The latest on used car prices
April’s Retail Price Index (RPI) from Autotrader shows that the UK used car market has defied headwinds with the strongest month-on-month price growth since 2021. In this used car update we will take a look at
Price growth
Shifting buyer behaviour
Profit opportunities
Prices see biggest monthly jump since 2021
Used car retail prices increase by 1.8% month-on-month (MoM) on a like-for-like basis, while the average advertised price reached £17,397¹. This marks the strongest monthly like-for-like pricing increase since November 2021¹. Price growth typically strengthens following the March plate change, and April’s uplift was consistent with seasonal norms. This signals a strong start to Q2, despite wider economic uncertainty. Looking more broadly, used car prices have remained flat (0.0%) on an annual basis, marking a full year of stable movements¹.
Alongside this, we recorded 83.8 million cross-platform visits in April, a 1.3% year-on-year (YoY) increase, while overall transactions grew by 3%. Franchise dealers led this retail sales growth with a 4% increase, supported by a stronger supply of electric vehicles (EVs). But independent dealers also grew by 1%, highlighting broad trading momentum across the whole market.
Is buyer behaviour shifting ?
Autotrader’s data is also pointing to shifting demand patterns as buyers behaviours begins to change. EV demand continues to surge (59% YoY) as fuel prices rise¹. In April we’ve seen used electric car asking prices rise by 3% MoM (£23,555 vs. £22,945 in March 25¹), outperforming the wider market. But it’s not just prices that are rising, demand for used EVs on Autotrader also grew by 59% YoY, up from 38% in March¹, which marks the highest rate of demand growth in over a year¹. Importantly, this growing demand is converting into increase EV sales. EVs remain the standout success story, with sales doubling YoY¹. EVs now account for more than 1-in-10 used car transactions¹, building on the record market share achieved in the previous month. The growing demand highlights increasing consumer confidence in electric vehicles, alongside improved availability across the market. EVs are selling in just 28 days on average, down from 31 days in April 2025¹, and for the first time EV supply has fallen in April as strong demand saw stock sell faster than it entered the market particularly among the 3-5-year-old models, which are selling in just 25 days on average - the fastest selling segment of the market¹.
Profit Opportunity
It’s important to note that while EV demand, speed of sale, and prices are all moving in a positive direction, it’s not the only pocket of the market that has profit opportunity for retailers. Older stock is a great avenue for profit potential, with 10-15-year-old vehicles seeing a like-for-like price rise of 8.4% YoY and a 2.1% increase MoM in April¹.
While demand for ICE vehicles may be slipping with just 45% of consumer interest focused on ICE aged below 5 years, that figure skyrockets as high as 96% in the 10-15-year old segment of the market¹. Demand for petrol and diesel within this age cohort rise 4% and 3% respectfully on Autotrader last month¹. This interest in older vehicles is being largely driven by a structural supply imbalance in the used market because of pandemic shortages. The shortfall of 5-7-year-old vehicles is pushing many buyers towards older vehicles which opens a huge profit potential for retailers.
How can retailers take advantage of these profit opportunities?
Keeping on top of changing market trends can help retailers make more informed decisions around pricing, sourcing, and stock management. Having access to live market data and retail insights makes it easier to understand what’s happening in the market right now, spot more opportunities earlier and react to changes in consumer demand.
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Market Insight provides a view of live market trends so you can see how changes in supply, demand, and pricing will impact your business, helping you to optimise your current and future forecourt through smarter pricing and sourcing decisions
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You can use Retail Rating to secure the right stock for your forecourt. Choosing the right vehicles can improve your days to sell and potentially improve profits
See where your vehicle sits in the market with a real-time view of Autotrader Valuations within Retail Check. Giving you visibility into the live retail market, helping you maximise margin on every sale.
Identify stock that needs to be disposed of sooner by monitoring the Retail Rating and Retail Valuation of a vehicle. Helping you to minimise losses and optimise your forecourt.
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¹Autotrader Internal Data April-26
