The used car retail market continued its strong start into 2026 with a second consecutive month of growth, according to the latest data from Cazana.
February saw a strengthening of retail values that spanned every age cohort, signalling a resilient appetite for second-hand stock despite broader economic pressures.
Derren Martin, automotive expert at Cazana, said: “It’s reassuring to see all fuel types experiencing price rises as EV volumes increase. It is still early days, and demand needs to keep increasing for these. Slightly more niche body styles nowadays look to be doing well for dealers, particularly estates. Opportunities exist to stock these and maximise prices.
“March is obviously a key month in the new car arena, as the 26 plate gets launched, but volumes in the used car market won’t start appearing in larger numbers until towards the end of the month or even into April. Therefore, this month should be another steady one for the industry, with retailers continuing to push prices up where they can.
“It will be interesting to see whether the horrible situation in and around the Middle East, which is having a knock-on effect on oil prices, sending them higher, will affect the industry. In the past, when petrol prices have increased, it has led to more interest in used EVs.”
The most notable gains occurred at the three-year ‘sweet spot,’ where average values climbed by 1.7%, adding approximately £340 to retail tags. While younger, one-year-old vehicles saw a 0.7% increase, five-year-olds saw a 1.4% rise.
Hybrids led the charge with a 2.3% increase, but it was the performance of electric vehicles (EVs) that caught the eye.
Used EV prices rose by 1.4%, suggesting they may now be increasingly viewed on equal footing with internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, with regard to forecourt pricing strategy.
