Used EV Sales in the UK Reach Record Level in February 2026
Used EV sales in the UK hit a record 22,381 units in February 2026, according to Marketcheck data. Explore growth trends, pricing shifts and market impact.
The UK’s used electric vehicle market has reached a new all-time high, with 22,381 units sold in February 2026. The figure marks not just a record, but a continuation of a sustained growth trend that has effectively doubled the segment in just two years.
Back in February 2024, sales stood at 10,343 units. By mid-2025, monthly volumes had consistently surpassed 20,000, a sharp contrast to late 2023, when the market was still operating at around 7,000 to 8,000 vehicles per month. The shift highlights how the used EV segment is moving from a niche category into a more established part of the broader automotive market.
This growth is closely tied to expanding supply. More electric vehicles are entering the used market, driven in part by lease returns and fleet renewals. At the same time, price pressure is easing. Data from Auto Trader shows that used EV prices in February 2026 were around 1% lower year-on-year, with earlier figures indicating declines of up to 7.4% annually.
Lower prices are improving accessibility and helping to stimulate demand. This is happening within a large overall market: in 2025, the UK recorded over 7.8 million used car transactions, with nearly 275,000 of them involving fully electric vehicles. While EVs still account for only about 3.5% of the total, their share is rising rapidly.
Infrastructure expansion is also playing a role. By early 2026, the UK had more than 116,000 public charging points, increasing to over 118,000 by the end of February. The growth of charging networks, including rapid charging hubs, is reducing barriers for buyers considering electric vehicles on the second-hand market.
Government policy is reinforcing these trends. The UK’s ZEV mandate requires manufacturers to increase the share of zero-emission vehicles in new car sales, starting at 22% in 2024 and rising to 80% by 2030. This is expected to drive a steady flow of EVs into the market, eventually boosting supply in the used sector. Additional support measures, including purchase grants and charging infrastructure funding, are also in place.
Taken together, these factors suggest that the used EV market is becoming firmly established. While its share remains smaller than traditional fuel segments, the pace of growth and expanding availability indicate that it is moving beyond its early development phase and continuing to gain momentum.
Allen Garwin
2026, Mar 18 08:30