Dealers shun late-plate cars

Dealers shun late-plate cars

An above-average influx of three-month old cars has been appearing for sale on dealer forecourts over recent weeks

Used cars bearing the ‘08’ plate are over 20 per cent more plentiful than ‘07’-plated cars were this time last year.

Values of these late-plate cars are coming under pressure, not just because of the increased supply, but because retail prices run close to the offers available on new.

There is far more stability in values for good and average-condition ‘05’ and ‘55’-plated cars, and cars bearing the ‘06’ and ‘56’ plates. In the case of the cars registered in 2006 the supply is currently low because very few owners change cars every two years. Those that have cars of a ‘56’ vintage to part-exchange could achieve a price closer to that of a model with the next youngest plate, namely ‘07’.