Commentary | Q1 Used Car Transactions

The real story is how the market’s evolving, particularly in terms of electrification. Used EV transactions are up, and market share is rising. That mirrors what we’re seeing on our platform, where nearly one in four used car enquiries are for sub-five-year-old electric models. Rising prices at the pump - driven by global instability - are prompting more people to reassess their running costs, helping to accelerate this shift even further.

Key spokesperson

Ian Plummer

Chief Customer Officer

CONNECT

"Despite the broader economic headwinds, the used car market has shown a steady and resilient start to the year. Beneath the headline figures, the underlying fundamentals remain strong, with very robust consumer demand and high levels of engagement continuing to underpin activity. In the first quarter alone, we saw over 254 million visits to Autotrader, demonstrating that car buying appetite remains firmly in place."

"Pricing is stable, demand is holding firm, and importantly, used cars continue to sell at pace, underlining just how competitive – and supply constrained – the market remains. For retailers, that presents a clear opportunity to focus on high‑demand segments, particularly electric and older stock, where strong consumer interest is translating into faster sales and margin potential."