The Index over time · since 2026-07
Which way is depreciation moving?
Every month Forecourt snapshots the full Depreciation Index — median three-year value retention across 332 UK models. As of 2026-07, the typical car keeps 63% of its value over three years — and the median petrol car keeps 14 percentage points more than the median electric one. Each first Monday adds a point, building a retention record no one else keeps.
Median three-year retention, month by month
This series began in 2026-07 — the chart grows a point each month as the Index is re-snapshotted. Come back to watch the lines move.
Latest reading — 2026-07
| Fuel | Models | Median kept · 3yr |
|---|---|---|
| diesel | 54 | 55% |
| electric | 66 | 50% |
| hybrid | 164 | 63% |
| petrol | 48 | 64% |
Retention is each model's share of value kept at three years, from the same per-model curves and list prices behind every profile; new models priced only from launch list are excluded. Free to cite with attribution.