What's hot in August? The Mercury soars as electric continues to dominate
London, 14th August 2025 – The UK’s fastest selling car is currently the Vauxhall Corsa (petrol, up to 1 year) according to Autotrader, the UK’s largest automotive platform, taking an average of just 15 days to sell in August to date. Used cars are currently selling in just 29 days, matching July’s speed of sale and one day quicker than August last year, reflecting strong market health. [1]
Electric vehicles (EVs) are currently dominating the fastest selling charts, with half of the top 10 being electric and the fuel type the fastest selling overall, with the average used electric car selling within 27 days, down from 28 in July and 29 days in August 2024. The current fastest selling EV in the UK, and the third fastest used car overall, is the Volkswagen ID. 3 (hatchback, 3-5 years) at 18 days, closely followed by the Hyundai KONA (SUV, 3-5 years) at 18.5 days. All EVs in the top 10 are 3–5-years old, highlighting the electrification of older cohorts of the car parc, and the need to speedily adapt to increasingly electrified forecourts.
From the slowest selling fuel type in June (32 days) to the fastest in August, used EVs have also increased their share of used car leads since the Electric Car Grant was announced in July, from 5.3% to 6%, suggesting the Grant could be responsible for a positive flow of EV demand more generally. The government-backed initiative offers an opportunity for retailers with a robust all-fuel type retailing strategy to capitalise on increased consumer electric awareness and consideration and convert this to speedy sales.
The youngest car at the top of the list, the Vauxhall Corsa (up to 1 year), is currently leaving forecourts two weeks faster than the average used car and is bucking the wider trend of that age cohort, which is the slowest, sitting at 36 days in August so far. The other age cohort selling slower than the market is 1–3-year-olds, sitting two days above the average at 31 days and taking four of the slowest selling spots.
3–5-year-old cars continue to dominate the top 10 list[2], accounting for six of this month’s fastest sellers, and with an average speed of sale of 26 days, is also the fastest selling age cohort overall. The fastest selling 3–5-year-old car is the MG HS (petrol, SUV) at 16 days, with the Volkswagen ID. 3 (electric, hatchback) following at 18 days. At an even more granular level, 3-5-year-old electric used cars are selling even faster, taking an average of just 22 days, making it the fastest selling segment of the market overall.
“With electric cars continuing to sell quickly in August, the data suggests July wasn’t just a blip but hopefully the beginning of a longer-term trend of used electric car success for retailers. Overall, the market is robust with speed of sale holding firm and even accelerating in August, which isn’t a typical seasonal trend over the slower summer months. Combined with the broader positive market fundamentals we’re tracking, it should provide retailers with confidence for the second half of 2025.
“However, with an ever-evolving market, from government policy to changing consumer preferences, retailers can best set themselves up for success by utilising all the data available when making their stocking and pricing decisions.”
Whilst fastest selling data is based on past data, Autotrader retailer partners can access expected days to sell data for in and out of stock vehicles via Retail Check in Portal or through third party systems integrated through Autotrader Connect.
Fastest-selling used cars in August (up to 12th August)
Slowest-selling used cars in August (up to 12th August)
[1] Used Cars: July 2024 – ave. 30 days. August 2024 30 days.
[2] 3-5-year old cars accounted for 7/10 of July’s top 10 fastest selling used cars
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