New Delhi: Showrooms across India are glittering with December deals. Maruti Suzuki’s Grand Vitara offers Rs. 2.4 lakh discount. Honda Elevate dangles Rs. 1.76 lakh off. The message is unmistakable: buy now, save big. But here’s what dealerships don’t advertise that discount might evaporate the moment you try to resell.

A car purchased in December 2025 carries one invisible liability: its registration year. When you sell it five years later, buyers see “2025 model” and immediately devalue it. Industry data shows cars lose 5-10% in resale value simply for being registered in the previous calendar year, with SUVs facing penalties up to 15%.

Let’s do the math. You buy an SUV for Rs. 15 lakh and grab a December discount of Rs. 1.5 lakh, paying Rs. 13.5 lakh. Smart savings, right? Fast forward six years. That Rs. 15 lakh car has depreciated to roughly Rs.........

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