Used EV prices rise for first time since 2022 as market strengthens

Used electric vehicle (EV) prices have recorded their first annual increase since December 2022, signalling a significant shift in the UK’s used car market as demand strengthens and supply tightens, according to the latest data from Autotrader.

Autotrader’s AI-powered Retail Price Index shows the average price of a used car reached £17,194 in June, up 0.8% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis. The increase represents the strongest annual rate of price growth since August 2023, highlighting continued resilience across the used vehicle market.

Despite seasonal distractions including the summer heatwave and the World Cup, buyer demand remained robust. Used car transactions increased by around 1% year-on-year, while the average vehicle continued to sell in 30 days, unchanged from both May and June 2025.

The standout development came in the used EV sector, where average prices rose 1.6% year-on-year to £24,662 – the first annual increase since December 2022. The milestone follows price stabilisation in May, ending more than three years of continuous annual declines.

Used EV prices also increased by 1.4% month-on-month in June, even as the wider used car market experienced its typical seasonal decline of 0.4%.

Growing consumer demand and constrained supply are helping to drive the recovery. Used EVs sold in an average of 25 days during June, five days faster than the wider used car market and a full week quicker than during the same month last year.

The strongest performance came from three to five-year-old electric vehicles, where average prices jumped 8.9% year-on-year to £19,295. Vehicles in this age bracket were selling in just 21 days, making them one of the fastest-moving segments in the market.

Beyond electric vehicles, older used cars also continued to deliver strong price growth as limited supply and affordability pressures encouraged buyers to look further up the age curve.

Cars aged between 10 and 15 years recorded the strongest gains, with average prices rising 7.8% year-on-year to £7,238. Vehicles more than 15 years old increased by 5.1% to £5,210, while cars aged between five and 10 years rose 1.6% to £14,314.

Autotrader said part of this trend reflects the lingering impact of pandemic-era production shortages, with the Covid supply gap now affecting vehicles aged between five and seven years. Reduced availability of mainstream models is encouraging buyers with budgets between £15,000 and £18,000 to consider older premium vehicles instead of newer volume brands.

The latest data also highlighted strong demand for performance and enthusiast models. Vehicles including the Alfa Romeo Giulia, Audi RS6 Avant, Porsche Boxster, BMW Z4 and Mercedes-Benz SL were among the fastest-rising used cars on a like-for-like basis.

Marc Palmer, Head of Strategy and Insights at Autotrader, said:

“June’s data points to a used car market that remains highly resilient, with serious buyers continuing to transact despite the summer heatwave and World Cup fever competing for attention. For retailers, that commitment is supporting stable transactions, resilient pricing and a consistent speed of sale.

“The standout story this month, though, is clearly electric. After a prolonged period of price adjustment, used EVs have moved from stabilisation into genuine growth. For retailers, the opportunity isn’t just about having EV stock available, but having the right EV stock, priced accurately and marketed with confidence.

“More broadly, this is exactly the kind of market where pricing discipline matters. With demand, supply and values moving differently across segments, the best outcomes will come from pricing that reflects live retail market conditions, rather than simply working up from cost.”

The latest figures suggest the used car market remains on a stable footing entering the second half of the year, with improving EV values and continued demand for older vehicles creating opportunities for retailers able to respond to changing market dynamics.