Used car market gains momentum as both independent & franchise retailers record growth for first time this year
The UK’s used car market showed clear signs of underlying strength in August, with Autotrader’s latest market data revealing sales volumes grew across franchise, independent and supermarket retailers for the first time this year, while its AI-powered Retail Price Index points to continued stability in retail prices.
Based on hundreds of thousands of daily pricing observations across the UK retail market, the Index shows the average asking price of a used car reached £17,131 in August, while like-for-like prices softened marginally by -0.1% YoY, and -0.4% month-on-month (MoM), in line with seasonal norms.
Despite this modest dip, broader Autotrader market data shows fast stock turn continued to support a healthy sales environment.Indeed, used cars sold in an average of 30 days last month, unchanged YoY and one day faster than in July, while used car transaction volumes rose by an average of 2.6% YoY.
Crucially, August marked the first time this year that each of the major retail channels — franchise, independent and supermarket — recorded transaction growth, underlining the breadth of trading activity across the sector. At a time when wholesale values have softened, Autotrader’s data points to a very different picture on forecourts: not only do retail prices remain stable, but cars are selling quickly, and buyers are continuing to transact at current prices. For retailers, that reinforces the importance of pricing to live retail demand and taking advantage of potential for increased margins, rather than allowing short-term trade movements to pull advertised prices down unnecessarily.
EVs and older stock offer strongest margin opportunities
Beneath the headline figures, August’s data shows a market that remains highly nuanced. Younger used cars were the main driver of the overall softening in like-for-like prices, with 1–3-year-old models down -1.8% year-on-year, likely as a result of increasingly competitive new car offers competing closely with these models.However, cars aged three years and above proved more resilient, with moderate growth across 3–10-year-old models and sustained strength in older stock.
Cars aged 10–15 years continued to record the strongest performance by age cohort, with like-for-like prices rising 6.9% YoY to an average asking price of £7,183. Those aged over 15 years also recorded positive growth, up 2.6%, highlighting the ongoing appeal of older, more affordable stock profiles.
Electric vehicles were the standout performer by fuel type, recording a third consecutive month of annual price growth. Used EV like-for-like values rose 3.8% YoY and 0.5% MoM in August (£25,095), the strongest growth of any fuel type, supported by continued buyer appetite and improving confidence in the used electric market.
Performance was especially strong among 3–5-year-old electric cars, where like-for-like prices rose 9.4% YoY and 1.4% MoM to £20,351. This cohort also continued to turn especially quickly, selling in an average of 26 days, compared with 27 days for used EVs overall.
The model-level data further illustrates where demand is concentrating, with more premium and enthusiast-led models leading annual price growth. Across all fuel types, the strongest increase was recorded by the Porsche Boxster, up 20.2% year-on-year, followed by the Alfa Romeo Giulia and Audi RS6 Avant. Among electric vehicles, the Renault Zoe led annual price growth, followed by the Skoda Enyaq, MG5 and Kia Niro, highlighting continued strength across both more affordable and family-focused used EVs.
August’s data points to a used car market with real underlying momentum. Prices remain stable, cars are selling quickly, and transaction volumes are growing across franchise, independent and supermarket retailers for the first time this year. That combination should give retailers real confidence that demand remains strong, and critically, that current retail price levels are continuing to convert into sales.
“In a market like this, it’s important not to allow short-term wholesale movements to overshadow what’s happening in the live retail market. Buyers are still active, stock is turning, and there are clear pockets of profit potential in electric vehicles and older cars in particular. For retailers sourcing well in a softer wholesale market, this presents a clear margin opportunity: buy more competitively, price to the live retail market, and avoid giving away profit by pulling advertised prices down unnecessarily.”
Top 10 used car price growth (all fuel types) | August 2026 vs August 2025 like-for-like
Top 10 used car price contraction (all fuel types) | August 2026 vs August 2025 like-for-like
Top 10 used car price growth (electric only) | August 2026 vs August 2025 like-for-like
Top 10 used car price contraction (electric only) | August 2026 vs August 2025 like-for-like
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