The UK used car market grew by 5.5% in 2024, reaching 7.64 million transactions, according to the latest data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
This marks eight consecutive quarters of growth, with 400,488 more cars sold than in 2023. The rise in new car sales boosted availability and variety in the used market.
Every month in 2024 saw increased transactions, including a 4.0% rise in Q4 to 1.75 million units.
Demand for used electric vehicles surged, with battery electric cars (BEVs) up 57.4% to 188,382 units, reaching a market share of 2.5%. Combined sales of BEVs, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and hybrids (HEVs) grew by 43.3%, accounting for 7.7% of all used car transactions.
Here are the most sold cars in 2024:
Top 10 used cars in 2024
| Make and Model | Units sold |
|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 306,207 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 252,761 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 231,440 |
| Ford Focus | 228,220 |
| MINI | 160,516 |
| Vauxhall Astra | 159,495 |
| BMW 3 Series | 158,674 |
| Volkswagen Polo | 151,786 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 138,810 |
| BMW 1 Series | 125,440 |
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "The used car sector’s 25-month growth streak is good news for fleet renewal and for consumers benefitting from the greater choice filtering through from the new market. Record sales of second hand EVs also demonstrates strong appetite for these cutting-edge cars at lower price points. Ensuring ongoing growth, however, means maintaining that affordability, along with supply, which requires meaningful fiscal incentives to stimulate consumer demand for new EVs and removing the VED expensive car tax disincentive that risks dragging down used EV affordability for years to come."
The table highlights the top 10 used cars in 2024, showcasing popular models like the Ford Fiesta, Vauxhall Corsa, and Volkswagen Golf, which lead in sales.
This suggests that these cars are among the best used cars to buy due to their strong market presence and widespread consumer preference.
Arguably, the Ford Fiesta, with its leading sales, stands out as one of the best second hand cars to buy.
Most popular car colours in 2024
When it comes to used cars bought in the UK, there were some changes when compared to previous years.
Here are the top 10 colours for used cars bought in the UK last year:
| Colour | No. of transactions |
|---|---|
| Black | 1,624,768 |
| Grey | 1,348,754 |
| Blue | 1,235,709 |
| White | 1,173,598 |
| Silver/Aluminium | 1,102,702 |
| Red | 768,167 |
| Green | 125,326 |
| Orange | 61,475 |
| Yellow | 41,216 |
| Brown | 38,191 |
While grey remained the most popular colour in the new car market, black was the top choice for used car buyers, with over 1.6 million (21.3%) opting for it.
Grey followed in second place with 17.6% and blue ranked third, capturing 16.2% of sales. Together, these top three colours made up more than half (55.1%) of all used cars sold.
Meanwhile, 5,171 buyers chose pink cars, a rise of 301 compared to 2023, and 4,659 maroon cars were sold, surpassing cream (4,657 sales) to become the least popular shade.
Turquoise saw the biggest increase in 2024, growing by 11.2% to 8,266 units, while grey saw the largest volume gain, rising by over 117,000 cars to 1.35 million units.
Most popular fuel types in 2023
According to the SMMT data, these are the most popular fuel type for used cars:
- Petrol: 4,367,009
- Diesel: 2,674,725
- Hybrid: 306,114
- Electric: 188,382
- Plug-in Hybrid: 92,120
Although there was a significant rise in the sales of EVs, diesel and petrol remain the most popular amongst used car sales.
What do you make of the SMMT data? What do you look for in a used car? Leave your comments below.
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