08 April 2026

Supercar Depreciation: Why Owning Became a Bad Financial Decision in 2026

There is a persistent belief in the world of premium motoring that a brand-new Ferrari, Porsche or Lamborghini is an ‘investment’. ‘We’ll revisit the discussion in three years’ time,’ they say. The market remains strong, supply is scarce, and enthusiasm shows no sign of waning.

The figures tell a different story.

I have compiled the depreciation data published by Hagerty, one of the world’s leading authorities on the valuation of sports and classic cars, as well as the 2025 market indices available on the main specialist platforms. The conclusion is clear: barring very specific cases involving ultra-limited-run models, owning a modern supercar is currently one of the worst financial decisions available on the luxury market.

Here’s why, backed up by the figures.

The myth of the ‘car that increases in value’

Let’s start with a statistical fact that surprises most enthusiasts. According to data published by Hagerty on the European and American markets, modern supercars lose on average 6 per cent of their value after one year, and around 20 per cent after three years. That’s the average. Not the worst-case scenario. Not the exception. The average.

And this figure masks huge differences between brands:

Brand (average)	Discount over 3 years
Ferrari	~15%
Lamborghini	~16-18%
Audi R8	~16%
Aston Martin	20-25%
McLaren	20-25%
Porsche (standard models)	~25%
Porsche 911 GT2 RS	~30%
Mercedes-AMG GT	~20%

Sources: Hagerty Insight, October 2025; The Money Calculator (3-year database); Octoclassic analyses, 2025.

A few observations that are worth considering.

Firstly, Italian cars (Ferrari, Lamborghini) retain their value better than British cars (Aston Martin, McLaren) and German cars (Porsche, Mercedes). This is a market reality, linked to relative scarcity and brand culture.

Secondly: even Ferrari, renowned for retaining its value, loses on average 15 per cent over three years. For a 296 GTB costing CHF 320,000, this represents a net loss of CHF 48,000 over three years, excluding costs.

Thirdly: some models that received a great deal of media attention upon their launch lose up to 30 per cent of their value over three years. A notable example is the Porsche 911 GT2 RS, whose depreciation was exacerbated by buyers who had paid above the list price.

Owning a supercar is never a rational decision from a financial perspective. It is an emotional decision that you then fund with capital that simply vanishes.

The actual figures: Ferrari SF90 Stradale over 3 years

Owning a supercar is never a rational decision from a financial perspective. It is an emotional decision that you then fund with capital that simply vanishes.

Here is what it really costs a Swiss executive to own a car over three years:

Estimated depreciation (15–18 per cent for a modern Ferrari): CHF 75,000 to CHF 85,000

This is the net loss in value between purchase and a hypothetical resale after three years, under favourable conditions (low mileage, immaculate condition, stable market). A greater loss is plausible if the market turns or if the car is used as an everyday runabout.

Comprehensive insurance (Swiss supercar segment): CHF 8,000 to 15,000 per year, or CHF 24,000 to 45,000 over three years

For a vehicle in this category, insurance is one of the most underestimated costs at the time of purchase.

Official Ferrari servicing (servicing, tyres, brakes): 4,000 to 8,000 CHF per year, or 12,000 to 24,000 CHF over 3 years

Supercars require frequent and costly maintenance. Tyres alone can cost between 4,000 and 6,000 CHF per set, and need to be replaced every 8,000 to 15,000 km, depending on usage.

Opportunity cost of tied-up capital: CHF 480,000 invested at 4 per cent over 3 years, representing CHF 57,600 in lost income

This factor is rarely taken into account in calculations, but it should be. The money invested in the car is money that is not being put to work elsewhere.

Vignette, cantonal taxes, administrative fees: ~2,000 CHF over 3 years

Actual total cost of ownership over 3 years: between CHF 170,000 and CHF 210,000

That works out at around 5,000 to 6,000 CHF per month in equivalent costs, for a car that will most likely be off the road for the majority of the time.

Comparison with a Nuvero subscription

An SF90 Stradale on a Nuvero subscription plan comes with an all-inclusive monthly cost within a comparable range, without any of the hidden costs mentioned above: no depreciation to factor in, no insurance to manage, no maintenance to plan for, and no capital tied up.

Over three years, the calculation works out as follows:

Ownership: total cost of CHF 170,000 to 210,000; initial capital required; risks borne by the owner
Subscription: the same or a similar amount, but with no capital tied up, no risk of a price reduction, and the freedom to change vehicles at any time

For the same cost, one is inflexible and bears all the risks. The other is flexible and bears none.

For a sum of CHF 480,000 that remains invested elsewhere rather than being tied up in a car, the difference over three years amounts to a net gain of around CHF 60,000 for the owner, simply by not buying the car. This is the opportunity cost that nobody mentions at car dealerships.

The exceptions: cars that increase in value

Let’s be honest: some cars hold their value or even increase in value. But these are very specific cases that you need to be able to spot.

Models that fall into one of these categories may well be a sound investment:

Strictly limited series: Ferrari LaFerrari Aperta, ‘one-off’ models, McLaren Senna. Production limited to fewer than 1,000 units; access restricted to the brand’s established customers.
‘Hardcore’ variants with controlled production: Ferrari 488 Pista (up by around 6 per cent year-on-year following its launch), Porsche 911 GT3 (depending on the generation and the state of the speculative market).
Models that are now impossible to find: the Ferrari F12berlinetta (approximately 3 per cent depreciation over three years), and the Lamborghini Aventador, which is coming to the end of its production run.

But these cars all share the same problem for 95 per cent of buyers: you cannot buy them at the list price. Either you have been a loyal customer of a particular make for 10 years, or you pay the market premium – in which case, the return on investment plummets.

For the average executive or entrepreneur who wants to “invest in a supercar”, the likelihood of coming across one of these models at a fair price is statistically very low.

The pitfalls of premium leasing

Many people think they can get round the issue of depreciation by opting for a lease. This is partly true, but it’s worth doing the maths properly.

A 36-month premium lease with an annual mileage of 10,000 km for an SF90 Stradale in Switzerland involves:

An initial deposit of 15 to 25 per cent of the purchase price, amounting to between 72,000 and 120,000 CHF, is required at the outset
A monthly repayment of between 6,500 and 9,000 CHF, depending on the terms and interest rate
A firm 36-month commitment, with no real possibility of early termination
An option to purchase at the end of the contract at a pre-defined residual value (which may be higher than the actual market value three years later)
The obligation to insure, maintain and return the car in good condition, failing which penalties will apply upon return

Leasing transfers part of the depreciation risk to the provider, but at a high cost and with almost total inflexibility. It is better than buying in most cases. It is not flexible.

Why 2026 is precisely the right time

Three factors will come together in 2026 to make home ownership even less rational than before.

High interest rates. The opportunity cost of capital tied up in a car has never been so apparent. In 2020, investing CHF 400,000 yielded a return of 0.5 per cent. Today, the same amount invested in secure products yields a return of 3 to 4 per cent. The car, meanwhile, continues to depreciate.

The supercar market is undergoing a correction. Several segments are showing signs of stabilisation, or even a decline. The Porsche market, in particular, has seen models such as the Taycan lose up to 47 per cent of their value over two years (Octoclassic study, January 2025). The Ferrari market experienced a correction in early 2024 before stabilising. The era of automatic appreciation is over.

The rise of luxury subscriptions. Five years ago, there was no alternative to ownership in the supercar segment. Today, such an alternative exists and is designed specifically for those who want the experience without the financial burden.

What this really means

I’m not saying we should give up on exceptional cars. Quite the opposite: we should enjoy them to the full.

But in 2026, owning a supercar is no longer a financially neutral decision. It is a decision that costs, on average, between 50,000 and 80,000 CHF in pure financial loss over three years, not including ancillary costs. For many, this sum represents a full year’s subscription to several exceptional cars.

The real question is no longer ‘Ferrari or Lamborghini’; it’s ‘own or use’.

For those wishing to invest in cars as an asset class, the classic car market (Hagerty Price Index) remains a viable option: historic Ferraris, iconic models, and ultra-limited editions. However, this requires expertise, a network, time, and an investment horizon of more than ten years.

For all other business leaders, entrepreneurs and senior executives who want to drive a supercar without the financial burden, ownership will have lost its meaning by 2026.

Luxury car subscriptions are not just a fad. They are the rational response to an economic equation that has shifted.