This way you ensure that your car is still worth 70 percent of the new price after three years Car

It all comes down to supply and demand. If the supply of a car model exceeds demand, the prices of used cars will fall and if there is more demand than supply, prices will rise. Some rare, limited edition sports cars sometimes sell for prices well above the manufacturer’s list price. However, such cases are a major exception.

Almost all cars depreciate to some extent, but cars with high market demand retain more of their value than cars with low market demand. This market demand is of course determined by a series of factors.

It will come as no surprise that the type of car you choose will have a major impact on the depreciation you can expect. Cars from certain manufacturers retain their value better than others. So-called premium brands tend to retain value more strongly. There is more demand for these cars on the second-hand market. However, the car market is becoming increasingly complex and depreciation rates can vary enormously depending on the model you choose from a particular manufacturer’s range. There are also differences in that. This actually makes sense, especially with the greater diversity of models among the brands.

The trick is to understand what the used car market wants and what it will want in the future. SUVs have been one of the biggest success stories in the automotive world over the past decade, and demand for used models tends to outpace traditional hatchbacks and station wagons. The value of smaller cars usually holds up well because they are often competitively priced when new. There are always people who want affordable, economical used cars.

Sporty cars can be a mixed bag. Certain limited edition specials with long waiting lists can immediately be worth more than the manufacturer’s list price. After all, speculators want to get their hands on these future classics. Even everyday sports cars can stubbornly hold their value if they are the brand’s best at a given time and supply is scarce.

On the other hand, expensive but old-fashioned fast cars with big, thirsty engines that aren’t well received by reviewers can quickly lose their value. The biggest victims tend to be large, luxury cars with high list prices and costs that match their size. Luxury premium sedans also often top the list of fastest depreciating cars, as demand for such used models is limited.

The automotive market is experiencing its greatest period of change in history due to electrification. The powertrain you choose for your next car can have a big impact on how quickly you see its value drop. In general, diesel, the fuel of choice in the early years of this century, has fallen out of favor with new car buyers. The supply of new diesels is also shrinking. On the other hand, there is strong demand for electric cars and (plug-in) hybrid models.

However, there are always exceptions to the rule. With electric cars and plug-in hybrids, there is a risk that the rapid improvement in technology could hit the value of older models with less advanced systems, for example offering a shorter range.

The popularity of the manual gearbox is declining significantly among new cars. You mainly see this because electric cars and hybrids do not have a gearbox. It has long been the case that buyers of many premium and luxury models wanted an automatic. This was also reflected in the value of used cars. However, for some performance models, manual versions are highly prized on the used market and sell for much higher prices than automatic versions. In the future, used manual transmission cars will become much rarer. Experts expect this division to become stronger, with vending machines becoming the norm in a larger part of the market. Rare manual sports models will then be valued even higher.

Once you’ve chosen your new car and its engine, you’ll want to choose its options. Before you descend into an abundance of options, it is important to think about the residual value. A car with sensible specifications can retain its value much better than, for example, a fluorescent yellow car with red leather.

Consider what the market expects. Some cars – coupes, sports models and convertibles – can wear bright colors. Purchasing a mid-size hatchback in a bold color could make it harder to sell later. This causes the value to decrease.

The same goes for trim levels. Entry level specs are usually quite basic and less sought after by used buyers than cars with more luxurious or sporty finishes that enhance the car’s appearance. At the other end of the scale, top trim levels and expensive options can inflate the price of the car to a level where it depreciates more quickly in the second-hand market. There are options that do not add value during trade-in. So consider which functions really add value to the car.

Depending on the model, upgraded infotainment systems, larger alloy wheels, panoramic sunroofs and heated seats will be more appreciated by a used car buyer. High-end gadgets you paid extra for are sometimes less likely to see monetary value after you’ve enjoyed using them. Remember, if you pay $30,000 for a car and lose 30 percent in depreciation, you’ve lost $9,000. If you paid 50,000, that same 30 percent depreciation is a decrease of 15,000 euros.

Reliability is absolutely crucial for used car buyers, but solid information on which cars are the easiest to live with is hard to come by. The user reviews on the AutoWeek website are a source of information about the reliability of cars. Choose a make and model with a reputation for reliability and you’ll find that depreciation tends to be slower. Demand from other buyers looking for a car they can trust helps keep that value higher.

The more you drive a car, the less value it retains. Using it is really the point of driving a car in the first place. Mileage is used as a general measure of a car’s condition. Models with lower than average mileage for their age will be worth more. Of course, the reverse also applies.

The average annual distance driven for a car in the Netherlands is around 11,000 kilometers, but certain types of cars will cover more kilometers than others. City cars and sports cars typically travel fewer miles than executive sedans that regularly plow up and down highways. Cars that have relatively high mileage for their age tend to have been driven more on the highways. They have therefore come up to temperature and have had relatively few speed changes, which is favorable for (lower) wear.

Probably more important than mileage when it comes to how much you actually get for your car is its condition. This is an area where you can make a big difference. Take good care of your car and you can significantly limit the depreciation.

This ranges from having it serviced by a dealer in accordance with the manufacturer’s maintenance schedule to keeping records of all work carried out, taking care of the paintwork and keeping the interior clean and avoiding impact and wear. A buyer is going to inspect your car at some point and sees every imperfection as a cost item if he wants to repair it or as a negotiation point that he can use to haggle.

Emissions-based taxation and environmental zones have become a bigger problem for motorists in recent years and this is only likely to increase in the future, with a corresponding impact on the value of some cars.

With the impending ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars in 2035, the market is in for a major shake-up. Will it benefit residual values ​​of electric cars or could it increase the value of used petrol and diesel models that are no longer available new? Will the ban be weakened or postponed? These questions will undoubtedly be answered as time goes on, but major effects on the value of the cars will almost certainly be felt.

By 2030 we will all be driving electric and this is how we achieve that:

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