Used cars are now holding their value better than any time in recent Irish history.

New research by TCD and NUIG economist Dr Tom Gillespie for classified car sales website
DoneDeal reveals that, potentially, a 2015 registered used car purchased on January 1, 2020 may now be worth more in July 2021, even after adding 20,000km to the car.

Dr Gillespie said that there are several reasons behind the value increase, including a shortage of new cars due to pandemic factory closures, less UK imports as a result of Brexit, pandemic savings by the general public, and the decreased usage of cars during lockdowns.

According to the newly developed data, used car prices have increased by 40% in the year from June 2020 to June 2021.

This increase in prices has outweighed depreciation rates for most vehicles and is having the greatest impact on the lower end of the market said the report.

However, David Randles, of Randle Bros on the Muckross Road and chairman of the Kerry branch of the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI) said that these figures only applied to ‘in-demand' cars like a Nissan Qashqai or a Ford Focus or similar or cheaper ‘starter' cars.

“The reality is it has never been a better time to buy new,” Mr Randles told the Killarney Advertiser. “A customer with a trade-in worth €15,000 a year ago might get €16,000 or more for certain models.”

Beginner cars are also increasing in value, mainly due to scarcity in the market.

“Two years ago, a 10-year-old car might make €2,000, now they could get up to double that,” he added. “Someone with a second car that they don’t need could get the most benefit out of all this if they chose to sell.”