Used car sales reach post-pandemic milestone – these are the most popular second-hand models of 2025 so far

Britons have been snapping up more second-hand cars so far in 2025 than any year since the pandemic, official figures confirm this morning.

Used car transactions toppled the two million mark in the first quarter for the first time since pre-Covid 2019.

A total of 2,020,990 vehicles changed hands between the start of January and the end of March, the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) confirmed on Friday morning.

Sales grew by 2.7 per cent on the same period last year, capping off nine consecutive quarters of growth as the market responded to greater supply from the new car sector.

Industry insiders suggest drivers have been turning to the second-hand market during a time of economic and political uncertainty, while there was also an ‘impressive growth spurt for the maturing used electric vehicles’ as rapid depreciation makes them a more affordable option than a petrol car of equivalent size and age. 

Yet the statistics show that there’s one particular vehicle type that’s proving immensely popular among second-hand buyers – and it might just be due to a shortage of availability of new examples in showrooms.  

While SUVs are dominating the new car market in terms of sales, it is small models that are proving a mainstay of used demand.

Superminis were again the best-selling segment, accounting for a third of transactions.

The Ford Fiesta (79,617) continues to be the most bought and sold used car in Britain, while the Vauxhall Corsa (65,008) and Mini Hatch (41,439) were also among the top five most popular models.

This is despite the fact smaller cars are in far shorter supply to showrooms than they were just a matter of years ago.

It comes as manufacturers have been killing off a number of much-loved internal combustion engine (ICE) models in the pursuit to electrify their ranges for a zero-emissions future.

And it has typically been small and relatively inexpensive cars that have been first for the chopping block as brands go about reshaping their model line-ups ahead of the ban on new petrols and diesels from 2030.

While the Fiesta – despite its incredible popularity – was axed in 2023, the Fiat 500 and VW Up have also disappeared from dealer forecourts in recent months.

As such, the number of ICE options available to motorists in the smallest ‘A-segment’ – commonly referred to as ‘city cars’ – has shrunk to just three choices, analysis by This is Money earlier this year found.

The SMMT’s records show that small family hatchbacks and saloons – think VW Golf (58,080) and Ford Focus (57,956) – are the second most sought after car types, accounting for a quarter (27 per cent) of used transactions in the first quarter of the year. 

SUVs made up only 16.8 per cent of sales – a stark contrast to the segment’s dominance of the new market, where it secured a third of sales in 2024.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘The used car market has enjoyed its strongest start to a year since before the pandemic, with supply fuelled by a recovering new car market. 

Ian Plummer, Auto Trader’s commercial director, added that the second-hand market ‘may well already be on track to grow beyond our earlier prediction of 7.7 million sales this year’.

Increasing availability of EVs at lower prices drive sales

Petrol remained the best-selling fuel type, rising 2.1 per cent to 1,149,855 units, while diesel experienced a 3.1 per cent decline to 679,739 units as a lack of supply from the rapidly shrinking new market took effect. 

As such, it means nine in ten used cars bought are still traditional ICE models.

However, second-hand EVs continued to experience recorded growth, with transactions up 59 per cent to 65,850 sales in the first three months of 2025. They now account for 3.3 per cent of used cars changing hands.

Hybrids also attracted record second-hand sales of 98,830 units (up 30 per cent), while 23,540 plug-in hybrids changed hands in the first quarter of the year – an increase of 14 per cent year-on-year.

Hawes said: ‘Critically, more second-hand buyers are opting for electric vehicles, with greater choice and affordability enabling more people and businesses to switch. 

‘Sustaining and expanding this growth, however, depends on a healthy supply of EVs from the new car market – which in turn requires fiscal incentives alongside a nationally accessible and affordable charge point network so that everyone, whatever their budget or driving needs, can benefit from zero emission motoring.’

Auto Trader put the success down to ‘more stock, more choice, and greater affordability’. 

Ian Plummer added: ‘With supply only set to intensify, pressure on prices will continue, and with two in five used EVs already priced below £20,000, the second-hand market will become ever more attractive for buyers eager to make the switch.’

That said, there are still barriers limiting second-hand EV uptake. 

Ginny Buckley, chief executive of electric car buying advice website Electrifying.com, pointed to a survey of over 11,000 UK drivers at the end of 2024 which revealed that just 6 per cent felt confident buying a used EV for the first time.

She said this ‘highlights the need for better education and support to help more people benefit from the savings and enjoyable driving experience that comes with owning a used electric car’.