Used car prices reach two-year high as resilient market shrugs off budget
Average used retail prices rise to £17,103 in November – the highest level in almost two years – as supply constraints keep the market tight and resilient.
Market conditions remain stable following last week’s Budget; demand for used cars continues to hold firm despite broader economic uncertainty.
Average speed of sale at 32 days, in line with last year; EVs also the fastest-selling fuel type at just 27 days.
10–15-year-old cars show fastest price growth – up 8.1% year on year amid intense demand for affordable stock.
5th December 2025, London – The UK’s used car market continued its stable end-of-year trajectory in November, with retail prices rising to their highest level in almost two years. What’s more, despite the short-term uncertainty created by the Chancellor’s Budget last week, analysis from Autotrader indicates that consumer demand has remained robust throughout the autumn, helped by tight levels of retail supply.
According to Autotrader’s Retail Price Index, based on around 800,000 daily AI-driven observations, the average price of a used car reached £17,103 in November, representing a 0.5% year-on-year (YoY) increase on a like-for-like basis. Although prices eased slightly compared with October (-0.5% MoM), this level of movement is in line with normal seasonal patterns, and November’s headline figure remains higher than at any point since early 2024.
Price performance continues to be underpinned by supply constraints, particularly amongst the more recent 3–5-year-old cohorts, where volumes remain around 1.8m1 fewer than in 2019. These conditions are helping to explain why independent retailers are currently outperforming franchised groups, given their differing stock profiles and customer bases.
Petrol prices lead growth - older cars remain exceptionally strong
Fuel-type level data highlights continued strength in the petrol segment: petrol used cars increased 1.5% YoY, marking the eighth consecutive month of annual price growth and one of the largest jumps seen in 2025.
Diesel values also rose by 2.7% YoY, while EV prices remain down compared with last year (-5.5%), though the rate of contraction continues to moderate as the electric market matures and settles into closer alignment with the rest of the market.
Notably, 10–15-year-old cars were up 8.1% YoY in November – one of the strongest performances for this age group in several years, reflecting intense demand for affordable used stock.
The average used car took 32 days to sell in November, flat versus the same month last year – a positive sign given wider economic pressures. Electric vehicles were the fastest-selling fuel type at an average of 27 days, two days quicker than November 2024, underlining their increasing integration into the mainstream used market, as well as both the potential EV opportunities for retailers and the growing confidence of buyers.
Autotrader’s data suggests that any potential dampening effects from last week’s Budget would already have been felt over recent weeks, yet consumer engagement has remained resilient. Car ownership continues to be viewed as a necessity rather than discretionary spend, and demand levels continue to track ahead of seasonal expectations.
With one month remaining, the overall new and used car market is on course to deliver circa 9.76 million total cars exchanged in 2025, with expectations that 2026 will edge back above 10 million, returning activity to levels last consistently seen in 2019.
While Q4 typically sees a moderation in actual transactions, consumer research behaviour remains strong and precedes the fast start to the new year typically seen in January volumes. In fact, over the last two years, the volume of used car transactions has rocketed circa 40%2 between the seasonal December lull and January. Autotrader data shows buyers spend around 88 days researching before making a purchase, meaning much of November and December’s engagement will convert into early-2026 sales. This positions retailers well for a strong start to the new year, provided stock is visible, competitively priced, and accurately merchandised online.
Commenting, Marc Palmer, Head of Strategy & Insights at Autotrader, said:
November has been another month of encouraging stability. Prices are the highest they’ve been for almost two years, the pace of sale is holding steady, and demand has remained robust despite the noise around last week’s Budget. Car ownership is essential for most households, and that continues to underpin the strength of the used market even when wider economic indicators are mixed."
“We’re also seeing a maturing electric vehicle market, with EVs now the fastest-selling fuel type and behaving in a much more aligned way to the rest of the market. Combined with tight supply across key age and price segments, particularly 3–5-year-old cars, the fundamentals remain broadly positive while also highlighting that effective sourcing policies are crucial to unlocking success in this market."
“With just a month to go, the market is on track to get close to 10 million cars changing hands this year, and we expect 2026 to push comfortably above that. Engagement remains strong through Q4, and as many of today’s researchers become January’s buyers, retailers who maintain visibility and pricing discipline are well placed to start the new year with real momentum.”
[1] There were circa 4.8m 3-5-year-old used cars in the market in 2019, vs circa 3m in 2025.
Follow us on our social channels to keep up with the latest news, insights and company developments.
If you would like to be added to our News & views mailing list, or have any media-related enquiries, please contact our press team:
Looking to join the team?
Looking to make a sale?
Looking to make a purchase?
Sign up to our email alerts service:
Join our news & views mailing list
or submit media-related enquiries:
