Motorists buying into an automatic gearbox need not gear up for a loss when their vehicle is sold, according to remarketing specialist Autorola UK.

Data gathered by the online remarketing operator said that, while an automatic gearbox will cost an average of £3,354 more than its manual equivalent, 2015 used prices showed an automatic gearbox option should not depreciate.

Automatic cars accounted for 20% of all sales through Autorola’s online portal last year, with an average price of £11,674, while manual cars averaged £8,320, meaning that the price differential of around £3,000 had been retained.

Jon Mitchell, Autorola UK’s sales director, said: “Demand for automatics was consistently high throughout 2015 and supply relatively low compared with manuals which is why prices have been so strong.

“On average an automatic is in stock three fewer days on the Autorola online sales platform than a manual which reinforces their current popularity in the trade and ultimately with motorists.”

The average age of all used cars sold in 2015 was 33 months and 22,000 miles, while one in five cars sold through Autorola’s online portal in 2015 was an automatic.