7.6 million used cars sold in UK last year - Ford Fiesta still the king

In a year that saw the UK's used car market register a 5.5 per cent growth, totalling 7,643,180 transactions, one thing is clear: Brits are still mad about their motors. 2024 marks the eighth consecutive quarter of growth, with 400,488 more vehicles finding new homes compared to 2023.

Leading the pack, superminis remained the top choice, accounting for 32.3 per cent of all used car sales. Lower medium vehicles held their ground in second place with a 27.1 per cent share, while dual-purpose vehicles, like SUVs, rounded out the top three at 15.9 per cent. Notably, dual-purpose vehicles saw the strongest surge in popularity, with a 10.7 per cent increase in sales.

For the third consecutive year, the Ford Fiesta was the used car champion with 306,207 transactions, followed by the Vauxhall Corsa (252,761) and Volkswagen Golf (231,440). The Nissan Qashqai was the only crossover in the Top 10, taking the ninth position just above the BMW 1 Series. 

Used car market analysis:

UK's used car market on track for a record year

UK used car market, August 2024: strong sales, stable prices

Top 10 used car models in 2024:

1. Ford Fiesta - 306,207

2. Vauxhall Corsa - 252,761

3. VW Golf - 231,440

4. Ford Focus - 228,220

5. Mini - 160,516

6. Vauxhall Astra - 159,495

7. BMW 3 Series - 158,674

8. VW Polo - 151,786

9. Nissan Qashqai - 138,810

10. BMW 1 Series - 125,440

When it comes to colour preferences, black cars took the lead, with over 1.6 million buyers (21.3 per cent) opting for the sleek shade. Grey and blue followed, capturing 17.6 per cent and 16.2 per cent of sales, respectively. Interestingly, 5,171 adventurous souls chose pink vehicles, marking an increase of 301 from the previous year. Turquoise cars also had their moment, boasting the largest growth at 11.2 per cent, totalling 8,266 sales.

The electric avenue saw significant traffic, with used battery electric vehicle sales skyrocketing by 57.4 per cent to a record 188,382 units, capturing a 2.5 per cent market share. Plug-in hybrids and hybrids also enjoyed increased attention, with sales climbing 32.2 per cent and 39.3 per cent, respectively.

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Despite the electric surge, petrol and diesel cars still dominated the used market, accounting for 92.1 per cent of all transactions. Petrol-powered cars saw a 6.8 per cent increase, representing 57.1 per cent of the market, while diesel transactions dipped by 2.4 per cent, making up 35 per cent of sales.

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