Used car market returns to growth – SMMT
The UK’s used car market rose 0.7% to 2,009,318 sales in the second quarter of the year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.
Growth offset a marginal decline in the first quarter and means year-to-date sales are up 0.2% on the first half of 2025 with 4,025,550 transactions.
Electric cars dominated the market with sales rising by 67% to 110,761 units. Demand rose 111% and 58% in April and May respectively, coinciding with fuel price rises linked to the Middle East conflict. Hybrid electric vehicle sales also rose, up 31.2% to 130,825 units to increase their market share from five per cent to 6.5%, although plug-in hybrid transactions were down by 6.8% to 22,856 units.
Petrol remained the most popular fuel type despite a 1.2% fall in transactions to 1,121,243, while diesel sales fell 7.2% to 620,045.
Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “A return to growth is good news for motorists and the wider automotive sector, with sales of used EVs rising particularly strongly as more choice reaches more buyers.
“As the used market is where most people buy their cars, plentiful and affordable supply is vital, however, increasingly unrealistic targets in the new car market risk constraining that supply and pushing up costs. Urgent regulatory reform is needed to deliver a transition that works for every driver.”
