Faltering, minimal stock levels of used cars
have continued to keep prices above expectations in the
part-exchange market, according to vehicle remarketer Manheim.

While average age and mileage of dealer
vehicles at auction have remained relatively steady, month-on-month
and year-on-year, at 99 months and 75,869, the average selling
price in August fell by only 0.3% month-on-month to £2,469, 11.62%
above the August 2011 price.

Although the Society of Motor Manufacturers
and Traders has reported
rising sales and expectations of new vehicles throughout the year
in the UK
, and particularly
compared with Europe
, Darren Wiseman, valuation services
manager at Manheim Auctions, said the trickle down to the used
market will not appear soon.

“Clearly, these strong part exchange values at
auction indicate a chronic shortage of quality cars under the magic
100k mileage level,” said Wiseman. “How long these market
conditions will continue is a bit of a conundrum.”

The shortage has also been reported by British
Car Auctions, which posited an
average rise of 4.5% in used car values year-on-year in
August
.

“This year we’ve already seen franchised
dealers buy used models and older cars for their dealer forecourts
that would previously not be in the mix,” added Wiseman.

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