Similarly, some dealer groups have relaxed their policies on retaining over-age stock to ensure they have enough vehicles on the forecourts.

Dealers will still have to keep track of which are hanging around longer than is ideal, though those with more than one site will adopt the traditional tactic of moving them between locations. “Ultimately, used values remain strong and dealers are adapting their stock policies to make the most of the continued retail demand in the marketplace,” said Wiseman.

The obvious fear is a dealer may sell a car that has been on the forecourt too long, for minimal profit, yet not be able to fill the gap with a suitable replacement. The alternative is to keep it past its ‘best before’ date in the hope of eventually getting a higher price.

“Dealers are managing stock very proactively and the problem of over-age stock has not surfaced so far this year,” said Rushmore. “Most dealers are not fearful of not being able to fill empty spaces. However, if this point is going to be reached this year, it will surface in early/mid-September.”

Caney said ultimately it was still about getting the basics right. “The good operators will always keep to a rigid used car stock policy, and in the event of any ageing cars, the shortage in the market should dictate good values for the right cars. If they’re prepped correctly from the outset, they will always find a home.”

 Market data and technology can often provide the necessary solution, or at least point retailers in the right direction. “Web-based tools such as Deltapoint’s i-Control can help because it allows a dealer to assess demand, the competition and determine where to set an optimal retail price to attract enquiries,” said Thwaites. “It can enable a dealer to refine the used car strategy quickly and help decide whether to buy or to pass.”