The UK used car market closed 2025 with strong stock volumes, firm pricing and steady dealer participation. December’s data provides clear automotive market insights for dealers, insurers, lenders, investors and remarketing businesses planning for Q1.
This report reviews:
- Internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE)
- The electric used car market (EV)
- UK car price trends
- Dealer concentration and pricing behaviour
- The share of EVs compared to non-EVs
All figures are drawn from Marketcheck UK’s live and historical advert database, covering virtually every used car listing across the UK.
Used Car Market (ICE) – December 2025 Overview
In December 2025, the used car market (ICE) recorded:
- 790,652 live listings
- 10,794 dealers
- 15,611 rooftops
- Average days on market (DOM): 80 days
- Average price: £18,705
Stock levels remain substantial despite seasonal trading patterns. The average asking price sits just under £18.7k, reflecting stable mid-market demand.
Average days on market increased from 75 days in November to 80 days in December, signalling slightly slower retail absorption heading into year-end.
For businesses tracking UK car price trends, this suggests pricing resilience, though retail velocity requires attention.
Breakdown Of Listings By Price Bands – ICE
December ICE listings by price band:
- £0–£10k: 221,555
- £10k–£20k: 311,009
- £20k–£30k: 146,891
- £30k–£40k: 49,664
- £40k–£50k: 17,593
- £50k+: 26,335
The £10k–£20k band dominates the used car market. It accounts for nearly 40% of all ICE listings. This remains the core retail segment across franchised and independent dealers.
The sub-£10k market still represents more than 220,000 vehicles. That segment continues to underpin cash buyers, first-time drivers and export channels.
Stock above £50k remains comparatively small but meaningful for premium and specialist retailers.
For finance providers, this distribution highlights where lending penetration is strongest — predominantly within the £10k–£30k bracket.
Dealer Advert Volumes – ICE
Inventory band distribution:
- 0–100 vehicles: 9,668 dealers
- 101–250 vehicles: 782 dealers
- 251–500 vehicles: 154 dealers
- 500–1,000 vehicles: 78 dealers
- 1,000+ vehicles: 78 dealers
The UK used car market remains heavily fragmented. The majority of dealers operate with fewer than 100 vehicles.
Large-scale operators (500+ units) form a small proportion of the market but account for a significant share of total stock.
For insurers and investors, this split reflects structural diversity. Smaller independents dominate numerically. Larger groups influence volume concentration and pricing strategy.
Top 100 Dealers By Volume – ICE
December figures:
- Top 100 stock volume: 305,348 vehicles
- Top 100 average DOM: 54 days
- Top 100 average price: £22,373
Outside top 100:
- Stock volume: 485,304 vehicles
- Average DOM: 95 days
- Average price: £16,349
The top 100 dealers control around 38.6% of all ICE listings.
They retail vehicles significantly faster than the wider market. A 54-day average compares sharply against 95 days for dealers outside the top 100.
Pricing tells a clear story. Larger groups carry higher-value stock, averaging £22.3k versus £16.3k elsewhere.
This gap reflects:
- Stronger finance penetration
- Brand-backed stock acquisition
- Higher-spec vehicles
- Pricing discipline supported by data
For businesses analysing automotive market insights, this divide between scale operators and independents shapes margin profiles and funding risk.
Electric Used Car Market – December 2025 Overview
The electric used car market continued expanding in December.
Key figures:
- 53,279 EV listings
- 3,115 dealers
- 6,776 electric rooftops
- Average DOM: 66 days
- Average price: £24,747
EV stock increased from 51,886 in November to 53,279 in December — growth above 2%.
Average price declined from £25,218 to £24,747. That reduction exceeds 2%, signalling pricing recalibration.
Average days on market rose from 63 to 66 days. EV retail velocity remains stronger than ICE overall (66 vs 80 days).
The electric used car market remains more concentrated and more price-sensitive than ICE.
Breakdown Of Listings By Price Bands – EV
December EV listings by price band:
- £0–£10k: 2,867
- £10k–£20k: 20,702
- £20k–£30k: 16,245
- £30k–£40k: 7,915
- £40k–£50k: 2,189
- £50k+: 2,651
The £10k–£20k band leads EV supply, overtaking £20k–£30k as affordability improves.
Entry-level EV stock under £10k remains limited compared to ICE. That constraint continues to restrict lower-income buyer adoption.
Premium EV stock above £50k is meaningful relative to total EV supply. That reflects Tesla, Audi and premium SUV presence.
The EV market’s pricing curve is narrower than ICE. Most vehicles sit between £10k and £30k.
For lenders and residual value analysts, that clustering is critical.
Dealer Advert Volumes – EV
Inventory band distribution:
- 0–100 vehicles: 2,922 dealers
- 101–250 vehicles: 50 dealers
- 251–500 vehicles: 17 dealers
- 500–1,000 vehicles: 7 dealers
- 1,000+ vehicles: 8 dealers
The electric used car market remains dominated by smaller operators.
Only 15 dealers list more than 500 EVs nationally.
This concentration has implications:
- Pricing influence sits with a small group
- Rapid repricing can shift national averages
- Stock acquisition competition intensifies at scale
Top 100 Dealers By Volume – EV
December EV figures:
- Top 100 stock volume: 34,888 vehicles
- Top 100 average DOM: 56 days
- Top 100 average price: £25,139
Outside top 100:
- Stock volume: 18,391 vehicles
- Average DOM: 84 days
- Average price: £23,987
The top 100 EV dealers account for roughly 65.5% of all EV listings.
That concentration far exceeds ICE levels.
Retail speed again favours scale. Top operators turn EV stock in 56 days versus 84 days outside the top 100.
The pricing gap is narrower than ICE. Larger EV dealers average £25.1k compared with £23.9k elsewhere.
This suggests:
- Less segmentation by size
- Tighter competitive pricing
- Faster alignment to market data
For investors and funders, EV retail risk profiles differ materially from ICE.
Top 10 EV Models By Listings – December 2025
December’s most listed EVs:
- Tesla Model 3 – 3,069 listings
- Tesla Model Y – 1,796 listings
- Nissan Leaf – 1,434 listings
- Volkswagen ID.3 – 1,269 listings
- Mini Hatch – 1,264 listings
- Polestar 2 – 1,256 listings
- Hyundai Kona – 1,248 listings
- Vauxhall Mokka – 1,221 listings
- Audi Q4 e-tron – 1,201 listings
- KIA Niro – 1,090 listings
Tesla maintains dominance in used EV supply. Model 3 alone represents nearly 6% of total EV listings.
For insurers and remarketing firms, concentration around specific models simplifies risk modelling and residual forecasting.
EV Share Of The Total Used Car Market
December 2025 market share:
- EV share: 6.74%
- Non-EV share: 93.26%
In November, EV share stood at 6.23%. The move to 6.74% exceeds the 2% threshold and signals meaningful growth.
ICE still accounts for over 93% of the used car market. Volume remains heavily combustion-led.
Average prices:
- EV average price: £24,746.92
- Non-EV average price: £18,264.04
EVs command a premium of more than £6,400 over ICE equivalents.
This pricing gap influences:
- Monthly finance payments
- Insurance underwriting models
- Residual risk exposure
- Consumer affordability thresholds
EV average days on market (66 days) remain shorter than ICE (80 days). Demand for well-priced EV stock persists despite pricing pressure.
What This Means For Automotive Businesses
Dealers
- Mid-market ICE (£10k–£20k) remains the volume engine.
- EV supply growth is real but concentrated.
- Data-led pricing is critical in EV where repricing cycles are fast.
Finance Lenders
- EV values remain higher, impacting risk-weighted exposure.
- Dealer concentration in EV requires counterparty assessment.
- ICE retail velocity is slower outside large groups.
Insurers
- Model-level EV concentration aids actuarial modelling.
- Higher EV pricing affects total loss thresholds.
- DOM differences affect claims frequency modelling assumptions.
Investors And Analysts
- Top 100 ICE dealers control 38.6% of stock.
- Top 100 EV dealers control 65.5%.
- Market fragmentation remains strong across the wider used car market.