- Used car market dips just -0.2% to 2,016,232 units in first quarter of 2026.
- Battery electric vehicle (BEV) transactions up 32.0% as volume and market share reach new records.
- Hybrid (HEV) demand grows 27.6% to 128,039 units, while plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) fall -8.9% to 20,021 units.
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Q1 2026 used car data
The UK’s used car market was flat during the first quarter of the year, down just -0.2% as 2,016,232 vehicles changed hands, according to the latest figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).1
The performance ended a 12-quarter growth streak, reflecting a subdued March where transactions fell -2.3%. This is in comparison to an exceptionally high performance in March 2025, the only March exceeding 700,000 sales since 2017.2
Transactions of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) grew by 32.0% to 86,943 units, as nearly one in 23 buyers (4.3%) made the switch, up from around one in 30 last year.3 This is the result of sustained investment by manufacturers into new models, enabling a massive choice of new zero emission vehicles in every segment – supported by substantial discounts and government incentives – which are filtering into the used market in ever greater numbers.
Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) sales rose by 27.6% to 128,039 units, increasing their market share to 6.4%, while plug-in hybrid (PHEV) transactions fell by -8.9% to 20,021 units, comprising 1.0% of the market. Combined, electrified vehicles accounted for 11.7% of used cars finding new owners in Q1.
Petrol remained the best-selling fuel type, despite transactions falling -0.6% to 1,147,969 units, while diesel demand experienced a -6.7% decline to 629,987 units, reflecting reduced supply from the new car market. Even so, conventionally fuelled cars still accounted for 88.2% of total transactions in the first quarter.
Supermini sales fell -1.0%, but at 648,229 units remained the most popular used purchase, accounting for 32.2% of the market. Lower medium was the next biggest segment, with 546,249 units changing hands, an increase of 0.2% to a 27.1% share. Dual purpose vehicles saw the highest growth, up 5.4% to 357,295 units, while multipurpose vehicles experienced the sharpest decline, of -6.5%, to 69,886 units.
Following the trend in the new car market, black and grey remained the best-selling colours, up 0.4% and 2.8%, with white back in the top three after 3.1% growth to overtake blue.4 Cream recorded the strongest growth, up 11.7%, although volumes were small at 1,399 transactions, and pink recorded the steepest decline, down -17.8% to 1,214 units. Maroon was the least popular, with just 1,108 cars changing hands.
Given used vehicles are the most accessible route into motoring for many consumers, conditions that stimulate fleet renewal are key. The average age of the UK vehicle parc now stands at a new high of 9.7 years – up from eight years in 2019 – so a healthy new car market is crucial for generating second-hand supply, notably with the latest electric models.5
While the latest industry new car outlook expects the market to rise 3.6% to 2.093 million this year, BEV share has been downgraded to 26.8%, from 28.5%, following an underperforming first quarter.6 It reinforces the need for a rapid review of the UK’s EV transition to align policy with market realities.
The UK’s used car market remained flat in the first quarter, held back by weakness in March in comparison with a very strong performance in 2025. Better news is the record demand for used electric vehicles, as growing choice from manufacturers feeds through into the second-hand market. High fuel prices, given the conflict in Iran, may increase demand even further, but to maintain this momentum, every fiscal and policy lever must be pulled to ensure a healthy new car market that delivers the zero emission vehicles in volume to flow through to the used market.
Notes to editors
- Used car transactions, Q1 2025: 2,020,990 vehicles
- Highest march since 2019; prior to March 2025, sales in the month last exceeded 700,000 in 2017 (746,447)
- 3.3% market share Q1 2025
- https://www.smmt.co.uk/grey-in-the-fast-lane-as-green-powers-up-in-britains-top-new-car-colours/
- SMMT motor parc data 2025
- https://www.smmt.co.uk/vehicle-data/uk-new-car-and-van-outlook/
