The UK’s used car market grew by 2.2% in 2025, reaching 7,807,872 transactions,
Sales of used battery electric cars (BEVs) surged 45.7% year-on-year to a record 274,815 transactions, whilst also achieving a record 3.5% market share, up from 2.5% in 2024.
Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) sales rose by 6.3% to 88,032 units, while hybrids (HEVs) increased by 28.6% to 407,531 units.
Combined, used electrified car transactions rose 30.9% on 2024 to a record 770,378 units – accounting for almost one in 10 (9.9%) purchases.
Petrol and diesel models, however, continued to dominate, comprising 89.9% of used transactions.
Petrol remained the best-selling powertrain, rising 1.5% to represent 56.7% of the market, while diesel declined by -3.5%, to account for 33.1% of sales.
When it came to car colour, black retaining its position as the UK’s favourite chosen by nearly 1.7 million buyers (21.2%). Grey followed with an 18.2% share.
Once again, superminis led the market, accounting for almost one in three (32.1%) transactions. Lower medium models followed with a 26.9% share, while dual purpose cars held third place, delivering the strongest growth of all segments – up 7.6% to reach 16.8% of transactions. At the opposite end of the scale, luxury saloons represented just 0.5% of the market.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A third year of used car sales growth underscores the market’s resilience, with recovering new car demand revitalising choice and affordability – especially for EVs – in the used market.”
