Used car market accelerates in October as hybrids lead fastest-selling rankings
The average used car is taking 27 days to leave retailers’ forecourts in October, down from 30 days in September and 29 days during the same period last year, according to the latest market data from Autotrader. The accelerating pace adds to broader signs of resilience across the used market, with Autotrader forecasting[1]used car transactions to grow 1.9% this year to 7.95 million, the highest annual volume since 2017.
Hybrids lead October's fastest-selling rankings
Beneath the robust market average, however, October's data shows significant variation in how quickly different types of stock are moving. Hybrid models occupy the three fastest-selling spots this month, led by the 5-to-10-year-old petrol hybrid Toyota Yaris, which is taking an average of just 14 days to sell. The plug-in hybrid JAECOO 7 follows at 14.5 days, ahead of the petrol hybrid version Hyundai BAYON at 17 days.
October’s fastest-selling rankings also underline the breadth of demand across the used market, with rapidly selling cars spanning a wide range of ages and fuel types. That JAECOO 7, which ranks second overall, is aged under-one-year old, whilst other rapid movers are the 10-15–year-old petrol BMW 1 Series and the 3-5-year-old electric Kia Niro, both taking just 18 days to sell.
This nuance is also reflected at a broader market level. Indeed, electric cars are currently the fastest-selling fuel type overall at an average of 25 days, followed by full/mild hybrids and plug-in hybrids at 26 days, while petrol cars are taking 27 days. Three-to-five-year-old cars are also the fastest-selling age cohort overall at 25 days, while amongst electric cars, those aged between five and 10 years are moving at the fastest pace, taking just 20 days on average to sell.
Diesel stock takes longest to sell amid pressure at the pumps
Diesel, however, is the slowest-selling fuel type, taking an average of 32 days to leave retailers’ forecourts. Three diesel models feature among October’s 10 slowest sellers, including the 5-10-year-old diesel Kia Sportage, which is taking 35 days to sell. This contrasts sharply with the petrol-hybrid versions aged below 1 year-old, and 3-5-years-old, which are both among the month’s fastest sellers at 19 and 19.5 days respectively – highlighting how fuel type and age can significantly influence the performance of the same model.
The figures come against a backdrop of record fuel prices and widening differences in consumer demand between fuel types. Autotrader’s data shows demand for used diesel cars fell 19.2% year-on-year in September, considerably steeper than the 6.8% contraction in supply. By contrast, demand for used electric cars increased 40% over the same period, significantly ahead of the 26% increase in supply.
The speed at which cars are leaving forecourts is another encouraging sign of the underlying health of the used car market. Despite continued economic pressures, cars are selling faster than both last month and last year, and with transactions forecast to reach their highest level since 2017, the market is carrying real momentum into the final months of 2026.
"What’s particularly interesting is what’s happening beneath that headline. Rising fuel costs are part of the backdrop for car buyers, and we’re seeing a clear difference between diesel, which is currently the slowest-selling fuel type, and the strength of hybrid models at the top of the rankings. But slower demand doesn’t mean diesel is disappearing; there are still parts of the market where it remains an important choice, so the opportunity for retailers is increasingly about understanding where that demand remains.”
Slowest-selling used cars – October 2026
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