Ranked #277 car in the UK · Saloon · 10 units sold last year
Audi S8
The Audi S8 is the discreet super-saloon flagship - a 500-plus-bhp twin-turbo V8 hidden inside the understated luxury of the A8, with mild-hybrid assistance, quattro and air suspension. It's the ultimate Q-car: limousine comfort and a hushed cabin with genuine supercar-baiting pace, all without drawing attention. As a used buy it's a sledgehammer in a tailored suit - immense, refined and rapid, bought on impeccable history given the complexity and running costs.
How these figures are sourced — the valuation is anchored to a researched used-market price for this model (AutoTrader median, 2023 at 30k miles). Reliability, mileage and variant data are real DVSA MOT records. Dimensions, tyre sizes and costs, servicing figures and the insurance group are segment-level estimates rather than sourced per car, and are being replaced model by model.
- Body
- Saloon
- Years
- 2018–2026
- Fuel
- Mild Hybrid
- Economy
- 27 mpg
- Insurance
- Group 50
combined
The short version
Forecourt score
Value 73 · Insurance 0 · catalogue percentiles
The Audi S8 holds its value well and is dearer to run than most. On three-year value retention it ranks better than 73% of models.
The Forecourt score blends how this car ranks against the catalogue on value retention, reliability and insurance cost (weighted 40/40/20) — the from-new ownership picture. Higher is better; running cost is not yet folded in.
Pick your version
Estimates are tuned to the version you choose.
Fuel
Mild Hybrid · 3996cc
Power
571 ps
Drivetrain
AWD
Cam drive
Chain
Quoted MPG
27 mpg
S8 is petrol-only V8 — 4.0 twin-turbo mHEV, 571 PS, quattro AWD. 3.8s 0-62. Halo A8 spec.
Tell us about the one you're looking at
Tidy and well looked-after for its age — the typical car.
Remembered as you browse other cars.
Optional — fills in the exact year and ULEZ status for your specific car. The registration isn’t stored.
Estimated market value
How we got this number — click for the breakdown, or to challenge it.£64,300
Range £51,850 – £77,650
medium confidence
The depreciation curve
How a 2023-registration Audi S8 loses value over time.
What it costs to own
Based on the 2023 car with 28,704 miles you entered above — worth about £64,300 today — here is the cost of owning it for the next 5 years, at roughly 9,568 miles a year.
5-year total
£57,397
Per year
£11,479
All-in per mile
£1.20
Fuel per mile
29.2p
Best age to buy — around 5 years
A 5-year-old example loses roughly £8,900 a year — 56% less than the £20,150 a one-year-old sheds. The steepest drop is behind it.
Uses current UK pump and home-charging prices (DESNZ weekly), typical-driver insurance and manufacturer service intervals. "Fuel per mile" is just the energy input — so an EV at ~9p and a diesel at ~22p make running-cost comparison direct. A guide; your own costs will vary.
How it compares
Where this car ranks against the 340 vehicles in our index — higher is better.
Percentile rank across our full index. A measure is shown only where the data spreads meaningfully across the index.
Estimated insurance
Group 50 of 50 (very high — top of the scale) · Comprehensive · 3 years NCB
Indicative annual comprehensive premiums for this car, by driver age band and risk profile. Pick the combination closest to your circumstances.
Estimated annual premium · typical, age 33-39
£1,290/ year
Roughly £108 per month
Typical
Average UK driver — 3 years NCB, average postcode, no recent claims.| Age band | Lower risk | Typical | Higher risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| Age 17-25 | £2,941 | £3,677 | £4,779 |
| Age 26-32 | £1,535 | £1,806 | £2,203 |
| Age 33-39Selected | £1,135 | £1,290 | £1,522 |
| Age 40-49 | £964 | £1,071 | £1,242 |
| Age 50+ | £859 | £955 | £1,126 |
How we estimate this
Indicative annual comprehensive premium estimates. The 'Typical' figure represents an average UK driver in each age band; Lower and Higher risk show the realistic spread driven by factors UK insurers legitimately price on (postcode, occupation, claims history, NCB, voluntary excess, modifications). Based on 10,000 miles/yr, £250 voluntary excess, and the no-claims bonus selected above. Always get individual quotes before buying.
Expected annual costs
Adjust the annual mileage to match how you'll actually use the car. Insurance is what you selected above (age 33-39, typical risk, 3 yrs NCB).
Routine service
£290
Annual main-dealer service
Major service
£280
Every 2 years, annualised
Road tax
£200
Standard rate, post year-one
Fuel
£2,794
27 mpg, £1.73/L
Insurance
£1,290
Age 33-39, group 50
Clean-air zones
⚠ Depends on variantBased on London ULEZ standards — Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Sheffield, Glasgow and other UK clean-air zones generally follow the same rules.
Excludes depreciation and unscheduled repairs (see next section).
Unexpected costs
What out-of-warranty repairs typically run, by mileage band. Your selected mileage is highlighted.
0-30k miles
£120
per year · low risk
30-60k miles
£360
per year · low risk
60-100k miles
£780
per year · medium risk
100k+ miles
£1,350
per year · high risk
Tyres
205/60 R16 · 225/50 R17 · 245/40 R18
What a full set of four will cost you (including fit and balance), and which brand each tier of buyer should pick. A typical set lasts about 24,000 miles.
Budget
£300
set of 4, fitted · £60 per tyre
Mid-range
£440
set of 4, fitted · £95 per tyre
Premium
£620
set of 4, fitted · £140 per tyre
What to fit
Optional extras worth paying for
Factory options ranked by how much of their original cost they recover at resale. Anything above 70% return tends to make money back; below 40% is paying for your own enjoyment.
| Option | New cost | Added used value | Return |
|---|---|---|---|
Tow bar (factory-fit) Niche, but the buyers who want one will pay for it. | £650 | £450 | 69% |
Parking sensors & reversing camera Near-expected now — its absence costs more than its presence returns. | £500 | £300 | 60% |
Heated seats / cold-weather pack | £450 | £200 | 44% |
Adaptive / matrix LED headlights | £900 | £400 | 44% |
Metallic or premium paint Almost universal — an unusual colour is the bigger resale risk. | £600 | £200 | 33% |
Panoramic / opening roof | £1,100 | £350 | 32% |
Advanced driver-assistance pack | £1,500 | £450 | 30% |
Larger alloy wheels | £700 | £200 | 29% |
Premium sound system | £800 | £200 | 25% |
What fails at MOT
Recorded in DVSA MOT test data for this model, not owner reports. Ordered against 28,704 miles.
Watch now
Failure typically happens around your current mileage.
Upcoming
Typically happens at a higher mileage than yours.
Already due
Past its usual failure mileage. Either already fixed, or about to.
Tyres & wheelsWatch now
Recorded in 5.7% of MOT tests under 30k miles — from 6,390 DVSA MOT tests analysed.
BrakesUpcoming
Recorded in 7.5% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 6,390 DVSA MOT tests analysed.
SuspensionUpcoming
Recorded in 7.8% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 6,390 DVSA MOT tests analysed.
Lighting & signallingUpcoming
Recorded in 5.4% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 6,390 DVSA MOT tests analysed.
Driver's viewUpcoming
Recorded in 3.1% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 6,390 DVSA MOT tests analysed.
Identification & otherUpcoming
Recorded in 1.8% of MOT tests over 100k miles — from 6,390 DVSA MOT tests analysed.
"Parts low/medium/high" indicates how easy the replacement part is to source — discontinued or specialist parts mean longer workshop time and bigger bills.
MOT outlook
How this model fares at its MOT as it ages — from 6,466 real DVSA test records.
MOT pass rate by age
A 3-year-old S8 passes its MOT 87.8% of the time; by 25 years that has slipped to 76%. The y-axis is zoomed to this model’s range so the trend is readable.
Longevity
Not enough older examples yet to gauge longevity.
What’s on the road
The fuel-type split of every S8 with MOT history in the DVSA record. From 786 vehicles tested at least once - not the number on the road today, which is lower.
- Petrol 93.9%
- Other 3.9%
- Gas / LPG 1.4%
What fails at the first MOT
The defect categories a S8 registered 2020–2023 fails on at its first MOT, from 112 first tests. Every car here is the same age and the same generation, so these are the faults that show up first - not the wear a high-mileage older example collects.
- Tyres & wheels6.3%
- Identification & other0.9%
- Lighting & signalling0.9%
Share of first MOT tests recording at least one defect in that category. DVSA test-item categories, not parts: “Driver’s view” covers mirrors, wipers and glass.
Typical mileage by age
The average odometer reading for a S8 at MOT, by age — measured from the same DVSA records, not assumed. A useful yardstick for whether a given car has done more or fewer miles than its age suggests.
- 3 yr32,279
- 4 yr45,316
- 5 yr56,616
- 6 yr68,047
- 7 yr79,295
- 8 yr88,022
- 9 yr97,056
- 10 yr101,672
- 11 yr106,910
- 12 yr110,322
- 13 yr117,192
- 14 yr121,918
Mean recorded mileage at MOT by vehicle age, from DVSA test records. Ages below three are not shown: the first MOT is due at three years, so the few cars tested earlier are a self-selected minority rather than a representative sample. Ages with at least 10 tests shown.
Reliability
Not enough first-MOT data yet. This measure needs cars registered from 2020 that have reached their first MOT at three years old; too few have so far for a figure worth publishing.
Not enough data to publish a score: measured on 112 first MOTs from 2018 onward, which is low confidence. A score needs medium confidence or better.
MOT outlook · age 5 years
40th percentile — Below catalogue average
Based on 386 MOT tests · ranked against 248 catalogue models with comparable data
Where this car sits in the catalogue
Pass-rate distribution across 248 catalogue models
Things owners say
- 01The twin-turbo V8 delivers effortless, discreet pace; quattro keeps it usable all year.
- 02Limousine comfort with supercar speed - the definitive understated executive express.
- 03Complex and costly to run; air suspension and electronics health, plus full history, are essential checks.
Safety recalls
Manufacturers occasionally issue safety recalls to fix a fault free of charge. You can check whether the Audi S8, or your exact vehicle, has any outstanding recalls on the official DVSA service.
Check on GOV.UKOpens the Driver & Vehicle Standards Agency recall checker. Choose the make, model and year of manufacture — no registration needed.
Theft risk
A general indicator from UK 2025 theft data and this car’s characteristics — not a prediction for any one vehicle.
Whole-car theft
Higher
Higher-value cars like this are relay-theft targets — keyless entry can be exploited from the driveway in under a minute.
Parts theft
Higher
Hybrid versions are a catalytic-converter target — a hybrid cat is rich in precious metals and can be cut out in about a minute.
Worth doing
- Keep keys in a Faraday pouch and away from the front door to block relay attacks.
- A catalytic-converter guard or forensic marking makes a hybrid far less appealing to cut.
- A visible steering lock is a cheap, strong deterrent on a frequently-targeted car.
Clean-air zones
Whether driving a Audi S8 into a UK clean-air zone will cost you anything. Rules use the same Euro standard across most zones — petrol from 2006 and diesel from 2015 onwards are exempt; pure electric is always exempt.
Charging zones for cars
| City | Area | Daily charge | Likely outcome |
|---|---|---|---|
| London | All of Greater London (within the M25) | £12.50 | Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4. |
| Birmingham | Inside the A4540 Middleway | £8.00 | Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4. |
| Bristol | City centre and part of the Portway | £9.00 | Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4. |
| Glasgow | City centre | — | Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4. |
| Edinburgh | City centre | — | Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4. |
| Aberdeen | City centre | — | Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4. |
| Dundee | City centre | — | Likely exempt Hybrid petrol engines from 2006 meet Euro 4. |
Zones that don't charge private cars
- Bath — City centre (Private cars and motorbikes are not charged).
- Bradford — Outer ring road and the Aire Valley (Private cars are not charged).
- Sheffield — Inside the A61 inner ring road (Private cars are not charged).
- Newcastle & Gateshead — City centres and the Tyne, Swing, High Level and Redheugh bridges (Private cars are not charged).
- Portsmouth — Part of the city centre (Applies to taxis, PHVs, buses, coaches and HGVs only).
Model-level guidance only. To check a specific registration, use the official gov.uk clean-air zone checker. Zone charges and boundaries are set by local councils and change over time.
Company car tax
What HMRC's Benefit-in-Kind charge looks like if you ran this Audi S8 as a company car, by tax year and income-tax band. Calculated from a CO₂ of 261 g/km, using £120,000 as the P11D value.
| Tax year | BIK % | Tax @ 20% | Tax @ 40% | Monthly @ 20% | Monthly @ 40% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 37% | £8,880 | £17,760 | £740 | £1,480 |
| 2026-27 | 37% | £8,880 | £17,760 | £740 | £1,480 |
| 2027-28 | 38% | £9,120 | £18,240 | £760 | £1,520 |
| 2028-29 | 39% | £9,360 | £18,720 | £780 | £1,560 |
| 2029-30 | 39% | £9,360 | £18,720 | £780 | £1,560 |
P11D value is approximated from the latest new price; the exact figure on your tax code will depend on options fitted. The 4% diesel surcharge applies only to non-RDE2 (pre-2021) diesels — we assume RDE2 compliance for current models. Bands and rates from HMRC's Autumn Budget 2024 confirmation through 2029/30.
Servicing & the dealer network
How well-supported Audi is across the UK — a practical read on how easy servicing, parts and warranty work will be to find.
Franchised UK dealers
~115
Large network
Premium mainstream
Network size relative to the UK's largest (Audi is 2.6% of all franchised outlets)
Servicing, parts and warranty work are easy to find UK-wide, and most independent garages know the brand well — which keeps maintenance competitive.
For context, the UK has roughly 4,500 franchised car-dealer outlets in total, plus about 15,500 independent garages.
Approximate figures, curated from public UK industry sources (NFDA, Car Dealer Magazine). Franchised networks shrink year on year — these indicate network size, not an exact count.
Dimensions & weight
These are segment estimates, not manufacturer figures. 296 of 325 catalogued cars share one of 14 identical dimension sets, so they describe a class rather than this particular car. Sourced figures replace them model by model.
Length
4,700 mm
Width
1,840 mm
Height
1,450 mm
Kerb weight
1,550 kg
Boot
460–480 L
Fuel tank
48 L
How many are still out there
How the UK Audi S8 fleet splits: taxed and on the road, parked off the road on a SORN, and gone from the register where that figure is available.
Total ever registered
1,389
Currently taxed & on road
954
69% of all registered
SORN (off road)
417
30% of all registered
Scrapped or exported
18
UK fleet trend — 2014 to 2025
-1.8% vs 2024Source: DfT VEH0124 vehicle licensing statistics (year-end 2025) · Updated 1 Oct 2026
Similar cars
Other saloon models worth looking at
Common questions
Audi S8, answered from the data
- How much does a used Audi S8 cost?
- A 2023 Audi S8 with around 28,704 miles is worth roughly £64,300 today (typical range £54,200–£74,400). Dealer forecourt prices sit higher and part-exchange offers lower; newer or lower-mileage examples cost more.
- How quickly does the Audi S8 depreciate?
- A new Audi S8 typically loses about 35% of its value over the first three years, then depreciates more slowly. Buying at three to five years old avoids the steepest part of the curve.
- What insurance group is the Audi S8?
- The Audi S8 sits in insurance group 50 of 50 — the more expensive end of the scale. Exact premiums depend on the trim (some versions sit a few groups higher or lower), your age, postcode and no-claims history.
- What goes wrong on a used Audi S8?
- The parts most often recorded at MOT on the Audi S8 are: tyres & wheels (typically around under 30k miles, £80-£500 to put right); brakes (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£500 to put right); suspension (typically around over 100k miles, £150-£450 to put right). A full service history and a recent MOT with no advisories are the best protection.
- What does the Audi S8 cost to run?
- Expect around 27 mpg combined on the S8 4.0 V8 TFSI 571 quattro, £200 a year in road tax, about £290 for a standard annual service. The full cost-of-ownership table above breaks this down per year and per mile for the exact year and mileage you choose.
- Is the Audi S8 ULEZ compliant?
- Whether a Audi S8 is ULEZ compliant depends on its engine and registration date: petrol from 2006 and diesel from September 2015 generally qualify, and electric versions are always exempt.
- How many Audi S8s are on UK roads?
- About 954 Audi S8s are currently taxed and on the road in the UK, from DfT vehicle-licensing data.
Answers are generated from this car's Forecourt data — DVSA MOT records, DfT licensing statistics and our valuation model — and update with the weekly data refresh.