Rising fuel costs are accelerating interest in electric vehicles according to the latest data from Auto Trader.
It said in April, used EV prices rose 3% MoM — outperforming the wider market — while demand on Autotrader surged 59% YoY, up from 38% in March.
This marked the highest rate of demand growth in over a year. In contrast, interest in petrol and diesel vehicles softened -6.5% and -18.1% respectively, reflecting changing cost considerations for motorists.
It said growing demand is converting into faster sales, with EVs selling in 28 days on average, down from 31 days in April 2025 and now accounting for more than one in ten used car transactions.
And for the first time, EV supply fell in April, as strong demand saw stock sell faster than it entered the market, particularly among 3–5-year-old models, which are selling in just 25 days on average, making them the fastest-selling segment of the market.
Overall, used car prices rise 1.8% month-on-month in April to £17,397, the strongest monthly increase since November 2021
Demand remains resilient, with transactions up 3% year-on-year and vehicles selling in 27 days.
Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insights at Autotrader, said: “April’s data highlights the underlying resilience of the used car market.
“While wider economic conditions are clearly impacting consumer sentiment about the broader economy, car ownership remains essential for most households.”
