Record Growth for Used Electric Vehicles in 2025
The UK's used electric car market experienced a remarkable surge in 2025, with sales increasing by 45.7 per cent to reach a new high of 274,815 vehicles. This impressive growth contributed to overall secondhand car transactions rising for the third consecutive year, totalling 7,807,872 cars bought and sold across the nation.
Electrified Vehicles Gain Market Share
Used electric vehicles now account for 3.5 per cent of the total car market, reflecting a significant shift in consumer preferences. The sales of used plug-in hybrid models also saw a healthy increase, rising by 6.3 per cent to 88,032 cars. Meanwhile, secondhand sales of non-plug-in hybrids grew by 28.6 per cent to 407,531 vehicles.
This means total used electrified car transactions reached 770,378, representing nearly ten per cent of all used car purchases in 2025. Buyers are increasingly taking advantage of more affordable prices and growing confidence in the proven longevity of used electric cars and their batteries.
Industry Leaders Comment on Market Resilience
Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), highlighted the market's robustness. “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,” he stated.
“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.”
Popular Models and Colour Trends
Britain's most popular used car remains the Ford Fiesta, with an astonishing 303,090 changing owners last year. It was followed by the Vauxhall Corsa at 247,853 and the Volkswagen Golf at 226,082. Superminis dominated the market, accounting for nearly a third of all used car transactions.
When it comes to aesthetics, black maintained its position as the most popular used car colour, with 1,658,450 black cars changing hands in 2025. Grey secured second place, while white came in third. Despite the national preference for understated colours, 5,279 pink used cars were sold, whereas maroon proved least popular with just 4,697 sales.
The fastest rising colour among used car sales was green, which experienced a 9.1 per cent growth compared to the previous year, reaching 136,742 cars.
Growing Confidence in Electric Vehicle Technology
Drivers are demonstrating increased assurance when purchasing used electric cars as concerns about EV longevity diminish. Batteries are proving more durable than anticipated, often covered by at least eight years of manufacturer warranty. For instance, a nine-year-old Tesla with 250,000 miles was found to retain 84 per cent of its original battery capacity.
Electric vehicles are also showcasing strong reliability due to fewer moving parts and reduced maintenance requirements. Prices in the used electric car market are stabilising, as indicated by the Independent EV Price Index, yet buyers can still benefit from significant initial depreciation on many models.
This combination of factors – enhanced reliability, extended battery life, and attractive pricing – is fuelling the rapid expansion of the used EV market, positioning electric vehicles as an increasingly mainstream choice for secondhand car buyers across the United Kingdom.
