The latest data from Marketcheck shows a slowdown in used car demand after the Government Budget on 29 November last year.
It published an analysis of daily used car sales volumes by fuel type, comparing the ten days before and after the Labour Government’s Budget last year.
The figures show a slight decline in average daily sales across all fuel types in the immediate aftermath of the Budget, suggesting a pause in consumer confidence or a wait and see effect.
Alastair Campbell, UK and EU advisor with Marketcheck UK, said: “Our data shows that used car sales slowed marginally across all fuel types following the Budget, with electric and hybrid vehicles seeing the most noticeable dip.
“While the decline isn’t dramatic, it suggests a degree of short-term caution in the market – this has starker in alternative fuel segments, which may be more sensitive to tax or incentive signals from changing government policy.
“Particularly in regard to the new taxes surrounding EVs – it seems the announcement around pay-per-mile has had a noticeable impact on the market.”
Used car sales – daily averages (10 days pre-and post-Budget)
| Fuel Type | Pre-Budget | Post-Budget | % Change |
| EV | 598 | 540 | -9.70% |
| Petrol | 5,466 | 5,363 | -1.88% |
| Diesel | 3,024 | 3,009 | -0.50% |
| Hybrid | 952 | 904 | -5.04% |
