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When it comes to buying a replacement vehicle many people are aware of the big savings that are available when you get one a few months old compared to buying brand new. However there are also savings to be made if you are looking for something a little older - and if you get it at the right time these can be significant.

Now experts have identified the "sweet spot" for buying used cars, with prices for the same vehicle falling by up to 28% in a year. New data from AA Cars reveals many three and four-year-old models are now markedly cheaper than a year ago, meaning drivers looking for a newer used car could secure significant savings.

Across three-year-old models on the AA Cars website, the Peugeot 3008 tops the list, with average prices down 19.4% year-on-year. The Ford Kuga and Ford Ranger follow closely behind, each falling by nearly a fifth, 18.9% and 18.8% respectively.

Other notable reductions among three-year-olds include the Kia Niro, 15.2%, Hyundai Tucson, 14.9%, Volvo XC40, 14.7%, and Ford Focus, 14.4%. Among four-year-old models, the Toyota Prius stands out, with average prices falling from £15,685 at the start of 2025 to £11,280 by the end of the year - a substantial saving of 28.1%, or £4,405, Newspage reports.

James Hosking, Managing Director of AA Cars, said: "The used car market is offering some genuinely standout value, particularly among three-year-old models where returning finance and lease vehicles are boosting supply. Our latest data shows models such as the Peugeot 3008 are now nearly 20% cheaper year on year, giving buyers the chance to secure a newer used car at a much more accessible price point.

"Four-year-old vehicles are also seeing significant reductions. A Toyota Prius, for example, is now more than £4,000 cheaper than it was a year ago, while popular models including the Hyundai Tucson and Ford Ranger have recorded notable price drops, saving buyers thousands compared with this time last year.

"Pricing has become more competitive as stock levels improve and buyers have more choice, translating into stronger negotiating power than we have seen for some time. Crucially, these reductions are not limited to one corner of the market - we are seeing meaningful falls across family favourites, from practical SUVs and crossovers to well-known hatchbacks.

Rohit Parmar-Mistry, Founder at Burton-on-Trent-based Pattrn Data, described three to four-years-old as the 'sweet spot' for buying a newer used car.

He added: "Three and four years is the sweet spot where a car stops feeling 'nearly new' in the market, even if it still drives like one. That is why the drops on models like the 3008, Kuga and Ranger do not shock me, and the Prius figure is a good example of how fast sentiment can turn when a newer shape, spec or fuel economy story lands.

"Prices fall hard around this age for a few boring reasons: a big wave of lease and company cars hits the forecourts, the manufacturer warranty often expires, and buyers start pricing in tyres, brakes and the first bigger services. Add higher finance rates and you get more sellers chasing fewer buyers.

"Advice: ignore monthly price and look at total cost. Check service history, tyres and brakes, run an HPI check, and ask why it is being sold. If it is hybrid, ask for battery health and recall history."