DON’T HEAD for your local car auction in the next few weeks to think that you can grab a bargain.

Average values for 4x4s reached record levels at British Car Auctions (BCA) in January, according to the company’s latest report.

A bit of snow and ice seemes to have gee’d up the market for 4 x 4s and values averaged £12,918 in January, 2010 – the highest average price recorded at BCA and a rise of £647 (5.2%) against December’s figures. Prices had been rising throughout the winter months, with records previously set in October (£12,186) and December (£12,271). Values have nearly doubled over the past 18 months (see table).

BCA’s figures show that average values for used 4x4 vehicles generally climb as the weather worsens – values increased significantly in March, 2009, for example, following the heavy snowfall in February. Over that month, BCA saw average values rise by £2388, equivalent to a 27% rise, month-on-month.

Values reached a low point in July, 2008, when several months of high fuel costs, combined with the stuttering economy and uncertainty over proposed Vehicle Excise Duty and the so-called ‘Showroom Tax’ saw values fall by over £2000 to average £6723.