Volume of 36-48-month-old used cars at record low

THE number of used cars available for sale between three and four years old (36-48 months) reached a record low in early August according to the latest Indicata Market Watch report.

Just 23% of the UK’s used stock fell into this age group which Indicata says shows that restricted new car supplies and delayed fleet replacement cycles caused by the fallout from Covid are still having an impact on the UK second hand market.

“Our used vehicle data shows just how long it has taken to flush the impact of Covid through our used marketplace. Typically, 36-48-month-old used cars are at the sweet spot of both wholesale and consumer demand from an age, mileage and price perspective and currently demand is exceeding supply.”

Dean Merritt, Indicata UK head of sales Tweet

Meanwhile the volume of sub-two-year-old used stock has increased to a record high of 31%, as a growing number of nearly new EVs are fed into the used car ecosystem, while the majority of used stock (46%) is currently more than five years of age.

Prices are rising for good three to four-year old stock but generally prices have gently fallen across all fuel types during the summer as economic uncertainty continues to damage consumer confidence according to Indicata data.

Tesla still a ‘go to’ brand

While Tesla is selling fewer new cars in the UK in 2025 than in 2024, it is still performing very well in the used market. Its Model 3 was the fastest-selling used car in July in the UK, and the Model 3 and Model Y were the fastest-selling used cars in Europe which shows Tesla is still seen as the go-to used EV brand for many consumers, says Indicata.

“The majority of used car dealers are now stocking the Tesla Model 3 as it is one of the country’s most coveted used EVs. It’s been around for a while and some of the older cars are now sub-£10,000 which represents good value for money for consumers looking to buy their first used EV,” said Merritt.

In the UK, the Tesla Model 3 was closely followed by the Jaguar I-Pace and MINI convertible, while the Ford Puma headed the UK’s top-selling table followed by the Vauxhall Corsa and Kia Sportage.