The UK’s used car market has delivered its strongest second-quarter performance since 2021, with transactions rising 1.7% year-on-year to 1,996,116 units, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). The growth marks the 10th consecutive quarter of expansion, underpinned by a revitalised new car sector, and leaves the market within just 1% of pre-pandemic levels for the first half of 2025.
Between January and June, 4,017,106 pre-owned vehicles found new owners – up 2.2% on 2024 – signalling a sustained recovery in consumer confidence and stock availability.
Petrol Leads, Diesel Slips, EVs Surge
Petrol cars maintained their dominance, with Q2 transactions edging up 1.5% to 1,134,387 units. Diesel, however, continued its gradual retreat, falling 4.3% to 664,644 units. Together, these traditional fuel types still accounted for 90.1% of the market, though their combined share shrank by over two percentage points as the shift towards electrified vehicles gained momentum.
Electrified models now represent nearly one in 10 used cars changing hands. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) led the charge, climbing 27.7% to 100,127 units and capturing 5.0% of the market. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) also posted healthy growth of 10.3% to 24,370 units, while battery electric vehicles (BEVs) surged an impressive 40.0% to 68,721 units, accounting for 3.4% of transactions.
The SMMT noted that further gains in the used EV sector will rely heavily on stimulating new EV registrations through measures such as the rapid deployment of the Electric Car Grant and faster expansion of the UK’s charging infrastructure – both critical to ensuring a robust future supply of second-hand electric models.
Superminis Stay on Top
In terms of vehicle segments, superminis once again topped the charts with 31.8% of all sales, up 1.3% to 635,126 units, followed by lower medium cars at 26.7% (533,860 units, up 0.5%). Dual-purpose vehicles proved the fastest-growing category, rising 6.7% to 331,924 units. In contrast, specialist sports cars saw the sharpest decline, down 4.1% to 58,759 units, while upper medium models dropped 3.4% to 186,714 units.
Colour Trends Reflect Market Shifts
Black, grey, and white were the most popular colours in Q2, collectively representing 55.2% of transactions, with white overtaking blue to claim a podium spot. Among the more niche choices, cream, green, yellow, and pink recorded the strongest year-on-year growth, up 10.7%, 9.0%, and 8.0% respectively. Conversely, turquoise (-5.6%), gold (-5.5%), and silver (-3.9%) fell out of favour, while maroon replaced cream as the least popular hue on the road.
Industry Outlook
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, commented:
“Surpassing the four million half-year milestone for the first time since 2019 shows the UK’s used car market is building back momentum. That’s good news for the industry and for motorists who benefit from more choice and affordability across a range of higher-tech, cleaner vehicles, notably in the emerging electric vehicle sector. To maintain this trajectory, a thriving new car market must be delivered across the segments, along with accelerated investment into the charging network to give every driver the ability to switch.”
With consumer appetite for electrified mobility steadily rising and supply pipelines strengthening, the second-hand market is poised to play an increasingly pivotal role in the UK’s transition to a cleaner, more sustainable transport landscape.
