Strongest start to year for used car sales since 2019, says trade body

The 6.5% increase in the first quarter marked 16 months of successive growth.

A reinvigorated new car market was delivering more choice and affordability for used car buyers, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders said (Alamy/PA)

The used car market increased by 6.5% in the first quarter of the year, with sales of over 1.9 million vehicles, new figures show.

The total reveals the strongest start to a year since pre-pandemic 2019, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

The increase marks 16 months of successive growth, which the SMMT said reflects recovering supply in the new car market which is in turn improving availability and choice of second-hand vehicles.

Increasing numbers of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) are now entering the used sector, with sales in recent months up by more than two-thirds to 41,505, the figures revealed.

A reinvigorated new car market is delivering more choice and affordability for used car buyers and, increasingly, they are choosing to go electric

Mike Hawes, SMMT

Sales of used hybrids (HEVs) and plug-in hybrids also increased.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “A reinvigorated new car market is delivering more choice and affordability for used car buyers and, increasingly, they are choosing to go electric.

“To enable even more drivers to enjoy the benefits of zero-emission motoring, ensuring both supply and demand remains robust is essential.

“Incentivising new EV uptake and investing in a chargepoint network that is accessible, available and affordable to all will drive the nation’s net-zero transition.”