The UK used car market softened in April following a strong March performance, according to Brego’s latest Car Market Insight Report.
Used car sales fell by 7.2% in April compared with March, while total used car advert volumes declined by 0.9%. The slowdown followed a 14.1% increase in used car sales during March.
Rupert Pontin, head of insight and communications at Brego, said: “April delivered a very different picture to March, with used car sales falling and dealer feedback pointing to a more cautious consumer environment.
The data shows buyers are still in the market but affordability and running costs are clearly influencing decision-making. What stands out is the shift towards older, lower-cost cars and the continued interest in EVs.
“Consumers are responding to economic pressure in a very practical way and dealers will need to stay close to local demand, pricing and stock mix as the market moves through May.”
Dealer feedback also pointed to a marked reduction in footfall and online leads, with activity becoming more focused around older cars and EVs.
Private advert volumes rose by 8.1% during the month.
Average retail sale prices fell by 2.8% to £14,454, reflecting a market increasingly shaped by affordability and lower-cost stock.
The report shows that EVs increased their share of sales by 1%, while advertised EV volumes fell by 7.5%.
Pre-registered adverts increased by 3% in April, although the Top 10 pre-registered cars represented a smaller share of the market than in March. This suggests registration activity was spread across a wider mix of models.
