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Datapoints · Market report · 9 Nov 2026Charted · 3 figures

Used car sales edge up in Q3 as electric share reaches 4.8%

Source: SMMT, "Used car market records second quarter of growth with one in 20 drivers going electric", published 9 November 2026.

Read the release at SMMT (opens in a new tab)allbase.co.uk/market/used-car-market-records-second-quarter-of-growth-with-one-in-20-drivers-going-2026-11

What the source says

UK used car transactions rose 0.5% in Q3 2026 to 2,030,619, the best third quarter since 2021. Used battery electric car sales rose 23.2% to 97,625, a 4.8% share. Year to date transactions reached 6,056,169, up 0.3%.

Allbase view

Used car trading barely moved, and second-hand sales put no new demand on composite body panels or battery enclosures. The 23.2% jump in used electric cars is a slow, long-run signal: nothing to act on yet.

Our reading of the release, not a statement from the source. Checked against the release on 10 Nov 2026.

Figures from this release

  • SMMT UK used car transactions 2,030,619, Q3 2026Vehicles · 2026 Q3
    2,030,619Up
  • SMMT UK used battery electric car transactions 97,625, Q3 2026Vehicles · 2026 Q3
    97,625Up
  • SMMT UK used car transactions 6,056,169, Jan to Sep 2026Vehicles · Jan to Sep 2026
    6,056,169Up

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