Used car market grows for second quarter as EV sales rise 23.2%
Britain's used car market grew for a second consecutive quarter in Q3 2026, according to figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT). A total of 2,030,619 vehicles changed hands, up 0.5% on the same period last year and the strongest third quarter since 2021.
Across the first nine months of the year, transactions rose 0.3% to 6,056,169. SMMT says this is the best first three quarters since 2019.
Electrified vehicles gain share
Used battery electric car transactions climbed 23.2% to 97,625 units in the quarter, lifting their market share to 4.8% from 3.9% a year earlier. Year to date, used battery electric sales are up 39.6% to 295,524. SMMT links the growth to sustained investment in new models feeding through to the second-hand market.
Hybrid electric vehicles rose 25.9% to 135,204 units, taking a 6.7% share against 5.3% a year ago. Plug-in hybrids fell 13.3% to 20,911 units, a 1.0% share. SMMT describes that segment as small and subject to volatility.
Petrol and diesel
Petrol remained the most popular fuel, with 1,148,576 cars (56.6% of the market), just 271 fewer than a year earlier. Diesel fell 5.3% to 623,354 units, a 30.7% share, which SMMT attributes to reduced supply from the new market. Non-electrified vehicles made up 87.5% of used sales, down from 89.5% in Q3 last year.
Models, segments and regions
- The Ford Fiesta was the best-selling used car with 73,500 transactions, ahead of the Vauxhall Corsa (60,088) and Volkswagen Golf (56,243).
- Superminis remained the top segment with 32.0% of transactions, at 650,511 units.
- Dual purpose cars grew fastest, up 8.5% to 368,428 units and an 18.1% share.
- The South East was the largest region with 295,279 transactions, followed by the North West (222,297) and West Midlands (209,251).
- Black, grey and white were the top three colours, together taking 56.7% of the market.
ZEV Mandate concerns
SMMT says the used market's EV transition depends on a healthy new car market. It argues that heavy discounting of new electric models to meet what it calls increasingly unfeasible ZEV Mandate targets puts pressure on trade-in values, discouraging renewal and slowing the flow of vehicles into the used market. It calls for the mandate to be reformed to reflect market realities.
SMMT Chief Executive Mike Hawes said the new car market must remain strong, backed by measures that boost EV demand, including affordable and widely accessible charging infrastructure and fiscal incentives.
SMMT notes that its used car data comes from the DVLA, which periodically revises historic figures.