Does cruise control actually save fuel?
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How much is my car worth? A complete guide to used car valuation
Every seller asks it at some point. The problem is that the answer isn't a single number. It's a range shaped by factors most people don't fully account for. Understand what's driving your car's value and you'll walk into any sale, trade-in, or online valuation with the upper hand.
What determines your car's value
Car value is set by the intersection of what you have and what buyers are currently willing to pay for it. Here's what moves the needle most.
Age and year of manufacture. New cars can lose 10–15% of their value the moment they leave the dealership, with further depreciation in year one that can take total losses to 25–30%. After that, the rate typically slows. A three-year-old car has often shed the steepest portion of its depreciation curve, which is one reason well-maintained used cars at this age represent solid value.
Kilometres driven. The rule of thumb in the Australian used car market is roughly 4% in value per 10,000km above average. The national average sits at around 15,000–20,000km per year, so a car that's travelled well beyond that for its age will be priced accordingly. Low kilometres relative to age can meaningfully increase what a car is worth.
Condition. Scratches, dents, worn interior, faded paint: each of these chips away at your asking price. Buyers are doing a mental calculation on what it'll cost to bring the car to a standard they're comfortable with, and they're deducting that from what they'll pay.
Service history. A complete logbook is worth real money. It tells buyers the car has been maintained properly and gives them confidence in what they're buying. Gaps in a service history raise questions, and questions lower offers.
Colour. White, silver, grey, and black consistently account for the majority of new car sales in Australia, and they tend to move faster on the used market because they appeal to the broadest pool of buyers. That demand matters for resale.
