Used EV sales up and prices down
Used EV sales continue to climb sharply as prices continue to drop, according to the latest data.
Year-end figures from used market monitor Marketcheck reveal that the secondhand EV segment led the market in December 2025, registering a near-50% year-on-year increase.
A total of 261,409 used cars were sold across the UK last month – a 9.74% increase on December 2024. However, EVs saw a 48.45% jump in demand, with 14,632 units sold, up from 9,500 the previous December.
At the same time, data from two separate sources showed that used EV prices dropped again in December by between 1.5% and 2%.
Positive signs
Alastair Campbell, Marketcheck UK, said the continued strong growth in the secondhand EV market reflected “improving availability, falling prices, and a growing appetite among consumers for more sustainable transport”.
He noted: “The nearly 50% increase in used EV sales, showing that electric vehicles are becoming a more accessible and attractive option for second-hand buyers – all positive signs for the health of the market heading into 2026.”
At the same time as demand rose ahead of the market, prices for secondhand EVs also fell faster than the rest of the market.
According to data analysts Percayso Vehicle Intelligence, used EV values fell by 2% in December, compared with a decline of between 0.5% and 1% for other fuel types.
The change represented an average drop of around £350 per vehicle and followed a similar decline in November. The analyst said that strong manufacturer discounts and the Electric Car Grant could be “cannibalising” the used market by making brand-new vehicles more affordable and attractive.
Derren Martin, automotive expert at Percayso, urged the Government to consider similar support for the secondhand market. He commented: “OEMs need to focus on used EVs to ensure strong future residual values.
“Currently, there remains little incentive, apart from price, for consumers to buy a used EV, and attractive finance rates on new electric cars can provide a short-term win by switching a buyer into a new car rather than a used one.
“Monthly payments and the whole industry rely on strong used car values at the end of a new car lease. Many will hope the government puts some focus on the used BEV market in 2026. As for this year, January has started at a steady pace, and there is likely to be a small uplift in overall retail prices by the end of the month.”
Varied pricing picture
Backing up the Percayso data, figures from AA Used Cars also showed further decline in EV prices, although the used vehicle specialist said values were stabilising as the market headed into 2026.
Across the most searched-for electric models on its platform, AA Used Cars reported an average 1.5% drop in the final quarter of 2025. While that marked a fourth consecutive quarter of decline, the pace of decline slowed compared to previous periods.
Over the final quarter, AA figures painted a mixed picture for secondhand EVs. The Tesla Model 3 actually saw a slight increase in average value – up by 0.5% – while used prices of the Renault Zoe increased 1.4%. On the other hand, used Nissan Leaf values fell 5.5% between October and December and were down a massive 28.4% compared with the same period in 2024.
James Hosking, managing director of AA Cars, commented: “EV and hybrid prices continued to soften in Q4, but the slowdown in the rate of decline suggests the market is beginning to stabilise after a year of sharp adjustments.
“Much of last year’s price reset was driven by a surge in ex-fleet EVs reaching the used market at the same time as manufacturers reduced new EV prices to stimulate demand. That created strong downward pressure across the board. By Q4, those forces were easing, and improved consumer confidence helped support values for many popular models.
“We’re also seeing signs that demand for electrified vehicles is becoming more resilient. With more models available at lower price points, buyers who were previously priced out of EV ownership are now actively entering the market.”
