Top 10 most popular used cars in the UK

The UK’s used car market is a vital part of the automotive industry, offering drivers an affordable and flexible alternative to buying new.

With millions of vehicles changing hands each year, it reflects not only consumer demand but also trends within the industry.

This buying and selling guide will explain more about the data surrounding used car sales in the UK.

UK used car sales 2026

The UK’s used car market returned to growth in the second quarter, with transactions rising by 0.7% as 2,009,318 vehicles changed hands, according to the latest figures from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

It was the first second quarter since 2021 in which sales exceeded the two million mark, with volumes sitting just 1.2% below pre-pandemic levels.1 The strong performance offset the slight decline seen in the first quarter, leaving the market 0.2% up year-to-date, with a total of 4,025,550 used vehicle transactions.

Growth in EV sales 2026

Used battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales continued to surge in the second quarter, jumping 67.0% to 110,761 transactions, marking the strongest quarterly growth since the opening quarter of 2024.

Demand was particularly strong in April and May, with sales increasing by 110.9% and 57.6% respectively, before growth eased to 37.8% in June. The uplift came as fuel prices climbed following tensions in the Middle East and against a comparatively subdued period in 2025 when VED changes were introduced.

As a result, BEVs accounted for 5.5% of all used car purchases between April and June, up from 3.3% a year earlier, as motorists benefited from a wider range of models entering the market.

Hybrid electric vehicles also enjoyed significant growth, with transactions rising 31.2% to 130,825 units.

Their share of the used car market increased from 5.0% to 6.5% year-on-year. In contrast, plug-in hybrid vehicle sales declined by 6.8% to 22,856 units, reducing their share of overall transactions from 1.2% to 1.1%.

Most popular colours for used cars 2026

Monochrome shades continued to dominate the used car market, mirroring trends seen in new car sales.

More than 1.1 million used vehicles sold during the quarter were finished in black, grey or white (1,134,536). Demand for all three colours increased year-on-year, with sales of black, grey and white vehicles rising by 0.7%, 4.1% and 4.7% respectively.

Together, they accounted for 56.5% of all used car transactions.

Blue remained the fourth most popular colour despite sales falling by 1.1%, while silver held onto fifth place even though transactions were down 6.4% compared with the same period last year.

Most popular used cars Q2 2026

Here are the most popular used cars bought in the UK in April, May, and June of 2026:

Source: SMMT

Most popular used cars Q1 2026

Here are the most popular used cars bought in the UK in the first three months of 2026:

Source: SMMT

Top 10 used cars in 2025

The UK’s used car sector continued to expand in 2025, rising by 2.2% to a total of 7,807,872 transactions, according to new data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

This marks the third year in a row of growth, helped by improving new‑car supply feeding strong second‑hand demand, especially for electrified models.

Interest in electrified vehicles accelerated sharply. Used battery‑electric car sales jumped 45.7% year‑on‑year, reaching a record 274,815 transactions and increasing their market share to 3.5%, up from 2.5% in 2024. Plug‑in hybrids grew 6.3% to 88,032 units, while conventional hybrids climbed 28.6% to 407,531.

Altogether, electrified used‑car sales rose 30.9% to 770,378, representing 9.9% of all purchases. Petrol and diesel vehicles still dominated, however, making up 89.9% of the market. Petrol remained the most popular choice, up 1.5% to 56.7% share, while diesel slipped 3.5% to 33.1%.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: “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. 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.”

The table highlights the top 10 used cars in 2025, according to the SMMT.

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Most popular car colours in 2025

Here are the top 10 colours for used cars bought in the UK:

^{Source: SMMT, 2025 data}

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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:

^{Source: SMMT}

Used car sales by month in 2025

Here is the total sales of used cars month-by-month in 2025.

^{Source: SMMT}