How Weather and Seasons Really Affect Car Prices: A Month-by-Month UK Breakdown

Why your car could be worth more — or less — depending on the time of year

Most car owners believe the value of their vehicle depends mainly on its age, mileage, and condition.
And while all of that’s true… it’s not the full story.

How Weather and Seasons Really Affect Car Prices: A Month-by-Month UK Breakdown

In the UK, weather and seasonal cycles have a massive impact on car prices — sometimes changing values by 5–15% in just a few weeks.

Understanding when to sell is just as important as understanding what you’re selling.
At Premium Car Buying Service (PCBS), we track real-time trends across Wolverhampton, Birmingham, Coventry, and nearby areas — and what we see every year is clear:

👉 The market changes every single month.
👉 Some cars peak at specific times of the year.
👉 Selling at the wrong moment can quietly wipe thousands off your car’s value.

This month-by-month guide will show you exactly how timing influences car prices — and how to pick the perfect moment to sell.

🚗 JANUARY – New Year, High Demand for Practical Cars

Cold weather, icy roads, and family travel spike demand for:

• SUVs

• 4x4s

• All-wheel-drive cars

• Practical family models

Prices rise, and cars move quickly.
Meanwhile, convertibles and summer-focused cars dip in value.

Best cars to sell in January: SUVs, crossovers, diesels, winter-ready models

🚙 FEBRUARY – The Pre-Plate Rush Begins

Buyers hold off till March plates… but dealers start stocking early.
So February becomes a “quietly good” month to sell:

• Dealers bulk up inventory

• Buyers start browsing more

• EVs gain interest (post-Christmas budgets reset)

Best cars to sell in February: Premium SUVs, EVs, nearly-new cars

MARCH – One of the Biggest Value Months (New Plates Release)

The arrival of the new “24/74 plate” (example) shakes up the entire market.
Prices shift fast:

Good for sellers:

✔ Nearly-new cars
✔ Premium cars
✔ Cars under 3 years old
✔ EVs and hybrids

Bad for sellers:

✘ Cars older than 5 years (compared heavily to new plate stock)

Sell before March if your car is:

• 2–4 years old

• Low mileage

• Premium spec

Timing = money.

🌦 APRIL – Smooth Prices, More Buyers, Good Weather

Weather improves → search volume rises.
Families plan road trips → SUVs still hold well.
Convertibles start creeping up for the first time.

Best cars to sell in April: Convertibles, sporty models, family MPVs, EVs

☀️ MAY – Convertible Season Starts (Prices Peak)

Warmth returns — and so does demand for fun cars:

• Convertibles

• Coupes

• Hot hatches

• Weekend cars

Prices often hit their yearly peak here.
If you’re selling a convertible, May is golden.

🌞 JUNE – Summer Rush, Road Trips, High Market Activity

Search volume peaks.
People travel more.
Dealers stock for summer.

Great time to sell:

• EVs (best weather range)

• Hybrid crossovers

• Estates and family cars

• Performance cars

🌤 JULY – Strong Prices but Slowing Slightly

Market cools slightly as buyers go on holiday.
Still strong but not at June levels.

Best cars to sell:

• Performance cars

• Estates

• EVs

Worst cars to sell:

• Big diesels (summer dip)

🏖 AUGUST – Slowest Month of the Year

Holidays reduce demand.
People wait for the September plate.

Prices drop for:

• Nearly new cars

• SUVs (slight dip)

• Diesels

Avoid selling in August if possible.

🎫 SEPTEMBER – New Plate Freeze Makes Prices Volatile

The second UK plate release hits — and the market shakes again.

Best to sell:

✔ Older cars (cheap cars move fastest)
✔ Cars under £10K
✔ Part-exchanged vehicles
✔ Trade-ins

Worst to sell:

✘ Premium nearly-new cars (buyers compare to new plate models)

If your car is:

• 2–3 years old

• High-spec

• Low mileage
  Sell BEFORE September.

🍁 OCTOBER – Buyers Return, Prices Stabilise

After the September dip, the market gets healthy again.

Strong month for:

• SUVs

• Hybrids

• Good-spec hatchbacks

Convertible prices collapse until spring — do NOT sell now.

❄️ NOVEMBER – SUV Season Begins (Prices Jump)

Cold weather arrives.
Demand spikes for anything winter-friendly.

Prices rise for:

• Range Rovers

• Q5 / X5 / GLE-size SUVs

• AWD saloons

• Crossovers

• EVs with heat pumps

Bad time for:

• Convertibles

• Coupes

🧊 DECEMBER – One of the BEST Months to Sell Premium Cars

December is misunderstood.

Most believe it's a bad month — but for premium cars, it's one of the best.

Why?

• Buyers spend big before year-end

• Dealer stock empties

• Families upgrade cars for winter

• Year-end bonuses hit

• Prices rise for winter-friendly cars

Sell now if your car is:

• Premium

• Executive

• SUV

• Electric

🏁 Final Verdict — The Right Timing Can Change Your Car’s Value by Thousands

Across the UK, car prices are heavily affected by:

• Weather

• Season

• Holidays

• New plate releases

• Local demand shifts

Knowing exactly when to sell is a massive advantage.

At PCBS, we analyse:
✔ Market trends
✔ Seasonal shifts
✔ Local buyer demand
✔ Plate-release effects
✔ Live valuation data

So you get the best possible offer at the best possible time.

🚗 Thinking of Selling Your Car?

Get a free, accurate valuation today — and sell at the perfect moment.

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