Assessing alterations and developments in the UK used car market is essential for all stakeholders, including automotive dealers, insurance companies, investment companies, car auction businesses and car finance lenders within the automotive sector. Understanding market trends allows these companies to optimise strategies and make more educated plans for future expansion.
This analytical report will delve into the UK used car market data, paying close attention to both the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) market, and the increasingly significant electric used car market (EV).
Used Car Market: Internal-Combustion Engine (ICE)
The data gathered for the week ending 6th September 2025 revealed a total of 584,463 used combustion engine vehicles (ICE) amongst 10,597 dealers. The average price of a listed ICE car was around £18,788, with the majority listed within the £10,000 – £20,000 price band.
Looking at the dealership volumes, there was a balanced distribution across the size of dealerships listing ICE vehicles, indicating the well-established nature of this market segment, with dealerships of various capacities involved.
Among the large pool of dealers, the top 100 dealers accounted for a noticeable 35.9% of total listings, with their vehicles having an above-average market price.
Used Car Market: Electric Vehicles (EV)
Turning the spotlight on the EV listings for the week ending 6th September, we note a total of 87,473 used electric vehicles listed by 4,753 dealers. The average price of a listed electric car came in significantly higher than its ICE counterpart, at approximately £26,740.
The distributions of dealership volumes for EVs, differed in comparison to ICEs. The majority of dealers listed between 0-100 vehicles, signifying the nascent stage of this market in comparison to its ICE counterpart.
On an intriguing note, the top 100 dealers represented 60.9% of the total EV listings, selling vehicles with a price slightly higher than the market average.
Comparison: ICE vs EV
Examining the data from both the ICE and EV set, we can observe several key distinctions between the two. Firstly, the average price of listed EVs was considerably higher, almost £8,000 more on average compared to those in the ICE market. This is largely due to the innovative technology and sustainability value embedded in electric vehicles.
Looking at the dealership volume bands, it’s clear there’s a larger spread across the various capacity brackets in the ICE industry, demonstrating its longevity and stability, whereas for the EV industry, there’s more of a concentration in the 0-100 vehicles bracket, indicating its smaller but burgeoning market size.
However, when it comes to comparing the two sectors looking at the top 100 dealers, those in the EV market clearly dominate with a whopping 60.9% of total listings. This contrastingly high dominance ratio signals the current early adopters and innovators within this niche but growing market.