Commenting on used car sales so far this year, head of valuation services Gavin Amos said: ‘Historically, the first week of the year sees a spike in sales activity. Some traders have stocked up already, trying to buy while the market is slow – a smart move.

Demand remains strong for Freelander, Q5 and X3. These are a prestigious, fashionable and practical solution for many. Values remain strong, even though Freelander has been around in its current guise for a long time. 

‘The 4×4 market is buoyant as "exceptional" weather – rain, rain and more rain – continues to makes headlines. Kuga, CX5, Qashqai and their peers also remain popular. Qashqui is enjoying a similar success story to Freelander in that it’s been on the market for a good few years. It still looks fresh and is in demand, even though there’s a new model due. This car was the first on the scene and kick-started the “crossover” market. 

‘We are still seeing a distinct lack of ready to retail vehicles in trade channels. This is keeping values strong across the board, as long as the car is in good condition with the right service history. There’s an increasing trend of traders buying more stock from private sellers, offering near to the private asking price – perfect if you’re a private seller as it’s usually a straightforward business deal, a less emotional purchase. 

‘At the 5-8 year old end of the market, we are still seeing one particular vehicle in very strong demand: The VW Golf Mk5. In diesel, especially the 2.0 TDi GT, buyers can’t get enough of good examples. High mileage seems not to put potential owners off, especially when combined with a full main dealer history and having had a cambelt change. 

‘Looking ahead, 2014 will see strong demand for used vehicles. Ready to retail stock will remain the key to top money. Our values haven’t dropped dramatically at the end of 2013 and into 2014. Only the usual undesirable models, such as the ageing A6, have seen a drop of around 3%, purely due to higher road tax costs and general maintenance.’