Used car retail values dipped in September 2026, marking the first monthly price drop recorded all year, although sustained demand for electric vehicles shielded the wider sector from a far steeper decline.
Rising fuel costs are driving a clear shift in the UK used vehicle market, as diesel values drop and motorists increasingly turn to hybrids.
Used car values dropped by 0.9% during August as higher disposal volumes and more selective buying put greater pressure on the wholesale market, but battery electric vehicles (BEVs) bucked the trend.
The UK’s used car market has demonstrated “notable resilience” in the year to date, with data revealing a strong retail environment, particularly for hybrid vehicles.
The UK’s used car market will see a flat year for volumes across 2025 but used electric vehicle prices are set to stabilise, Cox Automotive has predicted.
Used electric car values rose 1% at the three-year mark in September, according to new figures from Cap HPI.