Used battery electric car sales rise by more than half in Q1 2025

Sales of used-battery electric cars have increased by by 58.5% to 65,850 units in the first quarter of 2025 - reaching a record 3.3% share of all transactions, according to SMMT figures.

Overall, 2,020,990 second hand vehicles of all fuel types changed hands in Q1 – growing by 2.7% on the same period last year.

Petrol remained the best-selling fuel type, rising 2.1% to 1,149,855 units, while diesel experienced a -3.1% decline to 679,739 units. As a result, ICE cars made up 90.5% of all used transactions in the quarter. However, their combined market share fell 2.4 percentage points on Q1 2024 as more buyers opted for electrified options.

Hybrids attracted record numbers of second and third owners, up 30.2% to 98,830 units, while 23,540 plug-in hybrids changed hands, up 14.0% on the same period last year.

The SMMT warns however that long term success of zero-emission vehicles relies heavily on healthy demand for new electric cars, making government incentives paramount. Halving VAT on new EVs and scrapping or amending their liability to the VED Expensive Car Supplement, alongside equalising VAT paid on public charging to domestic rates, would all help increase uptake of new cars and, in turn, promote a vibrant used market.

Mike Hawes, SMMT Chief Executive, said: "The used car market has enjoyed its strongest start to a year since before the pandemic, with supply fuelled by a recovering new car market. Critically, more second-hand buyers are opting for electric vehicles, with greater choice and affordability enabling more people and businesses to switch.

"Sustaining and expanding this growth, however, depends on a healthy supply of EVs from the new car market – which in turn requires fiscal incentives alongside a nationally accessible and affordable charge point network so that everyone, whatever their budget or driving needs, can benefit from zero emission motoring."