Supercar Depreciation: Which Used Exotics Hold Their Value, and Where the Bargains Are

On most supercars, depreciation is the biggest cost of ownership, bigger than servicing, tires or insurance. It also works in the used buyer's favor: every dollar the first owner lost is a dollar you don't pay. This guide looks at what the data actually says about how fast exotics lose value, which brands and models hold up best, and how to use that to buy smarter.

One warning before the numbers. Depreciation figures for low-volume cars come from models built on asking prices, insurance valuations and auction results, and different sources often disagree. We give each figure with its source and date. Treat them as ranges and trends, not as a price for the car in front of you.

How fast supercars lose value

Every source we checked agrees on the shape of the curve: the biggest drop comes in the first few years, then it flattens.

Hagerty's 2021 study of modern European sports cars and supercars found they typically lost about 6% after one year and about 20% after three years.
iSeeCars' 2026 study, published in March 2026 and based on more than 950,000 five-year-old used cars sold between March 2025 and February 2026, put average five-year depreciation across all vehicles at 41.8%. Most supercars beat that average, but not all of them by much.
CarEdge, whose depreciation calculator models resale values by age and mileage, suggests that buyers look at cars two to four years old to find the sweet spot, because brand-new cars lose value fastest. Exotics Hunter, an exotic car dealer, makes the same point and names three to five years old as its preferred buying window.

The practical takeaway: a two-to-five-year-old car has usually taken its steepest hit, while still being recent enough to be desirable when you sell it.

The brands that hold value best, and worst

Porsche 911: the benchmark

The 911 is the clearest value-retention story in this market.

In iSeeCars' 2026 study, the 911 lost an average of 11.1% of its value over five years, second only to the Porsche 718 Cayman at 9.6%, out of every model in the study, not just sports cars.
CarEdge's model estimates that a 911 loses roughly 15% over five years.
Finluxy, reporting iSeeCars' previous (2025) study, noted the 911 ranked first for retained value that year too, at 19.5% five-year depreciation.

The exact number moves from year to year and from trim to trim, but every source we checked puts the 911 at or near the top. One nuance: Hagerty's 2021 study found the Italian brands generally lost less over three years than the German ones, so "Porsche holds value" is truest for the 911 itself, not for every Porsche or every German supercar.

Ferrari and Lamborghini: better than average

Hagerty's 2021 study found Ferrari and Lamborghini tended to depreciate less in their first three years than their German and British rivals. In mid-2025, the collector-car site Octoclassic said Ferraris still held "the upper hand" over McLarens on value. Automonitor's 2026 analysis likewise found Ferrari and Lamborghini prices holding up better than McLaren's.

That isn't a promise for every model, and the condition of the individual car still dominates. For model-specific detail, see our Huracán and 458 Italia buying guides.

McLaren: the steepest curve, and the biggest discounts

Almost every source we checked singles out McLaren as the fastest-depreciating major supercar brand.

Hagerty's 2021 study found Aston Martin and McLaren lost between a fifth and a quarter of their value in three years. Goodwood's write-up of Hagerty's data put the 720S at about 23% over three years.
Octoclassic's June 2025 analysis described McLarens as "infamous" for steep depreciation after the 2022 market peak.
Automonitor's 2026 analysis called McLaren the worst-depreciating of the major exotic brands.

The reasons the sources give overlap: a reputation for reliability problems, expensive maintenance, a fast pace of new models that makes older ones look dated, and, in the past, more cars built than buyers wanted.

There are signs the fall is slowing. Octoclassic found McLarens other than the Artura lost an average of 3.4% between March 2023 and March 2024, down from 7.4% the year before, and reported 570S Spider values holding roughly flat. Newer models were still falling fast in that data: the Artura was down about 21% and the GT about 9% over the same year. Those figures are from one source and are now more than two years old, so treat recent McLaren trends as unsettled.

For a used buyer, that steep curve is the opportunity. A McLaren can deliver a lot of performance for the money. Just budget for the reasons it's cheap: get a specialist pre-purchase inspection, and price in warranty cover and maintenance before you commit.

The hype trap: cars bought over sticker

The cars that lose value fastest aren't always the "ordinary" ones. Limited-run and halo cars that sell above sticker can fall hard once the queue clears.

Hagerty's 2021 study found the Porsche 911 GT2 RS lost an average of 12% in its first year and about 30% by year three, likely because early buyers paid over list price and then sold. The Ferrari 488 Pista, by contrast, was down only about 7%.
In 2023, Hagerty tracked 991-generation 911 GT2 and GT3 values that had traded 30% to 40% over sticker in early 2019, dropped to the teens by mid-2020, climbed back above 40% in summer 2022, and then started depreciating again in 2023.
Exotics Hunter makes the same general point: a new limited-edition car bought with a big markup can lose a lot quickly as the market corrects.

The lesson for used buyers: when a car is selling above its original sticker, you're paying a market premium, not a fixed value. Premiums can shrink. Check recent auction results and the car's original window sticker, and don't assume today's premium will be there when you sell.

What else moves the price of one specific car

Brand and model set the broad curve. Within any model, the individual car's details can matter just as much. The points the sources agree on:

Service records. Full, documented service history consistently commands more money. Missing records are one of the quickest ways to lose value.
Originality. Factory specification tends to hold value better than heavy modifications. Hagerty's analysis of one major Porsche collection's auction sales found that factory options explained about 78% of the premiums those cars achieved.
Accident history. Even a properly repaired accident usually costs value when it comes to light, which is another reason to inspect.
Successor models. Exotics Hunter, Finluxy and Brego all note that a new model can push down prices for the one it replaces. Knowing a brand's product plans helps you time a purchase or a sale.

How to use depreciation when you buy

Let someone else take the first hit. The data points to a two-to-five-year-old car as the usual sweet spot.
Decide whether you're buying to drive or to hold. If you'll put real miles on it, a steeply depreciated car (often a McLaren or a high-production model) gives you the most car for the money. If resale value matters most, the 911 and the better-supported Ferraris have the strongest records.
Be wary of paying over sticker. Premiums on hyped cars have shrunk before.
Price the total cost, not just the purchase price. A cheap supercar with a deferred major service or missing records isn't cheap. See the real cost of owning a used supercar.
Use the numbers to negotiate. Recent sales of comparable cars, plus the inspection report, are your strongest leverage.

The bottom line

Supercars depreciate, but not evenly. The Porsche 911 has the strongest record, Ferrari and Lamborghini generally do better than average, and McLaren has historically fallen the hardest, which makes it the deepest discount on the used market. Whatever you buy, the condition and history of that specific car will matter more than any average.

Sources

Disclaimer: This article is general information, not financial, legal or mechanical advice. Prices, recalls and known issues change and vary by car, region and shop, and the figures here are ranges from the sources listed. Always confirm details for the specific vehicle and get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a qualified specialist.