Electric vehicles drive uptick in used car prices
Average used car prices rose 0.8% to £17,194 in the first half of the year, according to the latest Auto Trader AI Retail Price Index.
Demand remains strong going into the second half of 2026 with transactions on the platform up one per cent in June and days to sale recorded at 30 days.
Meanwhile, electric vehicles performed strongly with average prices up 1.6% to £24,662, the first month of annual growth since December 2022. This follows a flat May, which ended 40 consecutive months of falling prices.
Sales times for electric vehicles averaged 25 days, which is a week quicker than the same month in 2025.
On a more granular level, electric vehicles aged three to five-years-old saw average prices climb sharply by 8.9% to £19,295, with stock leaving forecourts in just 21 days.
Across the whole market, average prices of models in the 10-15-year category increased by 7.8% to £7,238, while cars aged over 15 years recorded annual growth of 5.1% to £5,210.
Price resilience
Marc Palmer, Head of Strategy and Insights, said: “June’s data points to a used car market that remains highly resilient, with serious buyers continuing to transact despite the summer heatwave and World Cup fever competing for attention. For retailers, that commitment is supporting stable transactions, resilient pricing and a consistent speed of sale.
“The standout story this month, though, is clearly electric. After a prolonged period of price adjustment, used EVs have moved from stabilisation into genuine growth. For retailers, the opportunity isn’t just about having EV stock available, but having the right EV stock, priced accurately and marketed with confidence.
“More broadly, this is exactly the kind of market where pricing discipline matters. With demand, supply and values moving differently across segments, the best outcomes will come from pricing that reflects live retail market conditions, rather than simply working up from cost.”
