The Used Cars Quietly Worth More Than You Think

That Old Fiesta on Your Drive Could Be Worth 32% More

That second car parked up behind the house, the one that only really comes out for the school run or a trip to Trago, might be worth considerably more than you’d expect.

Some models are selling well above their estimated value

New analysis from Carwow has found a group of used cars currently selling for significantly more than their book value, with the Ford Fiesta ST leading the pack at 32% above its estimated price. That works out to around £1,062 extra in the seller’s pocket.

It’s a useful bit of information for drivers in Cornwall, where Fiestas are about as common as pasties and most households run more than one vehicle out of necessity rather than choice.

The full top performers, according to Carwow’s internal sales data:

• Ford Fiesta ST – 32% above estimated value (around £1,062 extra)
• Ford Mondeo and Alfa Romeo Giulietta – both 29% above valuation
• Peugeot 3008 – 28% above expected, adding roughly £651
• Audi A5 Sportback – 25% above valuation, or about £1,274 extra

Why it matters down here

Running a car in Cornwall isn’t optional for most people. Public transport between villages is patchy at best, and a lot of households keep a second vehicle for work, surf trips, dog walks, or just to get up the lane in winter.

That second car is also where the money quietly leaks. Carwow’s wider research found the average UK car costs £5,027 a year to own, with depreciation accounting for £3,851 of that. The car loses value whether it’s driven to Truro every day or sat under a tarpaulin in a Helston back garden since March.

Around 1.9 million vehicles across the UK are thought to be largely idle. Plenty of those will be sitting on driveways from Saltash to Sennen.

Why people aren’t selling

Carwow found 27% of drivers worry about not getting a fair price, 25% say sentimental value holds them back, and 8% just can’t be bothered with the hassle. All fair points, particularly the sentimental one when the car in question was your dad’s, or the one you learned to drive in down the lanes near Bodmin.

Iain Reid, Global Director of Content at Carwow, said: “Many drivers assume their car only costs money when they use it. In reality, the highest cost is depreciation, and that happens whether the car is on the road or not. For drivers with newer or higher-value cars, that can mean losing thousands of pounds each year, even if the car is rarely used.”

He added that declaring a vehicle as SORN can cut some costs like tax and insurance, but warned it makes private sales trickier because the car can’t be driven on public roads. Worth knowing if you’re thinking of putting Granddad’s Mondeo on Facebook Marketplace.

Worth a look on the drive

If you’ve got a Fiesta ST gathering pollen out the front, or a Peugeot 3008 that’s barely moved since the last school holidays, the numbers suggest now might be a decent moment to check what it’s actually worth.

Full research at carwow.co.uk/editorial/owning-a-car/maintenance-repair-and-care/cost-of-owning-a-stationary-car