Used car market grew in 2021 despite volatile year

96.6 per cent of all used car sales either petrol or diesel models last year

Used car market grew in 2021 despite volatile year

The UK’s used car market grew by 11.5 per cent to 7,530,956 transactions in 2021, according to the latest figures released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

777,997 more cars changed hands than in 2020, a year which was even more badly affected by Covid lockdowns and unsettled consumer and business confidence.

Despite this growth, the 2021 performance was still down 5.5 per cent below the pre-pandemic five-year average.

Quarter four rounded off a volatile year for the market, with transactions falling by 3.1 per cent to just over 1.6 million, as semiconductor shortages impacting new car sales in the second half of the year squeezed supply of stock into the used market.

The second quarter was, in fact, the best Q2 on record and, with 2.1 million transactions, the busiest period of the year as the UK emerged from renewed lockdowns.

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May was the highpoint with 769,782 cars finding new keepers in the month, while December performance fell by 10.2 per cent as Omicron cases rose and restrictions increased.

Annual demand for battery electric (BEV) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEVs) vehicles hit record levels, growing by 119.2 per cent and 75.6 per cent to 40,228 and 56,861 transactions respectively.

Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) transactions also rose by 50.3 per cent to 137,639, a new high.

Growth was driven by an increasing number of ultra-low and zero-emission models filtering through to second owners and, combined, these vehicles represented 3.1 per cent of the market.

Related: Record EV sales in 2021 show future direction

Used petrol and diesel powertrain transactions, meanwhile, increased by 10.7 per cent and 9.8 per cent respectively, with a combined 7,277,291 units changing hands.

It meant that even with record demand for alternatively fuelled vehicles, 96.6 per cent of all used car sales were still either petrol or diesel models, evidence of how far the market must go to meet zero emission ambitions.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: “It’s good to see the used car market return to growth, even if activity is still below where we were pre-pandemic.

“With the global shortage of semiconductors set to ease later this year, releasing the squeeze on new car supply, we expect more of the latest, cleanest and zero emission models to become available for second owners.

“The demand for personal mobility has undoubtedly increased during the pandemic, so it’s vital we have healthy new car sales to drive fleet renewal and the used car market if we are to improve air quality and address climate change.”

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