UK used car market hits record high – March 2025 best month on record

Marketcheck, the UK’s most significant source of data on the UK used car market, has today published a comprehensive analysis showing that used car sales have reached their best-selling month in March 2025 since May 2023 when their analysis began – this trend was seen across all fuel types.

A total of 376,780 used cars were sold in March 2025. This represents an 8.88% increase when compared with the previous month, in which 346,049 cars were sold, and a 40.25% when compared with May 2023, with sales amounting to 268,650 in that month. The average price of a used car in the UK has fallen by 6.05%, from £17,848.21 in May 2023 to £16,768.57 in March 2025.

Marketcheck’s analysis also looked at the proportion of all used cars broken down by fuel type. During the period covered by this analysis, all four fuel types saw an increase in overall sales. In terms of market share, petrol remains dominant, not dropping below 50% in any month covered by Marketcheck’s research. Petrol, EVs and hybrid also saw modest growth, at the expense of used diesels cars.

Wholly fossil fuel vehicles still amount to 85.85% of used car sales, although this is a 4.94% decrease when compared with May 2023.

The sale of used EVs has seen remarkable growth between May 2023-March 2025, with a 195% increase. 7,073 used EVs were sold in May 2023, and 20,882 in March 2025. The average last listed price saw a significant decrease, falling from £30,441 to £24,373.81, a £6067.19 (19.93%) drop in cost.

Hybrids also saw a large increase in sales during the time period covered by Marketcheck’s analysis. The sale of used hybrids rose by 82.51%, with 17,676 sold in May 2023 and 32,262 sold in March 2025. The average last listed price saw a modest decrease of 6%, falling from £25,949 to £24,395.88.

Used petrol cars have continued to dominate the market, with 204,884 sold in March 2025. This represents an increase of 44.72% compared with the 141,572 sold in May 2023. The average last listed price fell by 5.62%, from £16,553 in May 2023 to £15,622 in March 2025.

Despite used diesel’s drop in overall market share, sales increased by 15.87% between May 2023 and March 2025, with 102,323 sold in May and 118,558 in March. The average last listed price fell from £17,240.91 to £15,249.70 over the same period. This represents an 11.55% (£1,991.21) fall in the average cost a used diesel in the UK.

Alastair Campbell, Marketcheck UK, commented: “This data shows positive signs for the UK used market as it reaches record levels of reported sales. Petrol and diesel continue to dominate but this is likely to decrease as more EV drivers choose to upgrade their cars and used supply continues to increase.

All fuel types have seen a decrease in their last listed prices, with the most dramatic drop seen in EVs. We might see further decreases as more vehicles enter this section of the market but this may stabilise soon.

Marketcheck will continue to analyse trends as they emerge across the UK used car market.”