LCV Market Update – Q4 2025
Used LCV Sales Finished the End of 2025 Strong, in Line with Positive Market Health
The final quarter of 2025 brought a strong close to the year for the UK’s light commercial vehicle market. After 12 consecutive months of declining new van registrations, December ended on a high — while used LCV sales maintained their bullish run throughout the quarter. Market health indicators point to resilience, and used electric van engagement hit its highest levels of the year.
Below is the full breakdown from Auto Trader’s Q4 2025 LCV Quarterly Market Intelligence report.
New LCV Registrations: December Ends a Tough Year on a High
After 12 consecutive months of declining new LCV registrations, December ended on a positive note — up 2% year-on-year to 27,694 units. However, in the final quarter overall, new van registrations fell 12% compared with 2024, a trend generally seen throughout the year.
Pickups were back 0.7% in 2025 despite stronger performance pre-tax change. Electric LCVs grew 36% across the year, despite finishing 18% back in December. Though improving their market share, BEV vans are still behind their ZEV target.
Used LCV Sales: A Strong Finish to a Strong Year
December used LCV sales ended strong, up 4% year-on-year, rounding off a consistently positive 2025. Franchise retailer sales were stronger, improving by 4.7%, slightly ahead of independents who grew 3.2%.
Retail sales became less positive towards the end of 2025 as demand fell in the final quarter. Used electric LCV sales remained strong, seeing year-on-year growth across every month of 2025, finishing December 65.7% up — a remarkable figure that underscores the growing appetite for electric vans in the used market.
Used LCV Market Health: Seven Consecutive Months of Positive Territory
Q4 saw a continued rise in market health compared to the same period in 2024, ending 6% up in December year-on-year. It was the seventh consecutive month of positive market health.
Although demand declined through the latter months of 2025, it remained stronger than a reducing supply which fell 8% year-on-year. Market health dynamics were strongest in older age groups (10-15-year-old vans) where demand outpaced supply, putting market health up 12%. Demand for younger 1-3-year-old vans grew 13% while supply grew faster at 18%.
Key metrics for December: demand -3% YoY, supply -8% YoY, market health +6%.
Used LCV Speed of Sale: Seasonal Slowdown as Expected
December saw LCVs sell 4 days slower year-on-year at a median of 47 days, the second slowest month in 2025 — in line with typical end-of-year movements.
Commercial SUVs and pickups were the fastest selling body types in December at 37 and 43 days respectively. Older 10-15-year-old vans sold faster (44 days) than 1-3-year-old vans (51 days) in December, supported by strong market health metrics.
The fastest selling models were the Peugeot E-Expert (panel van), Maxus T90EV (pickup), and Ford E-Transit (combi van).
Used LCV Retail Price Growth: Prices Stabilise After a Year of Decline
Like-for-like used LCV prices remained flat in December, having trended with year-on-year price movements improving since October 2024. December and Q4 both ended with 0% movement on 2024 — a significant stabilisation after months of decline.
Electric pricing ended the year back 4% year-on-year while diesel grew 0.2%. Chassis cabs grew 5.6% and pickups fell 2.3%. Older aged vans continued to see improvements, with 10-15-year-olds growing 7.1% and 15-year-plus up 5.8%, driven by positive market health dynamics.
Prices for younger vans fell: up to 1-year-old were down 3.9% and 1-3-year-olds back 1.7%.
Average used LCV retail price in December: £21,597.
Used Electric LCVs: Engagement Hits 2025 High
The last three months of 2025 saw engagement with used electric LCV adverts finish on a high, incrementally growing as stock increased and finishing 1.5 percentage points higher in December year-on-year. At 4.3%, this was the highest percentage share of advert views for the quarter and the highest value in 2025.
Days to sell for used electric LCVs slowed through last quarter, as typically seen in the run-up to year end, despite selling 1 day faster in December year-on-year at 48 days. By contrast, diesel sold 7 days slower at 47 days. While selling more slowly through the quarter, speed of sale has improved compared to July-September, selling 6 days faster on average — highlighting a volatile but improving marketplace for used electric vans.
Demand, Supply, Market Health and Price by Body Type and Age
The detailed data reveals varied dynamics across different van segments:
Panel vans saw market health at 11%, as supply (-12%) was outpaced by demand (-2%), with average retail price at £19,039 and 1% YoY price growth. SUVs posted strong numbers with an average price of £44,202 and 6% price growth. Tippers also performed well at £22,569 and 7% growth.
By vehicle age, 10-15-year-old vans led with £12,819 average price and 7% price growth, while up to 1-year-old vans saw the sharpest decline at -4% on an average price of £34,736.
By fuel type, diesel held steady at £21,397 with 0% price movement, while electric sat at £23,703 but with -4% price movement year-on-year.
Conclusion
Q4 2025 closed the year on a resilient note for the UK LCV market. Used van sales remained strong, market health extended its positive run, and prices stabilised after a prolonged period of adjustment. The electric van segment continues to gain traction, with engagement metrics at their highest and used sales growing consistently throughout the year.
For retailers, the data reinforces the value of stock diversification, particularly in older age groups where demand-supply dynamics support stronger margins. And while the electric transition in the van market lags behind cars, the momentum is building — both in buyer interest and in the flow of used electric stock into the market.
For further insights, view the full Auto Trader Light Commercial Vehicle Quarterly Market Intelligence Report – Q4 2025.
