Watt a turnaround: electrified models sweep July's fastest-selling used car rankings for first time
The latest data from Autotrader, the UK’s largest automotive marketplace, reveals a significant milestone for the used car market, with electrified models accounting for every place in July’s top 10 fastest selling used cars. The list marks the first time no petrol or diesel models have featured among the fastest sellers since Autotrader began tracking the rankings.
Electric models have dominated the fastest-selling rankings so far this month, accounting for eight of July’s top 10, double the number recorded in July 2025 when only four EVs featured1. The trend reflects strengthening demand in the used EV market, as improved affordability and wider stock availability bring more buyers into the segment. According to Autotrader’s latest 2026 Retail Price Index, used EV prices rose 1.6% year-on-year to £24,662, marking the first annual growth since December 20222. This return to growth points to a more stable used EV market, giving retailers greater confidence to price stock in line with live retail conditions.
Two petrol hybrids also feature in the top 10, with the MG ZS (Petrol Hybrid, 1-3 years) taking the top spot, selling in just 13 days on average. The Toyota Yaris (Petrol Hybrid, 5-10 years), completed the list, selling in 20 days. The strength of electrified stock is also reflected at the other end of the market, with no pure electric models featuring in July’s slowest-selling top 10, which is made up predominantly of petrol and diesel models, alongside one petrol hybrid.
3-5-year-old EVs emerge as key retail opportunity
The overall average speed of sale across all fuel types stands at 30 days, in line with seasonal trends year-on-year3. The strongest performance is coming from the 3-5-year-old age cohort, which is emerging as a key opportunity for retailers. Across all fuel types, these cars are selling in 28 days on average, but 3-5-year-old EVs are turning even faster, at just 20 days. With used EV prices in this age cohort now at parity with their petrol counterparts, buyers are clearly recognising the value in the segment, while retailers are benefiting from faster stock turn on the right vehicles.
That performance also sits within a wider supply dynamic that is continuing to reshape the used car market. Around 2.5 million fewer new cars entered the UK market during pandemic-related production disruption, creating a structural shortfall in younger used stock. With supply of 5-7-year-old vehicles expected to fall by up to 35%, demand is being pushed into the 3-5-year-old bracket. For buyers, that is making used EVs in this age cohort an increasingly compelling value option; for retailers, it underlines the importance of sourcing and pricing stock in line with fast-changing demand.
Fastest-selling used cars – July 20264
Slowest-selling used cars – July 2026
2 Autotrader Retail Price Index data (June 2026)
3 Average used car market days to sell: July 2026 – 30 days, July 2025 – 30 days, July 2024 – 30 days
4 Used Cars: July 2026 (1st-15th)
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