An increase in EV pre-registration activity is presenting challenges for the used car market, says the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA).
AutoTrader data shows that because manufacturers are heavily incentivising new EVs, equivalent nearly new stock is taking more time to sell.
VRA board member Louis Maxwell said: “The figures show that general pre-registration activity is now up by 23% year-on-year for 2025, based on stock with less than 100 miles. It’s quite a rise but still some way behind pre-pandemic levels.
“EVs account for around 23% of these, which is in line with their share of the new car market but they’re taking much longer to sell second-hand because manufacturers are heavily incentivising the purchase of brand new EVs to stimulate demand.
“While 3-5-year-old EVs are selling fastest in the market at 26 days, having reached a general point of price parity with petrol, pre-registered EVs are turning every 37 days, which is three days slower than petrol. It’s a big difference.”
Maxwell emphasises the importance of retailers being able to monitor supply, demand and pricing dynamics when adding pre-reg EV stock.
He said: “Because pre-reg stock has been in short supply following the pandemic, it has tended to look like a good buy to dealers, but volumes are rising and, in some cases, such as EVs, is not finding buyers quickly.”
AutoTrader data shows 3-5-year-old vehicles were increasing in price and selling quicker as the Covid period 2.5-million-unit production squeeze funnels through the market.
Maxwell said: “Supply of vehicles in this age range is 3% lower year-on-year and 28% below 2019 levels. As a result, their retail prices are rising quickly, up 1.4% compared to last year against an overall market fall of -0.6% so far in 2025.
“They’re also turning every 24 days on average, four days faster than in 2019. There is every sign of general short supply and dealers are finding it difficult to locate good quality stock in this part of the market.”
