Britain’s second-hand vehicle sector recorded its strongest April-to-June period in four years, with transactions climbing to just under two million units.
The 1.7 per cent increase brought total sales to 1,996,116 vehicles during the second quarter, new figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders reveal.
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Britain’s used car market has flourished in recent months
The sector now sits just one per cent below its pre-pandemic performance levels, signalling a near-complete recovery from the disruption caused by Covid-19.
Electric cars emerged as the standout performers in the pre-owned market, with battery-powered models recording a 40 per cent surge to 68,721 units sold.
Hybrid vehicles also demonstrated significant momentum, with sales jumping 27.7 per cent to reach 100,127 units during the quarter.
Plug-in hybrids posted more modest gains, rising 10.3 per cent to 24,370 units sold. Combined, electrified vehicles accounted for nearly one in 10 pre-owned purchases during the period.
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Used electric vehicle sales increased by 40 per cent
The proportion of electric and hybrid models in the second-hand market climbed to 9.7 per cent, reflecting growing consumer acceptance of alternatively fuelled vehicles.
This shift reduced the combined market share of traditional petrol and diesel cars by over two percentage points, though they still dominated with 90.1 per cent of all transactions.
Dan Caesar, chief executive of Electric Vehicles UK, called the 40 per cent quarterly growth “enormously encouraging”, suggesting “the savviest buyers are clearly seeing the opportunity to make the switch to more affordable running costs”.
Petrol-powered vehicles maintained their position as the most popular choice, with 1,134,387 units sold – a 1.5 per cent increase. Diesel vehicles experienced a 4.3 per cent decline, falling to 664,644 transactions.
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Compact vehicles continued to dominate buyer preferences, with superminis capturing 31.8 per cent of the market through 635,126 sales. Lower medium cars held the second-largest share at 26.7 per cent, with 533,860 units changing hands.
Dual-purpose vehicles saw notable growth of 6.7 per cent, reaching 331,924 transactions. Sports cars suffered the sharpest decline, dropping 4.1 per cent to 58,759 units.
Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, stated that exceeding “the four million half-year milestone for the first time since 2019 shows the UK’s used car market is building back momentum”.
He emphasised benefits for consumers through “more choice and affordability across a range of higher tech, cleaner vehicles, notably in the emerging electric vehicle sector”.
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Used petrol and diesel cars continue to dominate sales
Hawes stressed that sustaining progress requires “a thriving new car market” alongside “accelerated investment into the charging network to give every driver the ability to switch”.
James Buxton, car360 CCO, said of the data: “It’s unsurprising to see continued growth in the used EV market – a clear signal that customers are comfortable buying second-hand electric.
“We need a thriving used market to ensure affordability, and the recent data proves that the UK public has the confidence to make the switch.
“Even when adjusting for the rise in vehicle availability, enquiries per car are up 25 per cent, underlining a genuine and growing appetite for used electric vehicles.”
