Used car market slows as buyers tighten belts

Sales of used cars dropped in the second quarter of 2022, with more than 407,000 fewer vehicles changing hands than in the same period last year.

A total of 1,759,684 used car sales took place between April and June – an 18.8% fall – according to new figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

Petrol and diesel cars remained dominant during the quarter and accounted for 95.6% of sales, while sales of electric vehicles (EVs) rose by 57% to take 1% of the used market. Plug-in hybrids grew by 1% and hybrids fell by 4%.

The Ford Fiesta was the most popular second-hand car in Q2, with transactions totalling 71,429, followed by the Vauxhall Corsa (57,306) and Volkswagen Golf (54,268).

Black was the most popular colour for a used car, followed by blue and grey. Pink cars proved the least popular overall.

Top 10 used cars (April-June 2022)

1. Ford Fiesta – 71,429
2. Vauxhall Corsa – 57,306
3. Volkswagen Golf – 54,268
4. Ford Focus – 54,144
5. MINI – 42,268
6. Vauxhall Astra – 41,277
7. BMW 3 Series – 40,365
8. Volkswagen Polo – 33,179
9. Audi A3 – 29,888
10. BMW 1 Series – 28,894