SMMT Used Sales Data Paints a Slightly Different Story
Just over two million used cars changed hands within the 2nd quarter of the year, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
However, used car sales data doesn’t entirely follow the exact pattern of new registrations, as one would assume. But, the positive headline is that the used market is slowly returning to growth in the second quarter of 2026 with sales increasing 0.7%, largely thanks to a swell in demand for used electric, and hybrid cars.
What’s noteworthy is that this is the best performance on the used market since Q2 of 2021, with just over four million used cars being sold in 2026 so far.
Winners
Petrol Cars
Taking pole position, in the fuel charts for market share, is petrol which remained the most popular fuel type with huge volume of cars changing hands at 1,121,243 units sold in Q2.
However, despite these stellar numbers, total petrol car transactions fell by -1.2%, following similar trends to the new registration market.
Hybrid Cars
Third place came hybrid electric vehicle, with sales performing well rising by 31.2% to 130,825 vehicles, increasing their market share to 6.5% from 5.0% vs a year ago.
Hybrid cars remain particularly attractive for buyers looking to save money on fuel, who are either unable to charge a car at home, or have yet to be convinced about the virtues of plug-in cars, plus many more manufacturers have been offering hybrid options in recent years.
Electric Cars
Battery electric car sales rose 67.0% in the second quarter translating to 110,761 units, representing the strongest quarterly growth since Q1 2024.
There was a surge in demand in April by 110.9%, in May by 57.6% and 37.8% in June. The Conflict over the Straight of Hormuz is largely to blame for this surge as oil prices remain volatile, and petrol and diesel prices remain high on the forecourts.
Despite the number two position for market share on new vehicle registrations, used EV’s come in at fourth place, reflective of the smaller volumes of used EVs in circulation.
Losers
Plug-in Hybrids
Plug-in hybrid cars continue to fall in numbers, with a decrease of -6.8% to 22,856 vehicles, making up 1.1% of overall demand, which is down from 1.2% in 2025. PHEVs take last position in the fuel-type market share.
This is in stark contrast to the upward trajectory seen with new registrations that have been growing significantly month-on-month. And this could represent a problem if both new and used sales continue in this manner as there is a risk they’ll end up unwanted on the used market, but strongly incentivised on the new market, thanks to ZEV mandate flexibilities, and the desirability for fleets to buy.
Diesel
Diesel sales continued to decline, down -7.2% to 620,045, reflecting the same trends seen on the new car market.
Far fewer new diesel cars are offered for sale, as the buying public are slowly turning away from the once favoured fuel in favour of alternatives.
However, the used market as a whole lags behind the new market significantly. Combined, almost 86.7% buyers still chose petrol and diesel cars in the second quarter (vs 44% on the new market), with alternative fuels making up just 13.3% of the market share.
SMMT Used Car Data by Market Share
Vehicle Types
Also bucking new car trends which sees SUV’s and Crossovers dominate, the used buying public would rather have a supermini as indicated by the 31.7 % sales volumes.
With the decades old battle for top spot between the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa still rumbling on, and the Volkswagen Polo and MINI taking 5th and 6th place respectively, superminis still dominate.
Family hatchback firm favourites were the Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus taking 3rd and 4th place respectively with the Vauxhall Astra and Audi A3 coming in at 9th and 10th position.
Only one SUV featured in the top 10 with the Nissan Qashqai taking 7th place and the formidable BMW 3 Series taking 8th place.
Outlook
With superminis remaining Britain’s favourite used car type, the transition to electric versions will take some time as there are fewer options for buyers to choose an electric supermini, although change is afoot. Volkswagen is launching the brilliant all-new ID. Polo soon, with a GTi version promised next year, but it will be 2030 until these are likely to start hitting the used market in any meaningful volumes.
There is also an absence of a Fiesta EV from Ford, and although one is promised - and it will be built on the Renault 5 AmpR Small platform - it might not arrive until 2028, and then it will be sometime into the 2030’s before it establishes itself on the used market.
And whilst Volkswagen is selling the ID. 3 - an electric Golf equivalent, Ford has nothing to replace its now defunct Focus.
Previously Ford sold many supermini and family hatchbacks in the U.K., dominating sales charts for new and used cars as one of Britain’s most favoured brands. The stock of used Ford superminis and hatchbacks will dwindle, and perhaps fizzle out over time, and this seems like a tragedy for the buying public, bereft of their favourite options.
SMMT Best Used Sellers for Q2 2026
Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said, “A return to growth is good news for motorists and the wider automotive sector, with sales of used EVs rising particularly strongly as more choice reaches more buyers. As the used market is where most people buy their cars, plentiful and affordable supply is vital, however, increasingly unrealistic targets in the new car market risk constraining that supply and pushing up costs. Urgent regulatory reform is needed to deliver a transition that works for every driver.”
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About the Author
Graeme Cobb is a lifelong car enthusiast with a passion for writing about cars, EVs, industry updates and more.
You can find Graeme on 𝕏 at @graeme_cobb
