Close to seven million used cars changed hands in the UK last year, over 600,000 less than the year prior, as the used car market shrank by 9%.
According to the latest data published this week by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the used car market is also still 13% smaller than pre-pandemic 2019, as the squeeze on new car supply – primarily due to the global shortage of semiconductors – restricted stock entering the second-hand market.
Used sales did improve towards the end of the year however, as easing supply restrictions led to more vehicles entering used car stock.
| UK used car sales 2021 | UK used car sales 2022 | % change |
| 7,530,956 | 6,890,777 | -9% |
Despite the decline, used electric cars (EVs) bucked the overall trend. Over 71,000 used EVs found new owners in 2022, an annual record, and a rise of 38% when compared to 2021’s total.
That said, EVs still only account for 4% of all used car sales – petrol and diesel engines are still by far the most common choice. Plug-in hybrid models (PHEVs) also account for around 4% of the used car market.
The supermini was 2022’s most popular used body style, followed by medium-sized family cars. While Ford struggles to meet the consistent demand for its compact Fiesta on the new car market, the supermini continues to lead the used car market as 2022’s best-seller.
The best-selling used cars of 2022
| 1 | Ford Fiesta | 288,639 |
| 2 | Vauxhall Corsa | 229,454 |
| 3 | Volkswagen Golf | 216,227 |
| 4 | Ford Focus | 213,821 |
| 5 | Vauxhall Astra | 165,011 |
| 6 | Mini hatch | 158,710 |
| 7 | BMW 3 Series | 155,264 |
| 8 | Volkswagen Polo | 137,517 |
| 9 | Audi A3 | 114,801 |
| 10 | BMW 1 Series | 112,312 |
The similarly-sized Vauxhall Corsa comes in second, followed by the larger Volkswagen Golf and Ford Focus. The annual top ten also features a few premium models that sold in high quantities, such as the BMW 1 Series hatch and 3 Series saloon, as well as the Audi A3.
While SUVs currently dominate the new car registration rankings, including 2022’s new car best-seller the Nissan Qashqai, no SUV managed to make the used top ten.
