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Henstock warns that despite the strength of 2014 values, operators can't afford to become complacent with vehicles that are in below average condition.
"However, vendors should beware of expecting the best returns for vehicles in poor or below average condition. There is little to be gained by placing over-aspirational reserve valuations on cars if the market is not prepared to meet those expectations," he says.
"Sellers should consider adjusting valuations now on poorer-condition cars with a view to remarketing them before volumes begin to rise, and buyers have more choice from mid-March onward following the plate change."
Vans are in for a good year too, says Hopkins: "The market for used light commercial vehicles is anticipated to remain strong. This will be mainly fuelled by an increase in demand for used vans and a simultaneous lack of supply due to production levels halving throughout the recession."
Hopkins reckons used cars values could be in the clear until at least 2015 - barring something drastic happening, such as "tactical actions taken by manufacturers [that] considerably impact supply". He continues: "2013 did see a growth in new car sales, but we are unlikely to see any significant influence on the second-hand market until 2015/2016."
Henstock agrees that 2015 is the likely watershed for a shift in used values. That's when the increasing volume of new car sales is tipped to catch up with second-hand models, as the 'Volume of used cars' graph.
"While new car volumes have recovered well in 2013, it will be some time before we see those volumes reach the used car sector.
"As the chart shows, the availability of three-to-five-year old cars will continue to be depressed at least until 2015, when compared to the volumes available before the recession."
He adds: "The overall shortage of used product and the issues of supply versus demand will see a continuation of high conversions and higher selling prices in 2014, effectively meaning we are going to see more of what is best described as a 'sellers' market'."
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