More than two million used car sales took place in the UK in the first quarter of this year.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) said it was the first time since 2019 that the two million mark had been achieved in Q1.
The total of 2,020,990 sales represented a 2.7% year-on-year increase, and marked nine consecutive quarters of growth, which the SMMT attributed to improved supply from the new car market.
In terms of fuel mix, electric cars recorded the strongest year-on-year growth at 58.5%, accounting for a record 3.3% share of the market.
Plug-in hybrids were up by 14% for a 1.2% market share, while conventional hybrids were up by 30.2% to take a 5% market share.
Petrol car transactions were up by 2.1%, while diesels were down by 3.1%. Between them they accounted for 90.5% of the market – though the SMMT noted this was down by 2.4% year-on-year.
SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes said: “The used car market has enjoyed its strongest start to a year since before the pandemic, with supply fuelled by a recovering new car market.
“Critically, more second-hand buyers are opting for electric vehicles, with greater choice and affordability enabling more people and businesses to switch.
“Sustaining and expanding this growth, however, depends on a healthy supply of EVs from the new car market – which in turn requires fiscal incentives alongside a nationally accessible and affordable charge point network so that everyone, whatever their budget or driving needs, can benefit from zero emission motoring.”
