When is the best time of year to sell your car?

When selling our cars, we all want to get the best price possible, which can often depend on demand. So, how does this demand change throughout the year? Is there an ideal time to sell to get the highest value?

By selling your car at the right time not only do you maximise its value, you also speed up the whole selling process too! But are some months better than others? And does it depend on the type of car?

To find out, we analysed our internal valuation data. We focused on the prices offered for vehicles compared to their average valuations and the number of vehicles sold over the last two years. We did this across a variety of different cars, categorised by body type.[1]

The best months to sell your car:

By combining the best months for prices and the number of sales, we discovered that car owners should aim to sell during the first half of the year. Five of the top six best months fall within the first half, proving this is the ideal time to sell for a better price.

Here are the top six best months to sell, in order:

1. February
2. January
3. March
4. June
5. August
6. May

The first quarter of the year, January, February, and March, is ideal for selling a car, with the top three spots on our list being taken up by these months. This is due to various reasons, such as new registration plates arriving in March and dealers looking to buy vehicles in preparation for the high demand of late spring and summer.

Despite not being within the first half of the year, August makes the top six. In part, due to this month coming right before another plate change for cars. Therefore, it provides a small window of opportunity for those looking to sell their car later in the year.

The worst months to sell your car:

Our data shows that the second half of the year should be avoided by car owners looking to sell. The demand is lower during this period, and any vehicles sold are less likely to get the best price.

Here are the worst months to sell, in order:

1. April
2. September
3. July
4. October
5. November
6. December

December proves to be the worst month overall for selling your car, but only by the narrowest of margins. There’s not much appetite for new cars around Christmas time, with everyone maxing out their credit cards on presents and turkey.

In summary:

Drivers should look to sell their cars during the first half of the year or for maximum returns, specifically the first quarter. Overall, February is the best month to sell across all car types, followed by January and March. Meanwhile, as the month that sees the lowest selling price compared to the valuation, December should be avoided.

Although you’re more likely to get the best price for your car during the first half of the year, August is just as ideal a time for those wanting to maximise their profit. December also presents an excellent opportunity to prepare to sell your car in time to sell from January onwards – the most profitable time of year.

If the timing is right, and you’re ready to sell your car, then we’re here to help! You can get a quick and easy free car valuation to kick-start the process, and we’ll guide you through the rest.

About the data

[1] Data regarding the highest average valuations from clean to offer and the total number of cars sold per month per body type were taken from Carwow sales during 2023 and 2024. All figures are taken from this data unless otherwise stated.

The car body types included in the data researched are as follows: convertible, coupe, estate, hatchback, saloon, and SUV.