More than seven million used cars were sold in the UK last year as the market increased by 5.1%, or 351,915 units, from 2022.
The Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) has reported that sales were up four quarters in a row.
Meanwhile, used EV sales nearly doubled through the year, rising by 90.9% to a record 118,973. That accounted for a 1.6% share of the overall market, which was up from 0.9% in 2022.
Hybrids and plug-in hybrid also had a good year, increasing by 40% and 25.1%.
However, diesel and petrol remained the most popular fuel types with 94.3% of the overall market.
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A healthy new car market is key to driving choice in the used sector and it’s great to see record numbers of second and third owners benefitting from the growing availability of electric vehicles. The demand is there, but to sustain it we must enable every motorist to make the switch. The upcoming Budget is a prime opportunity for government to do just that – halving VAT on new EVs, while making public charging as easy and affordable as plugging in at home, would ensure a faster and fairer transition for all, giving the UK a green economic boost.”
