Second-hand electric vehicles experienced unprecedented demand in 2025 as the UK’s used car market notched up its third consecutive year of growth.
That conclusion comes from newly published data by the SMMT, which shows the market rising by a notable 2.2% over the year to a total of 7,807,872 transactions.
This progress coincides with the continued recovery of the new car market toward pre-pandemic volumes, having surpassed two million registrations for the first time this decade in 2025.
The latest figures indicate that demand for used electrified vehicles accelerated sharply, supported by a broader selection of models and the appeal of lower running costs.
Across the year, sales of used battery electric vehicles (BEVs) jumped by 45.7% year-on-year to a record 274,815 transactions, giving them a record 3.5% share of the used market, up from 2.5% a year earlier.
Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) sales also increased, rising 6.3% to 88,032 units, while hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) transactions climbed 28.6% to 407,531 units.
In total, electrified vehicle transactions rose by 30.9% in 2025, with a record 770,378 vehicles changing hands, representing 9.9% of all used car deals.
Even so, petrol and diesel models continue to dominate, accounting for the remaining 89.9% of used car transactions.
Petrol retained its position as the most popular powertrain, increasing 1.5% to capture 56.7% of the market. Diesel sales, by contrast, fell by 3.5% to make up 33.1% of total transactions.
Color preferences showed little change at the top end. Black remained the most popular choice, selected by almost 1.7 million buyers (21.2%).
Grey followed with an 18.2% share, while white rose by 6.3% to overtake blue and claim third place at 16.0%. Combined, these three colors accounted for more than half of all used car sales.
At the opposite end of the scale, maroon fell to last place with just 4,697 transactions, narrowly behind the 5,279 pink vehicles sold.
Superminis once again led the market, accounting for nearly one in three transactions (32.1%), followed by lower medium cars and dual-purpose vehicles. Luxury saloons proved the least popular body style, representing only 0.5% of all used car sales.
‘The figures also dispel any lingering doubts about consumer appetite for electric vehicles. We recorded nearly a billion visits (981.9m) last year, with demand for used electric vehicles on our platform rising 28% on 2024.
And this isn’t just idle browsing; used EVs not only sold faster than any other fuel type but also accounted for over one in seven enquiries for used cars under five years old.
‘Looking to the year ahead, we know there will be headwinds, particularly around ongoing supply pressures. However, the fundamental desire for mobility remains unshakable.
Our analysis shows that nine in 10 consumers continue to view car ownership as essential to their lives.
‘With demand remaining robust and such strong levels of engagement on our platform, I have no doubt 2026 will be another strong year for used car sales.’
‘Motorists are increasingly turning to the used car market as the overall cost of motoring continues to rise.
‘With fuel prices, insurance premiums and the cost of new vehicles all putting pressure on household budgets, many drivers are seeking better value in the used market.
Against this backdrop, the government’s ambitions for new car uptake already appear challenging, and proposals such as an EV pay-per-mile tax risk working against these targets.
‘As a result, the used car market will play a critical role in supporting mass EV adoption. To enable this shift, meaningful incentives alongside reliable and accessible charging infrastructure will be essential.’
‘The market’s growth in 2025 is a positive sign as we progress further into 2026, with demand holding firm despite pressure on household budgets. But record EV sales signal a clear shift in consumer preferences that dealers must be ready to meet.
‘Demand alone isn’t enough. Without access to the right stock, particularly high-demand EVs and low-mileage petrol cars, sales will be left on the table for dealers.
‘Many dealers are already anticipating tighter supply conditions this year, increasing their adoption of digital sourcing to secure the vehicles customers want.’
‘The used car market has experienced its third year of sustained growth across 2025, rising 2.2% last year, in part due to the improved availability and affordability of used stock.
‘This pattern is also evident in Carwow data we have seen a 23% rise in unique visitors to used-car pages on the platform compared to 2024, coupled with a 55% rise in enquiries.
‘Looking at demand for specific powertrains in the used market, there was a significant rise in the number of electric and hybrid vehicle enquiries that we shared with our dealer partners, at 72% and 67% respectively in Q4 of 2025, with EV market share rising to a record 3.5%.’
‘While sales of used electric cars grew in 2025, the figures show that demand still lags far behind other fuel types.
Combined with the ever-increasing variety of new models filtering into the used supply chain, this means it is possible to find some amazing deals on second-hand electric cars right now.
‘Take the Hyundai Ioniq 5 as an example. This large family hatchback has room for a family of five, a huge boot, and is packed with the latest technology. It can also do more than 200 miles on a full battery, and has some of the fastest charging speeds of any EV.
‘Even at more than £40,000 for a brand new model it is one of our favourite EVs, but at £15,000 for a four-year-old example that’s still within its manufacturer warranty, it looks like an outright bargain.
‘The Ioniq 5 is not alone, either. When we looked at CarGurus data to find the best value used cars of 2025 based on year-over-year depreciation, eight of the top 10 were EVs, from the wallet-friendly MG4 to sportier offerings like the Ford Mustang Mach-E.
And so, if an EV suits your lifestyle, rest assured that with a used model you stand to get an incredible amount of car for the money.’
Also Read: Top 10 Inexpensive SUVs Owners Commonly Regret Purchasing
