The UK’s used car market has chalked up a third consecutive year of expansion, with electric vehicles emerging as one of the clearest growth stories in the transition to cleaner road transport.
According to new figures published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), 7,807,872 used cars changed hands in 2025, a rise of 2.2% year on year. While petrol and diesel models still dominate overall volumes, demand for electrified vehicles – particularly fully electric cars – has accelerated sharply, signalling growing consumer confidence in battery technology and charging infrastructure.
At the heart of the story is a record-breaking year for used battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Transactions climbed 45.7% to 274,815 units, the highest total ever recorded, pushing BEVs’ market share up to 3.5% from 2.5% a year earlier. That growth significantly outpaced other electrified powertrains, underlining a shift in buyer sentiment as electric cars become more visible, more affordable and easier to own in the second-hand market.
Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) also grew, albeit at a far slower pace, with sales up 6.3% to 88,032 units. Conventional hybrids (HEVs) recorded a stronger increase of 28.6%, reaching 407,531 transactions. Combined, used electrified vehicles rose 30.9% year on year to a record 770,378 units, accounting for almost one in ten (9.9%) used car purchases in 2025.
For industry figures, the rapid rise in used BEVs is a crucial indicator of the wider health of the electric vehicle ecosystem. Delvin Lane, CEO of InstaVolt, said the data showed how visibility and real-world experience were now reinforcing confidence.
“Nearly one in ten used cars sold is now electrified, and that matters because confidence grows with visibility,” Lane said. “When drivers see electric cars changing hands in volume, it reinforces trust in the technology and the infrastructure behind it. Strong growth in used BEVs shows the market is broadening, not stalling, and reliable charging is a key part of that confidence.”
While electrification is gaining momentum, internal combustion engine cars continue to account for the vast majority of used sales. Petrol models remained the most popular choice overall, rising 1.5% to represent 56.7% of all transactions. Diesel, however, continued its gradual decline, with volumes down 3.5% year on year, accounting for 33.1% of the market.
The enduring dominance of petrol and diesel reflects both the scale of the existing vehicle parc and the price sensitivity of many used car buyers. However, analysts point out that the balance is slowly shifting as improving new car supply feeds through into the used market, increasing choice and helping to normalise electric vehicles as mainstream options rather than niche alternatives.
Tanya Sinclair, CEO of Electric Vehicles UK, said the contrast between powertrains was striking and revealed where genuine consumer confidence is now settling.
“The contrast in these figures is clear,” Sinclair said. “Used battery electric sales grew by almost 50%, far outpacing hybrids and plug in hybrids. That tells us where consumer confidence is setting in. As supply improves and choice improves and running costs fall, drivers are opting for fully electric vehicles because they are simpler to own and easier to live with. This is confidence built on experience, not hype.”
Beyond powertrains, the data paints a picture of a largely stable used car market in terms of buyer tastes. Black remained the UK’s most popular used car colour in 2025, chosen by nearly 1.7 million buyers and accounting for 21.2% of all transactions. Grey followed with an 18.2% share, while white overtook blue to claim third place, rising 6.3% year on year to 16.0% of sales. Together, black, grey and white accounted for more than half (55.4%) of all used car transactions.
At the other end of the spectrum, niche colours remained just that. Only 5,279 pink cars were sold during the year, while maroon slipped to last place with 4,697 transactions. Cream, though still rare, recorded the strongest percentage growth, up 10.6% to 5,152 units, while green posted the highest growth among the top ten colours, increasing by 9.1% to 136,742 units.
Vehicle segments also showed remarkable consistency. Superminis once again led the market, accounting for almost one in three (32.1%) used car sales, reflecting their affordability and suitability for urban driving. Lower medium cars followed with a 26.9% share, while dual purpose vehicles – including many SUVs and crossovers – delivered the strongest growth of any segment, up 7.6% year on year to represent 16.8% of transactions.
Luxury saloons, by contrast, remained a marginal presence in the used market, accounting for just 0.5% of sales. That disparity highlights how the used sector continues to be driven by practicality and value, even as powertrain technology evolves.
From an industry perspective, the latest figures underline the importance of a healthy new car market in supporting the transition to zero-emission transport. As more electric cars are registered new, they eventually filter into the used market at lower price points, broadening access for drivers who may not be able or willing to buy new.
Commenting on the figures, Mike Hawes, chief executive of SMMT, said the sustained growth demonstrated both resilience and opportunity.
“A third year of used car sales growth underscores the market’s resilience, with recovering new car demand revitalising choice and affordability – especially for EVs – in the used market,” Hawes said. “The record number of buyers making the switch signals growing confidence in zero and ultra-low emission motoring. Maintaining this momentum, however, and driving the fleet renewal needed to decarbonise our roads at pace, must start with ensuring a strong and sustainable new car market.”
For EV-focused observers, the significance of the data goes beyond headline volumes. Used BEVs are increasingly shaping perceptions of electric motoring, particularly for drivers whose first experience of an EV comes via the second-hand market. As charging networks expand and reliability improves, concerns around range and convenience continue to soften.
The challenge now, many argue, is to ensure that infrastructure growth keeps pace with rising adoption, particularly as used EVs reach buyers without home charging. Public and workplace charging will play a critical role in sustaining confidence and preventing bottlenecks as volumes increase.
Nevertheless, with nearly 275,000 used BEVs sold in a single year and electrified vehicles approaching a tenth of all transactions, the direction of travel is clear. The used car market, long seen as a lagging indicator of technological change, is increasingly becoming a barometer of real-world acceptance. In 2025, that barometer pointed firmly towards electric.
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