True cost of a stationary car

Owning a car has many benefits for households of any size. Having the ability to commute to work, drive to shopping centres, transport children or relatives with ease, and embark on long trips without paying for public transport are all modern luxuries not all families can afford. Many factors go into paying for the upkeep and usability of a car, and there may be costs you have never even thought about.

These costs remain apparent even for a car that is never used. Many households own stationary cars – whether that’s an old vehicle that is never taken out of the garage or one that has fallen by the wayside as your personal and financial circumstances have changed. The hidden drain of these vehicles can amount to an overall expensive problem, and in some cases, it could be wiser to sell or possibly declare your car as SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) with the DVLA.

According to our data, the average insurance premium stands at around £716. Alongside insurance premiums – and the usual payments of MOTs and tax – the costs of running a stationary car can cause huge dents in your finances, and it’s all for a vehicle that never sees the road. Cars are beneficial in many ways and can make a lot of aspects of your life easier and more convenient. But when that is no longer the case, it may be worth selling your car and upgrading.

While declaring your car as SORN is a great way to pause your tax and insurance costs, it’s rarely a long-term solution for a vehicle you eventually plan to sell. Even when stationary, cars continue to lose value through depreciation, and extended periods without use can lead to mechanical issues like seized brakes or a flat battery. If you live in an urban area with abundant public transport, selling your unused car now is often more cost-effective than letting it lose value in the garage – especially when you factor in those annual depreciation percentages.

According to the statistics on gov.uk, there has been an increase from 8 cars for every 10 households in 1985 and 1986, to 12 cars for every 10 households for every household in 2024. Despite this, the proportion of car and passenger trips has fallen. The data also states that 33% of drivers used their car for leisure, with only 13% using their vehicle for commuting. And with the UK in the throes of a cost-of-living crisis, more people could be struggling to afford a car when it’s only used on the weekends and for leisure, and this is when you should consider possibly selling your vehicle.

The average cost of a stationary vehicle in the UK

We gathered data and crunched the numbers to highlight what it costs to run a stationary car in different regions across the UK and where these charges come from. Paying for the upkeep, fuel, insurance and tax for a car is a significant commitment – one that can feel unnecessary when the vehicle is mostly left inside a garage and rarely sees the light of day. Take a look at the average costs from our data:

• Average cost of a car: £42,000 (rising to £55,000 for electric vehicles)
• MOT fee: £55
• Service fee: £210
• Insurance cost: £716
• Tax cost: £195
• Average depreciation: £3,851 (decreasing by 9.17% per year)

All these extra costs – minus the average cost of a car – come to £5,027 (or £5,043 for electric vehicles). The depreciation alone could be enough indication that it may not be cost-effective to maintain a stationary vehicle. With each year, the car lowers in value by 9.17%. This means that selling sooner ensures you recover the maximum amount possible before the price drops further.

If you’re thinking about selling your old car, we have a whole range of car selling guides that might be useful.

The UK regions with the highest stationary car costs

It’s important to note that the prices you will be paying for your stationary car vary from region to region. We have curated a list from our data to show the rankings of the highest car insurance based on the different regions of the UK.

• London (Inner) – £1,119
• London (Outer) – £917
• Midlands (West) – £875
• Manchester/Merseyside – £836
• Leeds/Sheffield – £807
• Midlands (East) – £721
• South Central England – £693
• Midlands (North) – £672
• North West – £667

As we can see, London has the highest average car insurance in the country, emphasising that people who live in the bigger cities could have more to lose whilst maintaining a stationary vehicle.

The UK regions with the lowest stationary car costs

In some regions, it is more affordable to maintain a stationary car, though it’s still worth keeping an eye on the total spend for a vehicle that stays in the garage. Below is a list of the regions with the lowest costs relating to car insurance:

• South West – £500
• West of England – £567
• South of England – £580
• East of England/North of England – £620
• South East – £624
• North East – £636

And if you’re ever worried about prices on MOTs or tax, Carwow has you covered with our free MOT check and car tax check.

The car brands with the biggest depreciation

Some car brands depreciate faster than others, which is an important factor to keep in mind if you have a vehicle that mostly sits unused. To avoid selling your car too late, take a look at the top 10 brands with the highest average yearly depreciation:

• Dodge– 13.7%
• Chrysler – 13.0%
• Jeep – 11.1%
• Buick – 11.0%
• Fiat – 10.9%
• Nissan – 10.7%
• Mitsubishi – 10.4%
• Ford/Volkswagen – 10.3%
• Hyundai – 10.2%
• Kia – 10.1%

Beating expectations: The models selling for significantly more than expected

While depreciation is a fact of life for most vehicles, our internal sales data reveals that some models are currently so highly sought after that they are frequently selling above their initial valuations.

If you own one of these models, you could be looking at a significant “bonus” when selling:

• Ford Fiesta ST: Topping the list, this hot hatch is selling for a staggering 32% more than its estimated value (an average of £1,062 extra).
• Ford Mondeo & Alfa Romeo Giulietta: Both models are consistently beating valuations by 29%, proving there is still massive demand for these specific builds.
• Peugeot 3008: This family SUV is fetching 28% above its expected price, netting sellers an average of £651 more than the estimate.
• Audi A5 Sportback: Premium demand remains high, with this model achieving 25% over its valuation (roughly £1,274 extra).

When should you sell your car?

If you have been thinking about what to do with your stationary vehicle, declaring it as SORN can be a tempting way to pause tax and insurance. However, the downside is that the car continues to depreciate and may develop mechanical issues while sitting idle. A more practical approach is often to sell the unused vehicle while it still holds value. But when is the best time to sell?

Depending on what month it is, car sales can vary. December is generally seen as the worst month for car sales. With holiday spending and darker nights, buyers are less motivated to start looking for new vehicles, and the ones who are tend to wait for January for the better deals.

February is considered the best time for selling your car, as motivation returns for buyers. With money back in their pockets, many people are ready for their next big purchase. If you want to sell your convertible, then summer is the best time to put your car on the market, as families might want to upgrade before the school season starts, and more people are thinking about venturing out on long-distance trips.

No matter the case, make sure to take all of this into consideration before putting your car up for sale. You want to make the most profit you can, and factors like time of year can heavily affect this.

What factors should you consider before selling your car?

If you’re hesitant about selling your car, then see our handy tips on all the things you should consider before putting your old vehicle up for sale.

• Time the sale strategically – The best months to sell are typically January to March, so if you can, try to sell it then. Also, certain cars like SUVs sell better just before winter, and convertibles are in higher demand during summer and spring.
• Present the best version of your vehicle – Make sure your car is fully cleaned out, and minor cosmetic issues are fixed before putting it up for sale. We also advise taking high-quality pictures in daylight that show the car honestly.
• Strengthen the buyer’s confidence – Supply the buyer with a full service history, receipts for major work, competitive mileage, and complete documentation, including the V5C and a set of spare keys.
• Price and sell the car smartly – Research similar vehicle listings so you can compare and evaluate correctly what price you should be selling at. You can leave room to negotiate, but make sure the asking price is realistic.

So, if you have a car that has been sitting on your driveway unused for months, then maybe it’s time to sell it and upgrade. And if you want a quick, easy method of selling your car, Carwow’s Sell My Car service has you covered.

Methodology

To analyse the true cost of keeping an underused car in the UK, we analysed the following factors:

• MOT Fee – Took the max fee for a car.
• Insurance Cost – Used Q4 2025 average car insurance cost.
• Tax Cost – Used the “Single 12-month payment” figure.
• Popular Car Brands
• Service Fee – Used the cost of a “medium car”.
• Average Cost of a Car
• Car Depreciation