Volkswagen Beetle
As one of history's longest-produced cars, the Volkswagen Beetle is a cultural icon known for its simple, reliable rear-engine design. It's an accessible classic with huge parts availability, where early split- and oval-window examples are the most prized by collectors.
Volkswagen Beetle sold for a median of $12,054 over the last 12 months, based on 468 auction sales; the middle 50% sold between $7,902 and $20,000. 18,039 currently for sale.
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Seen across 16 sites in the last 30 days.
Volkswagen Beetle prices by version
| Version | Median sale | Middle 50% | Auction sales |
|---|---|---|---|
| Beetle (1958-1979) | $12k | $7.9k–$19k | 233 |
| Super Beetle | $12k | $9k–$17k | 107 |
| New Beetle | $4.9k | $1.4k–$11k | 49 |
| Beetle (Oval Window) | $25k | $20k–$32k | 25 |
| A5 Beetle | $19k | $9.5k–$27k | 24 |
| Beetle (1980-2003) | $11k | $8.1k–$15k | 10 |
| Beetle (Split Window) | $62k | $46k–$72k | 9 |
Auction sales in the last 12 months; prices leave out salvage and other branded titles.
Volkswagen Beetle prices by year
| Year | Median (3 yrs) | Middle 50% | Auction sales (3 yrs) | For sale now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | – | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1943 | – | – | 0 | 1 |
| 1947 | $82k | – | 1 | 0 |
| 1949 | $46k | – | 1 | 2 |
| 1950 | $53k | $28k–$73k | 4 | 3 |
| 1951 | $41k | $36k–$48k | 5 | 2 |
| 1952 | $56k | $43k–$64k | 10 | 14 |
| 1953 | $34k | $31k–$50k | 5 | 7 |
| 1954 | $25k | $24k–$30k | 8 | 16 |
| 1955 | $28k | $20k–$44k | 15 | 29 |
| 1956 | $23k | $18k–$34k | 24 | 60 |
| 1957 | $29k | $20k–$37k | 27 | 77 |
| 1958 | $14k | $10k–$23k | 11 | 47 |
| 1959 | $16k | $12k–$21k | 18 | 68 |
| 1960 | $19k | $15k–$26k | 25 | 80 |
| 1961 | $20k | $14k–$24k | 25 | 88 |
| 1962 | $23k | $15k–$26k | 29 | 116 |
| 1963 | $17k | $11k–$26k | 31 | 195 |
| 1964 | $16k | $12k–$24k | 48 | 177 |
| 1965 | $13k | $9.4k–$20k | 42 | 296 |
| 1966 | $13k | $10k–$19k | 72 | 315 |
| 1967 | $18k | $13k–$23k | 88 | 375 |
| 1968 | $10k | $7.8k–$17k | 65 | 422 |
| 1969 | $13k | $8.3k–$19k | 67 | 539 |
| 1970 | $11k | $8.2k–$15k | 61 | 470 |
| 1971 | $11k | $8.4k–$14k | 70 | 598 |
| 1972 | $9.9k | $7.2k–$14k | 67 | 551 |
| 1973 | $11k | $6.5k–$14k | 66 | 692 |
| 1974 | $11k | $7.2k–$15k | 57 | 799 |
| 1975 | $12k | $8.2k–$21k | 18 | 118 |
| 1976 | $10k | $6.5k–$14k | 17 | 115 |
| 1977 | $13k | $11k–$21k | 26 | 111 |
| 1978 | $14k | $11k–$19k | 47 | 183 |
| 1979 | $16k | $11k–$27k | 97 | 242 |
| 1980 | $10k | – | 2 | 8 |
| 1981 | $15k | – | 1 | 3 |
| 1982 | $22k | – | 2 | 7 |
| 1983 | $12k | – | 1 | 11 |
| 1984 | – | – | 0 | 7 |
| 1985 | $6.1k | $5.8k–$6.7k | 5 | 4 |
| 1986 | $19k | – | 3 | 5 |
| 1987 | – | – | 0 | 8 |
| 1988 | – | – | 0 | 2 |
| 1989 | $8.6k | – | 1 | 4 |
| 1990 | – | – | 0 | 9 |
| 1991 | – | – | 0 | 9 |
| 1992 | – | – | 0 | 13 |
| 1993 | – | – | 0 | 3 |
| 1994 | $19k | – | 1 | 13 |
| 1995 | $7.2k | – | 1 | 10 |
| 1996 | $32k | – | 2 | 2 |
| 1997 | $11k | $8k–$17k | 4 | 4 |
| 1998 | $8.7k | $7k–$9k | 5 | 108 |
| 1999 | $930 | $608–$4.2k | 4 | 184 |
| 2000 | $3.2k | $1.6k–$13k | 8 | 311 |
| 2001 | $57k | $1.3k–$66k | 7 | 397 |
| 2002 | $6.1k | $3k–$9.3k | 7 | 325 |
| 2003 | $5.6k | $4k–$12k | 17 | 536 |
| 2004 | $3.8k | $2.1k–$8.6k | 10 | 501 |
| 2005 | $5.3k | $2.8k–$7k | 6 | 457 |
| 2006 | $3.1k | $1.2k–$5.5k | 8 | 676 |
| 2007 | $9.1k | $8.7k–$9.9k | 4 | 523 |
| 2008 | $12k | $7.2k–$15k | 10 | 667 |
| 2009 | $5.4k | $1.2k–$14k | 6 | 446 |
| 2010 | $15k | $13k–$24k | 13 | 374 |
| 2011 | – | – | 0 | 13 |
| 2012 | $12k | $11k–$12k | 7 | 931 |
| 2013 | $12k | $7.1k–$16k | 14 | 1,265 |
| 2014 | $16k | $9.5k–$22k | 11 | 806 |
| 2015 | $11k | – | 2 | 614 |
| 2016 | $23k | $16k–$26k | 7 | 393 |
| 2017 | $26k | – | 2 | 412 |
| 2018 | $19k | – | 3 | 489 |
| 2019 | $36k | $33k–$40k | 14 | 393 |
Auction sales in the last 3 years; prices leave out salvage and other branded titles.
Listings
Volkswagen Beetle Submodels
The Volkswagen Beetle is one of the most recognizable and longest-produced cars in history, with over 21 million built from 1938 to 2003. Its simple, air-cooled, rear-engine design was reliable and easy to maintain, making it a global success. The Beetle's cultural impact is immense, cementing its place as an icon of the 20th century.
Collectors appreciate the Beetle for its straightforward mechanics, huge parts availability, and cheerful character. Early split-window (pre-1953) and oval-window (1953-1957) models are the most sought-after by purists and command the highest prices. The 1960s models represent the classic Beetle look for many, while Super Beetles from the 1970s offer improved practicality with more trunk space and better suspension.
The market for the classic air-cooled Beetle is incredibly diverse. While project cars are still very affordable, the average price of over $17,000 shows a strong demand for well-kept driver-quality examples. The market's high transaction volume proves the Beetle's enduring popularity and accessibility for collectors at nearly every budget level.
Buying Tips
- Rust is the primary concern. Thoroughly inspect the floor pans, heater channels under the doors, the spare tire well, and the area under the battery.
- Check for engine crankshaft end play by pulling and pushing on the main pulley. More than a millimeter of movement suggests a worn engine needing a rebuild.
- Many Beetles are modified. Determine if you want a factory-original car or a custom build, as originality significantly impacts value, especially for pre-1968 models.
- Be aware of one-year-only parts on certain models, like the 1967 Beetle, which can be harder to source. Super Beetles (1971-1979) use a MacPherson strut front end, which is different and more complex than the standard torsion beam setup.
Prices for the Volkswagen Beetle range from under $300 for project cars to $99,000 for rare and perfectly restored examples.
28,369 Volkswagen Beetle vehicles have been tracked across auctions and listings on Hypercars, with 18039 currently live.
Data sourced from Bring a Trailer, Cars & Bids, eBay Motors, PCarMarket, and Collecting Cars. Updated daily.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a Volkswagen Beetle cost?
Over the last 12 months, Volkswagen Beetle sold for a median of $12,054 across 468 auction sales tracked on Hypercars; the middle 50% sold between $7,902 and $20,000. There are 18,039 currently for sale.
How many Volkswagen Beetle listings are for sale right now?
There are 18,039 Volkswagen Beetle listings currently live across auctions, dealers, and marketplaces tracked by Hypercars.