AutoTrader Car Market Intelligence – February 2026
Resilient Demand Supports Continued Market Stability
February’s Auto Trader Monthly Market Intelligence report shows a UK car market that continues to build momentum ahead of the crucial March plate-change. New car registrations rose 7% to their highest February level since 2004, used car prices held steady, and Chinese brands accelerated their presence across both new and used markets — reshaping the competitive landscape for retailers.
Below is the full breakdown of the key findings.
New Car Registrations: Strongest February Since 2004
February new car registrations rose 7% to their highest level since 2004, with 90,100 vehicles registered. Although February typically accounts for around 4% of the year’s volumes, growth was driven by an 18% increase in private sales while fleet growth lagged at 2%. EV volumes grew 3% but lost share for a second month, with PHEVs the only fuel type to gain share year-on-year.
The strong private performance is a notable development, suggesting consumer confidence is holding firm ahead of the plate-change.
Used Car Sales: A Slight Dip but EVs Surge
Used car transactions fell slightly by 2% in February, with a 5% decline in franchise retailer transactions while independents held steady. The fuel mix story continues to shift: petrol and diesel
vehicles saw drops of 5% and 15% respectively, while electric and full/mild hybrid vehicles saw significant growth, both up 25% year-on-year.
This divergence underscores the structural shift taking place in the used market, with electrified
powertrains gaining ground even as overall volumes soften.
Autotrader Audience: Stability Ahead of Plate-Change
Site visits to Autotrader were 1% back from 2025’s record levels, although visitor volumes held steady from January to February and slightly ahead of Q1 2024. This stability provides optimism for the remainder of the quarter, with over three in five consumers feeling confident in their ability to afford a car.
New car site visits grew 7% in February, driven by growing stock and incentives as manufacturers continue to pursue buyer demand ahead of the plate-change. Discounts grew further, averaging 10.5% — the highest level recorded for the second month in a row. EV discounts remained the deepest at 11.8%. EV lead share stood at 21%, down 1.1 percentage points month-on-month.
Used Market Health: Supply Grows, Demand Holds
Stability continued to underpin the used car market in February as supply grew marginally while demand remained stable. On average, cars sold every 27 days — one day faster than last year — as consumer demand remains strong.
Vehicles over 3 years old sold faster than the market average as they attract the largest concentration of demand. Petrol vehicles were overall the fastest selling fuel type.
Key metrics for February: demand flat at 0% YoY, supply +1% YoY, market health -1%.
Used Car Retail Price Growth: Steady with Pockets of Strength
On average, used car prices remained stable in February, moving -0.2% year-on-year. Older cars and those where supply is contracting outperformed the market, with 10-15-year-old vehicles recording the most notable gains at +9.4%. Diesel and petrol cars also saw the most significant improvements of any fuel type, up +3.4% and +1.0% respectively.
Contrastingly, growing supply drove downward pressure across other segments. Under-1-year-old cars fell -4.6%, and EVs saw prices fall 1.2% month-on-month as supply continues to increase.
In Focus: Chinese Brands Accelerate into the Used Car Market
This month’s spotlight revealed the rapid acceleration of Chinese brands across the UK market. One in ten new cars sold in 2025 was from a Chinese brand, with registrations and share more than doubling in just 12 months. Chinese brands now account for 23% of new plug-in hybrids and 16% of new EVs.
The shift is now beginning in the used market as stock flows through. The number of under-1-year-old Chinese brand cars has more than doubled in the past year, now accounting for 1 in 10 of all sub-1-year stock on Autotrader. Meanwhile, 1-3-year-olds have grown by 18%, reaching a 6% share.
Consumer interest is following the stock. Chinese brands now account for 9% of stock, 10% of consumer interest, and 13% of enquiries on cars aged under a year old. PHEVs perform particularly well, with 1 in 3 enquiries going to Chinese brands — the big beneficiaries being Chery at 10%, BYD at 8%, and JAECOO close behind at 7%.
For retailers, this presents a clear opportunity: diversifying stock mix to include Chinese brands could unlock incremental sales growth as consumer confidence in these brands deepens.
Demand, Supply, Market Health and Price Movement by Segment
The detailed segment analysis reveals continued strength in older vehicles and traditional fuel types, with downward pressure on younger stock and EVs. Petrol market health remained positive, while electric vehicles continued to see supply outstrip demand.
Under-1-year-old cars saw the sharpest price decline at -4.6%, while 10-15-year-olds gained +9.4%. Volume brands softened to -1.0%, while premium brands held marginally positive at +0.1%.
Conclusion
February confirms that the UK car market is in a stable and cautiously positive position heading into the critical March plate-change period. The private buyer recovery, steady used market dynamics, and the emerging Chinese brand opportunity all point to a market with meaningful growth potential.
The challenge for retailers is clear: navigate the shifting fuel mix, capitalise on growing consumer interest in electrified and Chinese-brand vehicles, and use pricing intelligence to optimise stock performance in a market where the margins between growth and stagnation are increasingly fine.
For further insights, view the full Auto Trader Monthly Market Intelligence Report – February 2026.
