The UK’s used car market saw a 2.8% increase in the third quarter, reaching over two million transactions (2,021,265), according to new data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
This marks the strongest Q3 performance since 2021 and continues an 11-quarter streak of growth, fuelled by a rebound in the new car sector that has improved stock availability.
Petrol vehicles remained the top choice, with sales rising 1.9% to 1,145,148 units.
In contrast, diesel transactions declined by 2.8%, totalling 658,664 units. Internal combustion engine (ICE) cars still dominated the market, making up 89.2% of all sales, though this reflects a slight year-on-year decrease.
Sales of hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) surged by 30.0% to 107,727 units, boosting their market share to 5.3%. Plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) also saw modest growth, up 2.0% to 23,480 units, representing 1.2% of the market.
Battery electric vehicles (BEVs) experienced the fastest growth among all powertrains, with sales jumping 44.4% to 80,614 units. This means one in every 25 buyers opted for a BEV, pushing its market share to a record 4.0%, driven by increased manufacturer supply and growing consumer interest.
Here are the most sold cars in Q3 2025:
Top 10 used cars in 2025
Make and Model | Units sold in Q3 |
|---|---|
Ford Fiesta | 78,062 |
Vauxhall Corsa | 64,585 |
Volkswagen Golf | 58,412 |
Ford Focus | 55,888 |
BMW 3 Series | 39,935 |
Volkswagen Polo | 39,706 |
MINI | 39,115 |
Vauxhall Astra | 39,462 |
Nissan Qashqai | 36,933 |
Audi A3 | 32,687 |
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “With used EV uptake at a record high, a robust used car market is essential for fleet renewal, and helps make electrified mobility more accessible for more motorists. However, overall consumer choice and affordability are at risk if the government scraps Employee Car Ownership Schemes, a move that would stifle supply of the very latest vehicles into the used market and cut Exchequer revenue. Britain needs fiscal policy that promotes rather than prevents economic growth, social mobility and decarbonisation.”
The table highlights the top 10 used cars in Q3 2025.
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Most popular car colours in 2025
Black and grey remained the best-selling used car colours in the UK in Q3 this year, up 3.1% and 6.3% respectively. White (up 6.3%) overtook blue to reach the top three for this quarter.
Here are the top 10 colours for used cars bought in the UK:
Colour | No. of transactions in Q3 |
|---|---|
Black | 429,073 |
Grey | 368,767 |
White | 324,947 |
Blue | 320,494 |
Silver/Aluminium | 272,907 |
Red | 199,281 |
Green | 35,762 |
Orange | 15,874 |
Yellow | 11,410 |
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Top 10 regions in the UK for used car sales
The latest SMMT data has revealed the UK for used car sales:
Region | Transactions in Q3 2025 |
South East | 293,084 |
North West | 222,115 |
West Midlands | 208,229 |
East | 198,062 |
South West | 187,709 |
Yorkshire and Humberside | 179,395 |
East Midlands | 161,095 |
Scotland | 160,814 |
London | 151,663 |
Wales | 108,076 |
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