Cuvva Warns UK Car Sellers to Act Before September 1st Number Plate Change Hits Vehicle Values

If you are thinking of selling your car, you have just days left to secure a deal before their car’s value drops on 1st September, temporary car insurance provider Cuvva has warned.

This is because all new cars in Britain will carry ‘76’ number plates from next month, sparking a rush for new cars and potentially making cars with the current ‘26’ plates appear older by comparison.

On all new cars sold from 1st September, the number plate’s 'age identifier' (the two numbers in the middle of the plate) will switch from '26' to ‘76'. This changes every six months, helping to indicate how old a vehicle is.

Because of this, Cuvva experts predict a slight dip in the prices of cars with ‘26’ or ‘75’ plates, which - despite being at most a year old - are now competing with newer cars carrying the latest plate.

Owners of cars with ‘26’ plates have just 7 days before the new plates drop. When this happens, a fleet of newer cars will hit Britain’s streets - and their car may appear older by comparison, despite still being nearly-new.

A car’s value depreciates as it ages, so sellers hoping to get the very best price should try and secure a deal before 1st September.

In contrast, savvy buyers should wait a couple of weeks to buy. Once the new ‘76’ plates hit the market, cars with ‘26’ plates drop in status. Clever buyers could find some good deals with cars that are modern and with low mileage - but are now no longer the newest on the market.

"If you’re trying to sell a car, now is the time to move. Cars depreciate with age, and the arrival of the new ‘76’ plates coil;d make cars with ‘26’ plates look older by comparison." said Darryl Bowman from Cuvva.

"If you’re buying a car, the arrival of September’s new plates could be a chance to snag a bargain. Cars with older plates could now be cheaper, even when they’re still almost new." said Darryl Bowman from Cuvva.

"But whether you’re buying or selling, the golden rule for preserving your car’s value is to keep on top of maintenance and ensure it passes its MOT checks. Number plates indicate the age of the car, but its condition is the most important factor." said Darryl Bowman from Cuvva.