SECOND-HAND car sales in the UK were up 5.1 per cent in the first quarter of 2022 compared with the same period last year, according to industry figures.
Some 1,774,351 used-car market transactions took place, up 86,596 on the corresponding 2021 figure, when pandemic lockdowns only allowed for click-and-collect services from dealers.
And the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) figures showed it was a record first three months for purchases of pre-loved fully electric vehicles.
The number of pre-owned zero-emission cars changing hands more than doubled from 6625 to 14,586 – a rise of 120.2 per cent.
Second-hand plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and hybrids (HEVs) also saw sales rising by 35.3 per cent to 14,433, and 28.8 per cent to 35,007 units respectively.
Despite the growth, however, petrol and diesel powertrains continued to dominate the used market, representing 96.2 per cent of sales – 1,707,135 vehicles.
Superminis (32.6 per cent) remained the most popular buy, followed by lower-medium cars (26.6 per cent) and dual-purpose vehicles (14 per cent).
SMMT boss Mike Hawes said: “With the new-car market hampered by ongoing global supply shortages, growth in the used-car sector is welcome.
“Electric car sales are energising the market, with zero-emission vehicles starting to filter through in larger numbers to consumers looking forward to driving the latest and greenest vehicles.”
A spokesperson for Electric Vehicle Association Scotland added: “It is important that the second-hand EV car market remains buoyant here and that drivers eager to make the transition to electric vehicles have the opportunity to do so.
“Despite new-car availability being temporarily reduced, the demand for EVs is almost insatiable. So it’s encouraging to see dealerships across the country striving to provide used EVs to fill the gap.”
