UK used car sales hold steady throughout second quarter

The UK's used car market held steady throughout the second quarter of 2018, as sales dropped only a marginal 0.4%.

In the three months leading to 30 June, a total of 2.09m vehicles changed hands, just 8,725 fewer than had done so at the same time a year earlier, according to figures released on Wednesday by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders.

Superminis made up 32.6% of the market share and remained the most popular segment, despite a 2.6% decline in transactions, followed by small and medium-sized family cars. SUVs and executive models experienced the biggest growth, with demand up 10.7% and 3.9%, respectively.

Diesel cars' popularity took off 3.2%, with some 868,573 used buyers driving one home in the period.

Elsewhere, demand for hybrid, plug-in hybrid and fully electric vehicles grew by more than a quarter, with some 26,832 sold – 5,417 more than a year ago.

"It's great to see the used car sector remain in robust health as motorists take advantage of the exciting high-tech models filtering down from the new sector – including some of the latest low emission diesel and alternatively fuelled vehicles," said SMMT chief executive Mike Hawes.

"However, with used sales so closely reflecting the new car market, some cooling is expected over the coming months. Given fleet renewal is the fastest way to improve air quality and reduce CO2, we need greater business and consumer confidence to keep both markets moving," he added.