectively.

Overall, the fastest-selling model was the Dacia Sandero, which spent an average of 37.7 days. This is nearly half the market average of 69.8 days. The Audi A1, Toyota Yaris Cross, Dacia Duster, and Mini Countryman also performed well, each selling in under 50 days.

Spain sees solid demand

The positive new-car market performance in Spain has seen several consecutive months of double-digit increases. While registrations are still below 2019 levels, the market is recovering steadily. However, September saw the private channel and the business channel drive growth.

The MOVES III Plan continues to boost sales of electric vehicles (EVs), accounting for BEVs and PHEVs. These plug-in cars saw year-on-year growth of 97.9% and achieved a market share of 24%. In other words, nearly one in four new vehicles sold in September was an EV.

‘The used-car market is also in good health, with sales up by 5.2% year on year between January and September,’ commented Ana Azofra, Autovista Group’s head of valuations and insights, Spain.

Demand is solid and sustainable, with a significant rise in BEV and PHEV transactions, according to GANVAM.  In addition, they have seen a stronger professional channel and more stable prices than in other European markets.

Average transaction values only suffered a slight negative adjustment in October, down by 0.7% compared to September. This was due to the increased presence of EVs in the used-car sales mix, which tends to perform more negatively.

Overall, the situation is stable for ICE models and favourable for HEVs, which dominate the fastest-sellers ranking. The Toyota Yaris Cross leads the way with a turnover rate of 27.2 days, 40.5 days less than the wider market average.

Used-car stability in Switzerland

‘Following a strong rebound in September, used-car demand in Switzerland stabilised in October,’ Madas stated. ‘The SVI declined slightly month on month by 0.5% but still increased by 1.5% year on year.’

The AMVI rose by 1.5% increase compared to September but was still 8.4% lower than in October 2024. This indicates a tight supply of used cars in this age bracket.

The average %RV of a 36-month-old car at 60,000km remained relatively steady at 42.7%. This was down by just 0.1pp from September, and yet it marked a 4.3pp drop from October 2024.

HEVs retained the most value in October by far at 47.5%. Then came petrol cars at 44%, diesel models at 42.4% and PHEVs at 40.5%. BEVs continued to be the worst-performing powertrain, holding only 36.1% of their original list price.

The average number of days to sell a used car in October was 78.5 days. This was nearly unchanged from September. However, the performance was 5.5 days faster than in October 2024.

HEVs again sold fastest at 69 days. This was followed by diesel cars and petrol models at 76.2 days, and PHEVs at 85.7 days. BEVs improved significantly and sold at 85.8 days on average.

%RVs are forecast to decrease in the coming years, but at a slower pace. By the end of 2025, %RVs are expected to decrease by 7% compared to December 2024, with a smaller year-on-year drop of 1.7% anticipated in 2026.

Resilience in the UK

The UK’s used-car market presented a mixed picture in October. Despite the seasonal uplift in wholesale supply following September’s plate change, values remained broadly stable.

‘Average values dipped marginally by 0.1pp to 48.9% of the original cost-new price, indicating resilience in the face of increased stock levels,’ stated Jayson Whittington, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations, UK.

The AMVI revealed a notable 13.6% rise in used-car availability on dealer forecourts compared to September, offering consumers greater choice. However, this did not translate into stronger retail performance.

According to the SVI, retail sales fell by 4.5% month on month in October, suggesting that increased supply may have outpaced demand.

Stock turnover remained steady, with dealers taking 34.3 days on average to sell a used car. This was slightly quicker than in the previous month and nearly identical to the same period last year.

Powertrain performance varied significantly. Diesel, HEV and petrol vehicles all outperformed the overall average %RV, retaining 52.2%, 52% and 50.1%, respectively. In contrast, PHEVs and BEVs lagged, retaining just 47.3% and 34.4% of their original cost-new price.

Despite their lower %RVs, BEVs continued to sell well. They were the fastest-selling powertrain in October, taking just 30.1 days on average to leave the forecourt. This was two days quicker than in September. This suggests that while BEV values remain under pressure, consumer appetite for fully-electric cars is still strong, particularly when pricing aligns with market expectations.

Residual values (RVs) of battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) continued to languish across many European markets during September. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus explores the trends alongside Autovista Group experts.

Major European used-car markets saw RVs presented as a percentage of new car list price (%RV) continue to fall in September. Year on year, the average three-year-old car at 60,000km suffered declines across Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.

This cements an ongoing market trend of value normalisation following the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the unnatural inflation of RVs. But as the average across available powertrains deflates, one particular technology is dragging across all major markets.

BEVs retained the lowest amount of value of any major powertrain in all seven of the observed markets. The technology performed particularly badly in Italy. On average, all-electric models only managed a %RV of 28.5% after 36 months at 60,000km.

While they still trailed behind the wider market, the highest average %RV the powertrain recorded was in Spain at 44.9%. It was the only observed country where BEVs held on to more than 37.5% of their original list price.

The powertrain is subject to numerous RV pressures. Continuing range improvements and technological advancements are ageing younger models comparatively quickly. The entrance of new brands offering more affordable models also makes used BEVs less attractive.

Additionally, carmakers and governments want to increase the uptake of these all-electric cars to meet environmental targets. This can lead to the use of purchase incentives and discounts, which can put additional pressure on the RVs.

rn

The powertrain is expected to see %RVs fall year on year by the end of 2025 across all observed markets. While this is the case for most technologies, the expected drop is steeper than the anticipated average market decline in many countries.

Austria’s market headwinds

Austria’s sales-volume index (SVI) for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars dropped sharply in September, falling by 13.9% compared with August. Year-on-year, the SVI declined by 8.8%, highlighting ongoing market headwinds.

The active-market volume index (AMVI) showed a slight month-on-month increase of 1.2%. However, compared to September 2024, the AMVI was down by 11.6%, indicating a continued supply contraction within this age bracket.

The average time needed to sell a used car fell further in September, to 65 days. This was down by 1.6 days compared with August. Full hybrids (HEVs) showed another improvement in the month, making them the fastest-selling powertrain once again. The fuel type needed only 55.5 days to sell on average.

This was followed by diesel vehicles at 59.5 days, petrol vehicles at 63.7 days and plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) at 72.4 days. BEVs continued to take the longest time to sell at 78.6 days.

Meanwhile, the average %RV of a 36-month-old car at 60,000km declined to 47.6% in September. This equated to a 0.5 percentage point (pp) drop from August, and a 2.7pp year-on-year fall.

HEVs retained the highest trade value at 51.6%, followed by petrol cars at 49.9%. Then came diesel models with 48.4%, and PHEVs with 45%. BEVs held the lowest %RV once again, at 37.5%.

‘Looking ahead, %RVs are expected to stabilise gradually until the end of the year,’ said Robert Madas, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations. ‘Forecasts suggest a 0.7% increase by the end of 2025 compared to December 2024, followed by a 0.7% decline in 2026, and a 0.6% decrease in 2027.’

Residual values down in France

‘RVs continued to fall in France during September, with slightly higher list prices and lower absolute values,’ outlined Ludovic Percier, Autovista Group’s senior RV analyst for France.

Compared with August 2025, all powertrains took longer to sell on average. The sales volume also dropped month on month and year on year, as the used-car market reacted to a complex economic climate.

Petrol and diesel-powered cars only saw very small RV declines in the month, in contrast with a negative global trend. These used models are still in demand in France while the number of new internal-combustion engine (ICE) powered cars shrinks.

HEVs were once again the fastest-selling powertrain. Used HEVs are in increasing demand in France, but carmakers cannot risk adding big price premiums to these models. This would jeopardise the powertrain’s RVs.

Three of the top five fastest-selling HEVs came from Toyota, including the Rav 4, Yaris and Corolla. The other top spots were filled by the Kia Sportage and Hyundai Tucson.

PHEVs saw worse results, with used-car buyers not accepting the powertrain’s higher prices. As these models now feature longer electric ranges, many brands have only been able to increase list prices.

Supply and demand imbalance

‘Demand and supply are still unbalanced,’ said Percier. ‘In previous years, many vehicles were sold to fleets on the back of fiscal advantages. However, private used-car buyers have no interest in paying such a high price for PHEVs.’

Month on month, the powertrain saw the sales-volume index fall by 14.8%. Smaller PHEVs in the C-SUV segment were the easiest to sell, however.

At 35.5%, BEVs retained the lowest percentage of their original list price after 36 months and 60,000km. This was down both month on month and year on year. The fastest-selling BEV was the relatively affordable BYD Atto 3, followed by the Tesla Model Y and Model 3.

Both the new and used-car markets continue to be crowded. The new-car market will be pushed along by reinforced fiscal advantages for fleets.

ICE models have been more penalised since the beginning of the year. This will increase the flow of BEV models into an already submerged used-car market. Social leasing will only exacerbate this situation when it is reintroduced.

Germany’s RVs remain under pressure

‘Following a decline in July and a significant increase in August, used-car demand in Germany increased only slightly in September,’ Madas said.

The SVI for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars edged up by 0.8% compared with August. However, this still marked a 10.9% year-on-year decrease, indicating that market activity remains subdued compared to the previous year. The AMVI also rose by 0.8% month-on-month, but was still 1.1% lower than in September 2024.

The average number of days needed to sell a used car in September was 59.9 days. This was similar to August, but 1.1 days longer than in September 2024. HEVs sold the fastest at 57 days, closely followed by PHEVs at 58.3 days and diesel models at 58.7 days. Petrol cars took slightly longer to sell at 60.4 days. BEVs took the longest amount of time to leave dealerships, doing so at 62.2 days.

The average %RV of a 36-month-old car at 60,000km increased marginally to 48.4% in September, up 0.1pp from August. However, this represents a 1.7pp year-on-year decrease. Petrol cars led the market with a %RV of 50.1%. Then came diesel cars at 49.4% and HEVs at 49.1%, followed by PHEVs at 43.6%. BEVs retained the lowest level of value at 36.9%.

Although RVs recently stabilised in Germany, the level is significantly lower than in previous years, and demand remains rather weak. Therefore, RVs can be expected to remain under pressure.

‘In 2025, %RVs are forecast to decrease by 2.6% compared with December 2024,’ Madas commented. ‘Pressure will likely ease in 2026, with RVs forecasted to suffer a smaller decline of 1.4%.’

Residual values fall in Italy

Approaching the final phase of the year, the results for Italy’s used-car market are coming into focus. On average, 36-month-old cars at 60,000km saw their RVs fall year on year.

In %RVs terms, values fell by 4.4pp compared with September 2024. This fell in line with an observed negative trend, one which is expected to continue towards the end of 2025.

Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) vehicles continued to enjoy the greatest %RV stability, down 1.8pp year on year. Meanwhile, diesel models retained the most value again, holding on to 50.8% of their original list price. This was compared to a market average of 46.4%.

Compared with last month, the sales volume of vehicles aged between 24 and 48 months dropped by 22.3%. Alongside this, the average time needed to sell a vehicle increased by 4.6 days. BEVs took the longest amount of time to sell, averaging 78.9 days. This was up by 9.3 days from the previous month.

BEVs are currently facing the greatest uncertainty. Starting from mid-October, purchase incentives of up to €11,000 may become available, depending on income level,’ said Marco Pasquetti, Autovista Group’s cluster head of forecasting for Spain and Italy.

‘Such a substantial incentive could put further pressure on the used-car market and RVs. However, it is better to wait and observe the market’s response to understand whether a backlash will actually occur,’ he added.

Used-car transactions fall in Spain

‘The Spanish new-car market has maintained its strong momentum, supported by a favourable economic environment,’ highlighted Ana Azofra, Autovista Group’s head of valuations and insights, Spain.

Far from showing signs of slowing down, registrations grew again in August by 17.2% year on year. This equated to a 14.6% increase in the year to date.

Electric vehicles (EVs) played a particularly prominent role. Together, BEVs and PHEVs recorded 161.9% growth compared to August 2024, and a 98% increase in the year to date. August’s EV market share of 24.4% brought Spain closer to the European average.

This new-car market momentum is limiting the possibilities for the used-car market, which saw transactions fall by 0.7% in August. Despite this slight decline, the supply from professional traders remained very positive. Sales of young used vehicles, which account for the bulk of the network’s activity, grew considerably.

‘Average transaction values felt the pressure of petrol and EV prices, as other powertrains showed slight growth,’ Azofra said. ‘Overall, the situation is stable and positive. Most of the 2025 adjustments have already occurred in the first part of the year.’

Stock volume was lower in September than last year, and the number of days needed to sell a used car fell accordingly. Last month’s fastest-selling models were the Cupra Leon, the VW Taigo, and the Dacia Sandero.

Switzerland sees demand rebound

After a modest decline in July and a sharper drop in August, used-car demand in Switzerland rebounded strongly in September. The SVI for two-to-four-year-old passenger cars surged month-on-month by 12.6%. However, year-on-year, the SVI was down by 3.3%.

The AMVI edged down slightly by 0.6% compared to August, indicating stabilising used-car supply. However, the supply volume of passenger cars in this age bracket was 10.9% lower than in September 2024.

‘The average %RV of a 36-month-old car at 60,000km rose slightly to 42.8%,’ Madas said. ‘This marks a continued year-on-year decline, down by 4.5pp from the values recorded 12 months ago.’

HEVs retained the most value in September by far at 47.5%. Then came petrol cars at 44.1%, diesel models at 42.2% and PHEVs at 40.6%. BEVs continued to be the worst-performing powertrain. All-electric cars held only 35.9% of their original list price.

The average number of days to sell a used car increased to 78.1 days, four days more than in August, but still six days faster than in September 2024. HEVs sold fastest at 66.6 days, followed by diesel cars at 76.1, petrol models at 76.4 days and PHEVs at 84.8 days. Meanwhile, BEVs needed the most time to sell, at 85.9 days on average.

A trend of relatively stable supply and low demand is expected to continue as various uncertainties persist into the remainder of 2025. Therefore, %RVs are forecast to decrease in the coming years, but at a slower pace. By the end of 2025, %RVs are expected to decrease by 5.9% compared to December 2024, with a further, smaller year-on-year drop of 1.5% anticipated in 2026.

Deceptive residual value uplift in UK

‘RVs in the UK saw a modest uplift in September. The average RV of a three-year-old car rose to 49% of the original cost new price. However, this improvement is a result of the plate-effect, rather than market performance,’ explained Jayson Whittington, Autovista Group’s regional head of valuations, UK.

A car registered in September 2022 displayed a ‘72’ plate. However, in August 2022, a ‘22’ plate would be on display. This plate distinction commands a higher value, which is why an uplift was recorded in this month’s report. However, the increase seen in September 2024 was 1.9pp. This year there was only a 1pp increase, suggesting a softer impact this time around.

When comparing like-for-like data with September 2024, the average %RV dropped by 3.3 pp. This downward development is not a reflection of poor market conditions; if anything, it is best described as ‘steady’. This is because it is a continuation of a realignment in values following the spike experienced in 2021.

Retail dynamics remained healthy, with the average time to sell a used car holding at 34 days, three days quicker than the same period last year. BEVs continued to lead in turnover speed at 31.4 days, followed closely by PHEVs and hybrids. Petrol cars sold right on the 34-day average, while diesel variants lagged at 40.8 days. Despite slower turnover, diesel models retained the highest %RV at 52.4%.

‘Looking ahead to October, it will be interesting to see if the volume of cars increases in wholesale channels. An increase in volumes is often observed following September’s plate-change activity. However, with a subdued used-car supply this year, prices may not be adversely affected,’ Whittington concluded.

At IAA Mobility in Munich, Schwacke and Auto Bild revealed the 2025 Wertmeister (residual value champions) winners. Autovista24 editor Tom Geggus examines the models with the greatest value retention in Germany.

For the 22^nd time, vehicles with the highest value retention were honoured by industry experts. This year, a total of eleven value masters took home the coveted title.

Around 10,000 models were divided into categories ranging from small cars to commercial vans, and examined by Schwacke experts. The awards included three electric categories and eight open classes, in which all models were considered regardless of their powertrain.

A Wertmeister hat-trick

The Audi A6 e-tron won two trophies in the luxury and compact to luxury electric categories.

rn

This was the first time an all-electric model claimed victory in the luxury segment, defeating its diesel and petrol competitors. The achievement sends a strong signal to the industry, underlining that used electric cars are making gains.

‘What a wonderful surprise for everyone who believes in the future of electromobility and has been waiting for signals from the market,’ said Thorsten Barg, managing director of Schwacke.

‘Audi’s success with the electric version of the A6 Avant in this open class against strong combustion engine competition shows that electromobility is now arriving on the used car market,’ he added.

Close behind in second and third were models with internal-combustion engines: the BMW 5 Series and the Mercedes-Benz E-Class.

In addition to the double title for the e-tron, Audi also celebrated a win in the compact car category. The Audi A3 impressed with its high value retention, versatility and modern design.

Small car clash

For the past four years, the Dacia Sandero was the undisputed leader in the small car category. This year, it had to relinquish its title to the Mini Cooper Cabrio. The model stood out with an exceptionally high value retention.

However, Dacia claimed a win in the compact SUV category with its Duster. The model impressed with a strong overall package. Everyday practicality, robustness, and an excellent price-performance ratio added to its used-market appeal. Dacia’s focus on essentials appeals to many customers, and this is reflected in its residual value (RV).

With the Mini Aceman, BMW also impressed in the electric small car category. Available as a battery-electric vehicle (BEV), the Aceman achieves a WLTP range of up to 406km, making it an attractive choice in its segment.

Electric vehicles (EVs) enjoyed more success in the compact to luxury electric SUV category, with the Volvo EX90 crowned the winner.

The model incorporates sustainability measures such as the use of recycled materials and reflects the brand’s ongoing shift toward electromobility. With an emphasis on safety and environmental performance, the Swedish company is consolidating its place within the premium electric segment.

Wertmeister highlights RV importance

RVs play a central role in the automotive industry. For private buyers, it directly affects the future resale value, often a key criterion when choosing a new car.

In leasing and financing, the calculated RV directly impacts monthly payments. Even for manufacturers, stable value retention can significantly boost a model’s market success. A Wertmeister win signals a model’s exceptional value stability.

‘Many Wertmeister winners are expensive to buy. If you drive a Porsche, Mercedes, or Mini, you pay a lot upfront, but then benefit when reselling, said Robin Hornig, editor-in-chief for Automotive at the Bild Group.

‘In the RV rankings, model lines and brands that offered either particularly affordable vehicles or a high position in the premium and lifestyle segments prevailed again. Additionally, we see strong improvements in electric cars, both in terms of range and charging speed as well as everyday practicality,’ Barg summarised.

Given the rapid development across the automotive landscape, keeping an eye on RV trends pays off. This key metric remains a crucial factor for a model’s market success and will continue to prove pivotal to the industry.