AutoTrader Car Market Intelligence (Oct)
A Stable Month for the UK Car Market as EV Momentum Accelerates
September delivered a resilient month for the UK car market. Used car sales continued their run of year-on-year growth, new car registrations recorded the strongest plate-change month since 2020, and electrification moved firmly into the mainstream — supported by increasing discounts, strong consumer interest, and the impact of the Electric Car Grant (ECG).
Overall confidence remains solid as the market heads into Q4.
Used Car Market Overview
Used Car Sales: +1% YoY
Independent retailers once again drove growth thanks to their larger share of older stock—segments where demand remains strongest. Conversely, franchise sales fell –2%, impacted by reduced petrol and diesel availability.
Stock Mix Highlights
- Strong demand in 3–5-year-old cars continues despite –11% supply
- EVs are now the fastest-selling used fuel type for the third month running (27 days to sell)
- Overall used cars sell in 28 days, broadly stable
Market Health
Used car market health dipped slightly year-on-year, down –6%, due to easing demand against an unusually strong September 2024.
Nevertheless, demand remains above long-term norms, and the majority of age cohorts continue to sell quickly.
Used Car Prices Stay Firm
Used car retail prices grew +0.6% YoY, extending price stability for a second consecutive month.
- 10+ year-old vehicles recorded the highest increases
- 3–5-year-old cars: +1.6%
- 5–10-year-old cars: +1.5%
- Cars under 3 years softened as stock returns to normal levels
Month-on-month price movement was just –0.1%, outperforming typical pre-pandemic September declines.
2. New Car Market
New Car Registrations Up 14% YoY
The plate-change month brought the strongest September since 2020—although still 9% below 2019 volumes.
41% of all new vehicles registered were electrified, with plug-in hybrids up +56%, and EV registrations achieving their best month on record (+29%).
New Car Activity on Autotrader
- New car advert discounts averaged 10.1%, up from 9.1% last year
- 82% of adverts offered a discount
- EV discounts remained highest at 11.8%
- New car visits increased +5% YoY
Autotrader Audience: Steady Growth Continues
Autotrader averaged 2.7 million daily visits in Q3, rising 1% YoY—maintaining the platform’s momentum from record-breaking 2024 levels.
3. In Focus: The Electric Car Grant (ECG)
The Electric Car Grant has significantly reshaped consumer behaviour.
Key Impacts
- Enquiries for grant-eligible EVs increased +118%
- Total new EV enquiries up +44% vs pre-grant weeks
- Surge in affordability: EV premium reduced from 33% → 19% YoY
- Models under £40k are increasing monthly
Most Enquired-Upon EV Models (Post-Grant)
The grant has pivoted attention heavily toward affordable mainstream models.
- MG S5 – 13.6% share
- Dacia Spring
- Renault 5 E-Tech
- VW ID. Buzz
- BMW i4
The Ford Puma Gen-E, one of only two models eligible for the £3,750 maximum grant, saw a large surge in interest.
Used EV Market
Used EV demand continues to climb, especially for 3–5-year-old vehicles.
They were the fastest-selling fuel type in September (27 days).
Used EV prices have remained stable with consistent month-on-month performance since July.
Conclusion
The UK automotive market heads into Q4 with stable pricing, solid demand, and accelerating electrification. The Electric Car Grant has been particularly influential, boosting both new and used EV engagement and improving affordability. Overall, September delivered a steady and forward-looking set of indicators for the months ahead.
For deeper detail, refer to the full Auto Trader Monthly Market Intelligence report for September 2025.
