The UK used car market maintained strong momentum throughout February, supported by stable pricing and a shift toward high-intent consumer buying behaviour.
According to the latest Autotrader Retail Price Index, average month-on-month (MoM) prices remained flat at 0.0%.
Marc Palmer, Head of Strategy and Insights at Autotrader, said: “Based on what we’re hearing and tracking, the used car market is in robust shape – prices are stable, if not recording sizeable growth in some segments, the speed of sale is following seasonal trends, and we’ve had positive reports on sales volumes. However, the impending supply disruption will require retailers to adapt and diversify.
“We recognise, however, that pivoting into new vehicle profiles carries risk. To support the industry through this transition, we’re enabling our partners to advertise double their contracted volume at no additional cost for a period of time[2]. This gives retailers the opportunity to test these new profiles alongside their core stock.
“Alongside our powerful AI-powered buyer insights, we believe this is among the most effective ways we can help our partners capture today’s high-intent buyers and confidently navigate the changing supply landscape.”
At £17,197, February marked the second-highest average used car price since November 2023.
This pricing stability is directly supported by very robust levels of consumer demand, with Autotrader recording 80.2 million platform visits in February.
While volumes were slightly impacted by the shorter month, engagement levels remain high.
In February, cars took an average of just 27 days to sell
Used EVs averaged 29 days to sell in February (two days behind petrol’s 26), the underlying performance remains robust.
EV interest may spike if recent geopolitical events continue to impact the broader energy market, echoing the demand spikes seen during previous fuel shortages.
