Sought-after used car that could be worth thousands more than owners think

Experts has revealed a rundown of used whose value has risen of the last 12-mounths. As the cost-of-living squeeze prompts people to tighten belts and slash spending - there's been a scramble for - sending some model values sky-high.

John Rawlings, consumer editor at online vehicle retail platform Carwow, provided some vital information for those with motors gathering dust – they might just be goldmines on wheels. He said: "It's surprising to see how even just a small percentage of owners having a car that they don't drive can equate to such a high volume of vehicles across the UK simply sitting unused."

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Speculating on unused autos in household driveways, he suggests a valuation might reveal they're a tidy sum: "Perhaps you've got a second family car that's no longer needed or a teenager who's moved to university and left their first car behind.

"But if you've got a vehicle parked on your drive that's never used, consider getting it valued - it might be worth more than you think."

The Volvo XC40 tops Carwow's list as the crème de la crème for second-hand motor hunters, boasting models that purr on petrol, diesel, hybrid or electric, reports .

SUVs are one of the most sought after kinds of vehicle on the used car market, with the Nissan Juke, BMW X3 and Audi Q5 also featuring on Carwow's list.

However, smaller superminis and city cars remain popular due to their economical engines and low insurance prices, with the Hyundai i10, Kia Picanto and Peugeot 208 featuring in the top 10.

Top 10 most in-demand used cars (with estimated figure for unused examples):

Volvo XC40 - 2,332

Nissan Juke - 11,846

BMW X3 - 4,054

BMW X5 - 3,751

Hyundai i10 - 9,464

Audi Q5 - 4,254

Volkswagen Golf GTD - 45

Kia Picanto - 7,000

Peugeot 208 - 7,764

Vauxhall Corsa - 36,493

However, in order to get the best value for their car, John suggested that any vehicles that have been off the road for several months or years will need to be inspected and serviced.

He advised: "Remember that if your car has been sitting unused for a long period, you'll want to give it a good service to ensure it's running smoothly before you sell it.

"Rust can accumulate on brakes, and fluids may need changing. A good clean can also do wonders to prepare it for sale."