Used car prices have, arguably, been over-inflated in the past few years, thanks to a number of factors, but they are starting at least to ease a little. That's according to car history-checking service Cartell.ie, which found that used car prices are still some 36 per cent higher than in 2019.
Have used car prices passed their peak?
It would seem so, yes, Cartell's research found that the average used car price hit an all-time high of €17,022 in 2023 and has slightly eased since then, coming down to €15,698 in 2025. However, that's still considerably higher than the average €11,540 price paid in 2019, and Cartell feels that current figures may represent a 'new baseline' rather than a gradual return to the good old days.
What's driving the drop in prices?
Prices are easing somewhat as new car sales continue to rise, and that means that the second-hand market is starting to refill with the sort of three-to-five-year-old cars that used buyers crave. There's also a big element of the fall in electric car used values - immediately post-pandemic, second-hand EV values were sky-high, sitting at an average of €41,874 in 2023, but they've fallen considerably to €30,895 in 2025. Some of that is that there are more affordable EV models around, some of it is down to the fact that the second-hand market is still EV-averse, and some of it is because there's greater second-hand EV supply now.
What's a safe residual value bet?
It seems as if hybrid models are a solid bet for holding on to their second-hand value. Hybrid cars have seen their values drop by just 3.4 per cent, and plug-in hybrids by just 1.7 per cent, so it looks as if new car buyers' fondness for hybrids is filtering through to the used car market.
Commenting on the findings, Cartell's Commercial Operations Manager, Wesley Littleford, says: "Irish car buyers are no longer facing the extreme price inflation of the pandemic years, but prices have effectively reset to a new normal. While the market has stabilised, values remain significantly higher than before Covid. The most significant shift we're seeing is in electric vehicles, where increased supply and competition are driving a notable correction. That presents opportunities for buyers considering a switch.
"The data suggests the used car market has moved beyond the supply-driven volatility of the Covid period, offering more predictable conditions for both buyers and sellers heading into 2026. Cartell is proud to help buyers make informed decisions, with the latest insights reassuring anyone looking to buy or sell a vehicle.”