- According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT) there were a total of 84,575 new car registrations in August 2024 (down 1.3% from August the previous year).
- The report noted that August is traditionally one of the quieter months for new car sales, as many new buyers are anticipating the September plate change.
- Fleet purchases accounted for 6 in 10 cars registered in August (a total of 51,329 units). This marked a 1.2% drop from August 2023.
- Private registrations rose 0.2% from the previous year, with a total of 32,110 units registered.
Whether you’re a journalist, industry insider, or consumer, interpreting the latest trends and data can help you make sense of the car market, and make educated decisions.
This updated resource collates the latest sales data, statistics, and insights from across the UK’s new and used car markets. We’ve added fresh insights and commentary to paint a clearer picture of the markets, including outlooks for the rest of 2024.
From the best-selling car models, to the leading powertrains, and public EV chargepoint coverage, our comprehensive report will bring you up to speed with the car industry developments that matter.
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Key used car sales statistics (updated for Q2 2024)
- 1,963,395 used cars were sold in the UK during Q2 of 2024 (April-June), which marked a 7.2% YoY increase from Q2 in 2023.
- 46,773 used battery electric vehicles (BEVs) were sold in Q2, meaning BEVs secured their largest market share to date, at 2.4% (up from 1.7% in Q2 2023).
- Superminis retained their title as the best-selling used car type, accounting for 31.9% of all transactions, followed by lower medium (27.1%) and dual-purpose vehicles (15.8%).
| Q2 2024 | Q2 2023 | % change | Year-to-date 2024 | Year-to-date 2023 | % change | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Used cars | 1,963,395 | 1,832,267 | 7.2% | 3,931,318 | 3,679,416 | 6.8% |
Source: SMMT
Used car market predictions for autumn/winter 2024
- The SMMT’s chief executive Mike Hawes attributed the used car market’s continued recovery to the new car sector’s “sustained run of growth”.
- Hawes noted that the increased supply of used EVs to second and third owners is helping motorists make the switch to EVs - and emphasised the importance of “energising the new EV market to support a fair transition for all”.
- Hawes added: “Maintaining momentum requires reliable, affordable, and green EV charging up and down the country, and incentives to get all of Britain on board the net zero transition.”
- According to the latest Zapmap data, at the end of July 2024, there were 66,779 public electric vehicle chargepoints across 34,570 locations. This does not include the chargers installed at home and workplace locations (currently estimated at over 700,000).
- Data from the AA Cars Used Car index revealed that average prices for the UK’s most sought-after petrol and diesel cars increased by 3.5% between Q1 and Q2 in 2024.
- Managing director of AA Cars, James Hoskins said: "Drivers wanting to reduce their emissions will see the biggest savings, with prices of EVs and hybrids falling 12% in the same period. We're expecting EV sales to reach record levels this year as more and more drivers are convinced to take the plunge thanks to the considerable savings.”
- Finally, Richard Evans, head of technical services at webuyanycar said: “Falling used EV prices are helping to make electric motoring more accessible to second-hand buyers, which should continue to drive sales. The recent price drop for used EVs has stimulated consumer demand. However, the continued delivery of accessible public charger infrastructure will also be a key driver in the efforts to electrify the UK’s roads.”
Source: SMMT, Zapmap, AA Cars, webuyanycar
Which model will be the UK’s best-selling car in 2024?
As of July 2024, the Ford Puma is on track to be the UK’s best-selling car for the second year running, with a total of 29,729 registrations.
New car market statistics from August 2024
- BEVs claimed a 22.6% new car market share in August (up 2.5% from the previous year) - marking their best month since December 2022, when they secured a 32.9% market share.
- The report noted that heavy manufacturer discounts, and a variety of new models helped to attract buyers.
- Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) registrations fell 12.3% from the previous year, securing a 6.8% market share.
- Hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) registrations increased by 36.1%, securing a 13.8% market share.
- In August 2024, petrol remained the dominant powertrain for the UK car market, securing a 50.7% market share – down from 55.7% the previous year.
- Diesel had the smallest market share at 6.1% - down from 6.5% the previous year.
August |
2024 |
2023 |
% change |
Market share ‘24 |
Market share ‘23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diesel |
5,165 |
5,574 |
-7.3% |
6.1% |
6.5% |
Petrol |
42,872 |
47,688 |
-10.1% |
50.7% |
55.7% |
BEV |
19,113 |
17,243 |
10.8% |
22.6% |
20.1% |
PHEV |
5,786 |
6,601 |
-12.3% |
6.8% |
7.7% |
HEV |
11,639 |
8,551 |
36.1% |
13.8% |
10.0% |
Total |
84,575 |
85,657 |
-1.3% |
Source: SMMT
Please note: Sales for mild hybrid electric vehicles (MHEVs) are now included in the petrol and diesel figures for SMMT reports.
Year-to-date new car market data (Jan-August 2024)
Year-to-date |
YTD 2024 |
YTD 2023 |
% change |
Market share ‘24 |
Market share ‘23 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Diesel |
80,093 |
92,043 |
-13.0% |
6.5% |
7.8% |
Petrol |
674,312 |
669,034 |
0.8% |
54.4% |
56.7% |
BEV |
213,544 |
193,221 |
10.5% |
17.2% |
16.4% |
PHEV |
100,457 |
80,458 |
24.9% |
8.1% |
6.8% |
HEV |
170,449 |
144,542 |
17.9% |
13.8% |
12.3% |
Source: SMMT
New car market forecast for late 2024
- According to the SMMT, whilst overall market growth in 2024 is anticipated, expectations have been “revised downwards” since April, with a total of 1.968 million new car registrations now forecast by the end of the year.
- In August, the forecast for BEV market share was downgraded to 18.5% from April’s 19.8% projection. This forecast accounts for the recent interest rate cut, but it was noted that further cuts would help to reduce the cost of financing cars - and make buying new a realistic prospect for more consumers.
- The UK Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate requires car manufacturers to ensure that at least 22% of their new car registrations in 2024 are BEVs – and levies penalties on any that fail to do so.
- However, considering the current industry outlook, many manufacturers are set to miss this target.
How many cars are there in the UK?
According to the latest DVLA data, at end of March 2024, there were approximately 33,734,500 registered cars on UK roads.
UK used car sales statistics (2023-2014)
| Year | Number of used car sales |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 7,242,692 |
| 2022 | 6,890,777 |
| 2021 | 7,530,956 |
| 2020 | 6,752,959 |
| 2019 | 7,935,105 |
| 2018 | 7,945,040 |
| 2017 | 8,113,020 |
| 2016 | 8,200,000 |
| 2015 | 7,640,015 |
| 2014 | 7,433,129 |
Source: SMMT
UK used car sales by powertrain in 2023
| Powertrain type | Number of transactions |
|---|---|
| Petrol | 4,079,555 |
| Diesel | 2,747,911 |
| HEV | 221,859 |
| BEV | 118,973 |
| PHEVs | 65,837 |
Source: SMMT
Bestselling used car models 2023
| Car model | Number of transactions |
|---|---|
| Ford Fiesta | 308,017 |
| Vauxhall Corsa | 237,705 |
| Volkswagen Golf | 227,427 |
| Ford Focus | 223,417 |
| Vauxhall Astra | 160,736 |
| MINI | 158,298 |
| BMW 3 Series | 155,100 |
| Volkswagen Polo | 141,135 |
| Nissan Qashqai | 120,286 |
| Audi A3 | 118,805 |
Source: SMMT
UK new car statistics (2023-2011)
| Year | Number of registrations |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 1,903,054 |
| 2022 | 1,614,063 |
| 2021 | 1,647,181 |
| 2020 | 1,632,064 |
| 2019 | 2,311,140 |
| 2018 | 2,367,147 |
| 2017 | 2,540,617 |
| 2016 | 2,692,786 |
| 2015 | 2,633,503 |
| 2014 | 2,476,435 |
| 2013 | 2,264,737 |
| 2012 | 2,044,609 |
| 2011 | 1,941,253 |
Source: SMMT