Motorists in the United Kingdom bought some 9.14 million cars in 2024, over 7.2 million of which were used cars. The previous year, the average household expenditure on used cars and vans in the UK was around 20.2 British pounds per week.

In 2024, around **** million motor vehicles were sold in the United Kingdom, down from its peak at around *** million units in 2016. Sales recovery does not match 2019 levels In 2024, the UK was the second-largest car market in Europe. New passenger car registrations had grown in the country in 2023, up to the highest volume recorded since their dramatic drop in 2020. However, amid Brexit, the automotive semiconductor shortage, raw material price inflation, and an overall cost of living crisis, the UK's automotive industry has faced various challenges and has yet to reach its pre-COVID-19 pandemic level. The impact of inflation on car purchases The United Kingdom recorded its highest inflation rate since the 1990s in 2022, a situation that marginally improved in 2023. And, in 2024, the average inflation rate dropped to **** percent. New cars were particularly impacted by the inflation, with their consumer price index being at its highest in the past 15 years in 2023. Despite the inflating prices, car purchasing intentions remained relatively stable based on surveys ending in September 2023 and September 2024, with around **** of UK residents reporting their intention of buying a car in the 12 months following the survey. This is, however, a positive development compared to purchase intentions reported in that same survey ending in September 2022.

New battery-electric car registrations peaked at over ****** in both September 2024. March and September often register higher sales due to the release of new registration plates. In 2023, battery-electric vehicle sales accounted for **** percent of the market.

Key information about United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Sales Growth

• United Kingdom Motor Vehicles Sales grew 2.6 % in Dec 2024, compared with a growth of 18.7 % in the previous year.
• UK Motor Vehicles Sales Growth rate is updated yearly, available from Dec 2006 to Dec 2024, with an average growth rate of 7.7 %.
• The data reached an all-time high of 18.7 % in Dec 2023 and a record low of -28.2 % in Dec 2020.
• Car Sales of UK recorded 2,368,574.0 units in Dec 2024.

In 2023, some ******* new electric cars were registered in the United Kingdom. This was a year-over-year increase of **** percent compared to 2022 and over double the sales recorded in 2020. Overall, electric vehicle sales have steadily grown since 2015. A growing electric vehicle market and fleet Electric vehicles have been gaining market share in the United Kingdom. Since 2021, battery-electric vehicles overtook diesel vehicles and have been the second most popular fuel type in the country through 2022. The South East was the region of England with the largest electric car market, at around ****** new registrations in 2022, followed by the North West and South West. This increase in sales translates to a sharp rise in the UK electric vehicle fleet, which surpassed *********** units in 2022. Most of the vehicles in the electric car parc were battery-electric. Charging infrastructure and its challenges While the UK electric car fleet is steadily growing, the public charging infrastructure has also been on the rise. By July 2023, there were over ****** publicly available charging points in the United Kingdom. However, most of these chargers were alternating current chargers, which were typically slower than their direct current counterparts. Accessibility is also one of the leading hurdles for the UK charging network. Most public charging points were destination charging, typically located at the end of a driver's journey in areas such as retail car parks or education areas, and were not open around the clock, which presents challenges in how electric vehicle owners can recharge their vehicles without turning to private home charging.

Car Registrations in the United Kingdom decreased to 144948 Units in October from 312891 Units in September of 2025. This dataset provides the latest reported value for - United Kingdom Car Registrations - plus previous releases, historical high and low, short-term forecast and long-term prediction, economic calendar, survey consensus and news.

The United Kingdom: New passenger car sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 1952778 passenger cars, an increase from 1903054 passenger cars in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 1139349 passenger cars, based on data from 57 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 2005 to 2024 is 2168330 passenger cars. The minimum value, 1614063 passenger cars, was reached in 2022 while the maximum of 2692786 passenger cars was recorded in 2016.

Key information about United Kingdom Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars

• United Kingdom Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars was reported at 1,952,778.000 Unit in Dec 2024.
• This records an increase from the previous number of 1,903,054.000 Unit for Dec 2023.
• UK Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data is updated yearly, averaging 2,476,435.000 Unit from Dec 2005 to 2024, with 20 observations.
• The data reached an all-time high of 2,692,786.000 Unit in 2016 and a record low of 1,614,063.000 Unit in 2022.
• UK Motor Vehicle Sales: Passenger Cars data remains active status in CEIC and is reported by International Organization of Motor Vehicle Manufacturers.
• The data is categorized under World Trend Plus’s Association: Automobile Sector – Table RA.OICA.MVS: Motor Vehicle Sales: by Country and Type: Passenger Car (PC).

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UK Used Car Market Size 2025-2029

The uk used car market size is forecast to increase by USD 39.5 billion, at a CAGR of 6.2% between 2024 and 2029.

The Used Car Market in the UK is driven by the excellent value for money proposition that pre-owned vehicles offer, making them an attractive alternative to new cars for many consumers. Another significant trend shaping the market is the increasing preference for car subscription services, which provide flexibility and convenience for customers. However, the market also faces challenges, including the growing importance of digital touchpoints in the car buying process and the need for dealers to adapt and improve their online presence. Additionally, the rise of car subscription services poses a threat to traditional dealership models, requiring dealers to explore new business models and revenue streams to remain competitive. Companies seeking to capitalize on market opportunities and navigate challenges effectively should focus on enhancing their digital presence, offering flexible and convenient purchasing options, and exploring partnerships with car subscription services.

What will be the size of the UK Used Car Market during the forecast period?

Explore in-depth regional segment analysis with market size data - historical 2019-2023 and forecasts 2025-2029 - in the full report.
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The used car market in the UK is influenced by various factors, including the exterior and interior condition of the vehicles, financial history, economic trends, and consumer demand. Financially sound buyers prefer cars with well-maintained exteriors and interiors, ensuring lower car ownership costs in the long run. Economic trends, such as inflation and interest rates, impact car financing options and vehicle affordability. Maintaining a vehicle's fuel consumption within acceptable limits and adhering to the vehicle maintenance schedule is crucial for reliable performance and resale value. Financial institutions consider a vehicle's title, accident history, and service records when assessing car financing options. Emerging technologies, such as electric vehicles and autonomous driving, are transforming the industry, while insurance coverage, safety ratings, and vehicle age & mileage remain essential factors in consumer decision-making. Previous owners, engine size & type, transmission options, and vehicle features & equipment also influence consumer preferences. Car repair costs, loan terms, car financing options, and industry innovations contribute to market volatility. Registration documents, vehicle history records, and insurance coverage are essential for transparency and trust. Understanding the impact of these factors on car ownership costs is crucial for businesses operating in the UK used car market.

How is this market segmented?

The market research report provides comprehensive data (region-wise segment analysis), with forecasts and estimates in 'USD billion' for the period 2025-2029, as well as historical data from 2019-2023 for the following segments. ChannelOrganizedUnorganizedVehicle TypeCompact carSUVMid sizeSales ChannelDealershipsOnline PlatformsPrivate SalesFuel TypePetrolDieselHybridElectricGeographyEuropeUK

By Channel Insights

The organized segment is estimated to witness significant growth during the forecast period.

The used car market in the UK is characterized by various entities that influence its dynamics and trends. Depreciation and car insurance premiums are significant factors that impact the affordability of used cars. Safety features, a priority for consumers, are increasingly being incorporated into used vehicles through refinishing and upgrades. Car rental companies offer flexible mobility solutions, while automotive technology advances drive the adoption of vehicle diagnostics and digital car retailing. Used car dealerships and online marketplaces facilitate transactions with vehicle inspections, mileage verification, and consumer reviews. Sustainable transportation initiatives and online payment systems are shaping the market, as are car leasing agreements, price elasticity, and inflation rates. Fuel efficiency, car finance options, and driving assistance systems are key considerations for buyers. Government incentives and emissions standards influence consumer spending patterns, with a growing interest in alternative fuel vehicles and hybrid car technology. Fleet management services and car maintenance costs are essential services for businesses and individuals alike. Industry regulations and consumer protection laws ensure transparency and trust in the market. Used car warranty, customer satisfaction ratings, and brand reputation are crucial factors for buyers. The market share dynamics of organized companies, including dealership chains, online marketplaces, and OEM-affiliated dealerships, are shaped by their ability to provide guarantees, technical expertise, and

Over ** percent of all used car transactions in the United Kingdom in 2021 were petrol cars. Plug-in electric vehicles were at the bottom of the ranking, with just onver ****** battery-electric cars sold in the UK. Overall, the used vehicle market made up the majority of passenger car sales in the UK in 2021.

New Passenger Car Registrations YoY in the United Kingdom decreased to 0.50 percent in October from 13.70 percent in September of 2025. This dataset includes a chart with historical data for the United Kingdom New Passenger Car Registrations YoY.

The United Kingdom Used Car Market is Segmented by Vendor Type (Organized and Unorganized), Vehicle Age (0-2 Years, 3-5 Years, and More), Fuel Type (Petrol, Diesel, and More), Body Type (Hatchback, Sedan, and More), and Sales Channel (Online, and More), Ownership (First-Owner, and More), Price Band (Less Than USD 7, 000, and More) and Geography. The Market Sizes and Forecasts are Provided in Terms of Value (USD) and Volume (Units).

Analysing Second Hand Car Sales Data with Supervised and Unsupervised Learning Models

The second-hand cars market is a dynamic and very complex sphere which is impacted by different criteria among them - manufacturer, model, engine specification, and fuel consumption, year of production, mileage, and price. In this exercise, we will look through mock data that contains facts on sale of second-or-used cars in UK. The data is made up of 50,000 different records that describe a transaction of a car sale singularly. Through the utilization of supervised learning and unsupervised learning, we plan to perform an analysis of the dataset. This analysis will facilitate car price prediction via a regression model, as well as cluster pattern identification.

Single Numerical Input Feature Regression Models We started our work by using the regression model predicting the car price for each numerical input factor like the mileage, a size of the vehicle etc. This is followed by analyzing the associations over variables such as the car's price and numerical factors like the engine size, the vehicle model year, and mileage. The engine size was found to be the variable having the strongest relation to the auto price, which provided evidence that it is the most powerful driver. While a linear model was appropriate for the year of manufacture, other features that were more complicated like engine size needed a non-linear model in order for their interactions and price fluctuations to be accurately detected.

Multiple Numerical Input Feature Regression Models The analysis was further expanded by incorporating several numeric input parameters while estimating the accuracy of the price predictions. What we reasonably benefited from the usage of extra usages like year of making a car and a number of its kilometers achievement was an improvement of predictive performance in comparison with single-input features models. This holistic approach of studying the many variables that influence car's prices has brought the importance to a limelight of using predictive models by considering many factors simultaneously.

** Regression Model with Categorical Variables** To expand our prediction models, we took categorical variables into account and added attributes of manufacturer and model into the regression. This increased the effectiveness of the algorithm theories more roads less traffic intersections construction of roads should take road traffic distribution between roads as well as traffic intersections into account busier streets less traffic less intersections

** Artificial Neural Network (ANN) Model**

To achieve that, we have implemented the Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model. The ANN showed competitive performance in respect to other supervised learning models which can be attributed to its ability to learn even very complex relationships from the dataset. The architecture and hyper parameters of ANN were thoroughly tweaked for the best results in order to demonstrate its flexibility and effectiveness in dealing with complex datasets.

Model Comparison and Conclusion After comprehensive assessment the Random Forest Regress or model was found to be the most efficient model for forecasting car prices. It’s incorporating both numerical and categorical variables and showing a strong predicting power made it a preferred one. Evaluation metrics and visualizations were given which gave the full picture of the model performance and helped us to arrive at our conclusion that the Random Forests regress or was better.

k-Means Clustering Algorithm Coming to unsupervised learning, we employed the k-Means clustering algorithm to detect clusters in the car sales dataset. Changing input feature variables space in batches, we determined the number of clusters (k) using evaluation metrics by silhouette score. The variables like engine size, year of manufacture and mileage appeared to be critical in getting the most ideal clusters which emphasized their significance in segmenting the data set. Comparison with Other Clustering Algorithms Lastly, we observed the outcomes of the k-Means clustering technique adding the success of the other clustering techniques, for example, DBSCAN, and hierarchical clustering. Evaluation with metrics of rigorous title of the each method worked we assessed the performance to the dataset effective approach in cluster was identified. Just like k-Means achieved promising results, DBSCAN provided us with a base to be further extended by comparing with other algorithms like DBSCAN and emphasizing that several algorithms should be considered for clustering. Conclusion Finally, our extensive discussion on the sales data for used cars has demonstrated favorable results of supervised as well as unsupervised learning techniques towards understanding the information through regression models and so...

In December 2020, car intenders in the United Kingdom purchased around ***** new Jaguar cars. UK car sales nosedived amid the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The peaks seen in March and September are due to the issuing of new registration plates by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. Jaguar's market share In December 2020, Jaguar's share of the UK car market stood at **** percent. This figure represents Jaguar's highest market share between January 2019 and December 2020. Year-to-date, Jaguar’s market share amounted to **** percent, slightly above the average level during the past two years. About Jaguar and Land Rover The British automobile company began production in 1935 and has been a part of the luxury brand Jaguar Land Rover since 2013. In 2019, the Jaguar and Land Rover brands had combined sales of ******* units in Europe. The United Kingdom is Jaguar's largest single market.

A lack of investment has pushed the UK Motor Vehicle Manufacturing industry into decline in 2020-21. Engine production is inching downwards as the industry struggles to attract investment due to higher EU production and multinationals seeking to be part of an integrated EU supply chain to reduce costs. The pandemic deepened the industry's troubles – output dropped by 29.3% in 2020, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders – and recovery has been challenging. Motor vehicle producers have also been plagued by semiconductor shortages and supply chain issues, which have elevated production costs, squeezing their returns. Petrol and diesel vehicle output is falling and carmakers have shifted their focus to electric vehicles, breathing new life into the automotive sector. Car makers’ revenue is forecast to rise at a compound annual rate of 6.7% over the five years through 2025-26 to £73.9 billion, including a revenue drop of 1.5% in 2025-26, when the average profit margin will be 5.4%. This represents an expansion over the five years through 2025-26 as steel and input prices drop.

There’s a glimmer of hope – hybrid and pure electric vehicle sales are rising, both at home and abroad, pushing output at factories. Output climbed in 2023, driven by a resurgence in exports of electric and hybrid cars to the EU. Manufacturers produced 905,117 car units in 2023. However, output dropped to 779,584 units in 2024 because of the transition to electric vehicles. Manufacturers are passing on higher production costs and luxury vehicle sales are driving profit. Production is set to remain high in 2025 and most car makers passing on higher prices is set to limit revenue decline.

To plot a path to recovery, car manufacturers will focus on making alternatively fuelled vehicles (AFVs) in response to the UK’s ban on selling new petrol and diesel vehicles in 2035. However, demand for AFVs is currently weak, threatening the industry’s growth potential. Some carmakers are questioning their future in the UK unless the government does more to drive up demand for electric vehicles. The government has poured more money into building electric charge points to boost uptake, but has withdrawn subsidies for buying electric cars. Still, electric vehicles are likely to dominate the market in the long term, as public and private efforts are increasingly focused on net-zero policies. Revenue is expected to expand at a compound annual growth rate of 1.4% over the five years through 2030-31, reaching £79.3 billion.

The European Motor Vehicle Wholesaling and Retailing industry’s revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 1.6% over the five years through 2025 to €1,461.3 billion, with a projected hike of 2.2% in 2025. In 2023, the EU car market showed clear signs of recovery. According to ACEA data, EU car sales rose by 13.9% from 2022 levels, reaching around 10.5 million units for the year. However, in 2024, the growth slowed considerably, notching up just a modest rise of 0.8%. This surge in car sales boosted profitability for many car dealers. Although electric vehicles are increasingly popular, many people still opt for petrol cars due to lower upfront costs and easier refuelling access than charging an EV, as highlighted by data from Jato Dynamics showing new electric cars in Europe cost 22% more than similar petrol equivalents. Petrol models also remain cheaper to manufacture and maintain because simpler powertrains lessen exposure to rising raw material prices like lithium, which has averaged around €8,848 per tonne in 2024 according to London Metal Exchange figures. Car wholesalers and retailers are responding to higher electric vehicle prices by maintaining attractive petrol portfolios. They're also offering affordable mild-hybrid options as a practical bridge for buyers concerned about EV costs. This helps businesses capture short-term sales and addresses consumer hesitation around investing in pricier electric vehicles. European governments are increasing their efforts to cut emissions in line with climate agreement targets. Zero- and low-emission zones are becoming widespread in European city centres, which restrict the entry of high-polluting vehicles. Governments are incentivising the uptake of electric vehicles by offering subsidies and zero tax on new purchases. The sale of new diesel and petrol cars will be banned in many countries (2030 in the UK, 2035 in the EU), encouraging people and fleet owners to switch to an electric vehicle for their next purchase. Over the five years through 2030, revenue is forecast to climb at a compound annual rate of 5.8% to reach €1,934.5 billion. Connected cars will also be a focus for many dealers, as infotainment systems become widely demanded by customers.

The United Kingdom: New commercial vehicle sales, numbers per year: The latest value from 2024 is 415796 commercial vehicles, an increase from 360612 commercial vehicles in 2023. In comparison, the world average is 469421 commercial vehicles, based on data from 58 countries. Historically, the average for the United Kingdom from 2005 to 2024 is 358515 commercial vehicles. The minimum value, 227543 commercial vehicles, was reached in 2009 while the maximum of 430969 commercial vehicles was recorded in 2016.

The UK used car market is booming, with a projected CAGR of 11.70% to 2033. Discover key trends, growth drivers, and challenges shaping this £126.78 million market, including the rise of online platforms and the impact of electric vehicles. Learn more about leading players and future market projections. Recent developments include: August 2023: Cazoo, the British online auto marketplace, released positive financial results for the second quarter and first half of 2023. This comes after the strategic decision to exit European businesses, focusing exclusively on its home turf in the United Kingdom. The move appears to have yielded favorable outcomes, contributing to the upbeat financial performance reported by Cazoo during this period.. Key drivers for this market are: Increased Travel and Tourism to Fuel Market Demand. Potential restraints include: High Maintenance cost of RV Rental Fleets. Notable trends are: The Offline Segment is Expected to Hold Major Share in the Market.