September 14, 2026
Why Used 911s Cost More Than Sticker
Cars are supposed to depreciate. The 911 Carrera did not get the memo. Our market-trend research tracked original sticker price versus average used asking price for every 911 Carrera model year from 2020 to 2026, and every single one trades above what it cost new. A 2026 that stickered at $135,500 now averages $171,100 used. That is $35,600 over sticker for a used car.
The numbers
| Model year | Sticker when new | Avg used price today | Over sticker |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $97,400 | $113,200 | +$15,800 (+16%) |
| 2021 | $99,200 | $117,100 | +$17,900 (+18%) |
| 2022 | $101,200 | $123,500 | +$22,300 (+22%) |
| 2023 | $106,100 | $130,300 | +$24,200 (+23%) |
| 2024 | $114,400 | $129,600 | +$15,200 (+13%) |
| 2025 | $120,100 | $152,000 | +$31,900 (+27%) |
| 2026 | $135,500 | $171,100 | +$35,600 (+26%) |
Not one down year in the bunch. You can see the full chart on the 911 Carrera page, which plots sticker versus used price for every model year. A quick honesty note: these are researched asking prices from September 2026, not guaranteed transaction prices, but the pattern is way too consistent to be noise.
Why it happens
Three forces stack up. First, supply: Porsche builds fewer 911s than the market wants, and wait lists for new allocations push buyers into the used market. Second, the 992 generation is widely seen as a sweet spot, so demand concentrates on exactly these model years. Third, 911 buyers are unusually willing to pay for provenance and condition, which keeps clean examples bid up. The result is the lowest depreciation curve on our site. Our 5-year model puts the 911's true cost of ownership at $175,079 new, and a huge reason that number is not even higher is that the car simply refuses to lose value.
What it means for buyers
If you are shopping used 911s hoping for a depreciation discount, reset your expectations: you are paying a premium for the privilege, not getting a deal. The flip side is that buying new is less punishing than it looks, because so much of the purchase price comes back at resale. Run both scenarios through the calculator with your state selected and compare the 5-year totals before you decide. For most cars, used is the smart money. The 911 is the exception that proves the rule.
The bottom line
The 911 is the rare performance car that behaves like an asset instead of an expense. Every model year of the current generation trades above sticker, some by more than 25 percent. It does not make the car cheap, but it does make it the safest place in the enthusiast world to park six figures.
911 full breakdown What a performance car really costs
More from the blog
- The True 5-Year Cost of Owning a BMW M3
- What a Performance Car Really Costs, Explained Like a Friend
- BMW M3 vs Mercedes-AMG C63 S: Which Costs More to Actually Own?
Market figures are researched average asking prices from September 2026, not guaranteed transaction prices. Ownership figures are estimates based on national averages and our standard assumptions (10% down, 60-month loan at 7% APR, 12,000 miles/year).