Commentary | Q2 Used Car Transactions
The used car market is showing real solidity , with healthy demand, quick stock turn and steady retail prices all pointing to a robust and resilient sector. Transactions passing two million in the second quarter for the first time since 2021 is an important milestone, and a clear sign that car buyers remain very much in-market despite ongoing pressure on overall household budgets.
“For retailers, the challenge is less about demand and more about sourcing the right stock at the right price. Retail prices have risen over recent months while trade values have softened, opening up a clear profit-optimisation and margin protection opportunity for retailers who are using live market data to price confidently and source smartly.
“What is really striking, though, is the role of EVs as a standout example of that opportunity: they now account for more than one in five 0-5-year-old used car sales, with demand rising fast through the course of the year, meaning that they are selling no less than six days quicker than the rest of the market. As more used EVs become available and higher petrol prices continue to shape buyer behaviour, electric is no longer a niche part of the used market — it is becoming one of its fastest-moving and most commercially rewarding segments.”
Autotrader’s latest data points to a used car market that remains resilient, but increasingly polarised by stock profile, pricing and fuel type. Overall, like-for-like used car prices held steady in July at +0.8% year-on-year, unchanged from June, with the average asking price sitting at £17,106. Older vehicles remain a key area of pricing strength, with cars aged 10-15 years up 7.0% year-on-year, suggesting affordability pressures are continuing to shape consumer choice as some buyers move into older stock or lower-priced segments to stay within budget.
Electric vehicles were the standout area of momentum. Used EV demand on Autotrader was up 13.9% year-on-year in July, while supply continued its recovery, rising to +5.7% and returning to positive territory, a notable improvement on the -0.8% recorded in June. That improved balance is now feeding through into pricing, where used EVs hit a new pricing milestone: used electric cars like-for-like values rose 3.3% year-on-year - the strongest annual growth Autotrader has ever recorded for electric cars - following a long period of deflationary pressure through 2024 and late 2025.
And this continues in the speed of sale figures. Although the total market averaged 31 days to sell in July, used electric cars continued to move faster than any other fuel type, averaging 25 days, five days quicker than petrol and 11 days quicker than diesel. July’s fastest-selling rankings were also dominated by electrified models, suggesting buyer interest in used EVs is increasingly translating into real forecourt momentum rather than simply early-stage consideration.
Fastest-selling used cars – July 2026[1]
Slowest-selling used cars – July 2026
Top 10 used car price growth (all fuel types) | July 2026 vs July 2025 like-for-like
Top 10 used car price contraction (all fuel types) | July 2026 vs July 2025 like-for-like
[1] Used Cars: July 2026 (1st-15th)
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