10:36 am, November 5, 2026
Used car prices held steady in October despite increasing stock volumes, with electric vehicles continuing to prop up the market.
Latest retail data from Cazana – shown exclusively to Car Dealer ahead of wider publication – shows average used cars at the three-year mark were unchanged last month, following a slight 0.2% decline in September – the first monthly fall recorded this year.
The latest figures mean three-year-old used car values remain 4.7% higher than at the beginning of 2026, despite the traditional seasonal slowdown and increased stock entering the market following September’s plate change.
The Cazana data is reflected by other pricing experts, whose data largely shows a strong October, although Cazoo noted prices had slipped by a tiny 0.3% to an average of £17,432.
The headline stability masks a growing divide between electric vehicles and more traditional fuel types, said Cazana.
Three-year-old EVs increased in value by 2% during October, equivalent to approximately £400, marking the seventh consecutive month of growth.
Used EV values have now risen by more than 11%, or around £2,400, since the beginning of the year, including a 3.6% increase over the past two months alone.
Without the strength of electric cars, average used car retail values would have fallen by 0.3% in October, Cazana said.
Speaking to Car Dealer, in the video posted at the top of this story, automotive expert Derren Martin admitted he had been surprised by the resilience of the market.
‘On the surface it’s all very calm, but there’s plenty going on underneath the surface,’ he said.
‘Overall, that’s a very positive figure and a little bit surprising that it wasn’t a small movement down. It’s all pretty robust and good for the market.’
Martin believes the recovery in used EV values has been a major factor in the market’s performance throughout 2026.
‘You can’t escape the fact that EVs have kept that market strong as well,’ he told Car Dealer.
‘It’s accelerated those people that were perhaps looking at EVs. It’s increased that number quicker than we expected and EVs have propped up the rest of the values again this month.’
He added that dealers should now be looking more seriously at stocking used electric cars, particularly as demand continues to strengthen.
‘I’ve been speaking to a lot of independent dealers and they’re still not stocking them. They’re still a little bit wary about it, even with Teslas.
‘I would say everyone should be embracing them [used EVs] now, in whatever volumes they want to.’
Martin identified the £10,000 to £20,000 price bracket as a particularly attractive area of the market for independent dealers.
‘There’s some real opportunities in that sort of £10,000 to £20,000 price range definitely,’ he said.
‘Buy one, buy two, and then increase it. Don’t go crazy.’
Elsewhere, petrol, diesel and hybrid vehicles all experienced modest price falls during October.
Petrol values declined by 0.3%, hybrids fell by 0.5% and diesel cars dropped by 0.6%, with higher pump prices continuing to influence consumer demand.
Older used cars proved more resilient, with five-year-old vehicles increasing by 0.1% and 10-year-old models rising by 0.7%, equivalent to approximately £50.
By body style, MPVs recorded the strongest growth at 0.7%, followed by hatchbacks at 0.6%, while SUV values declined by 0.6%.
Mini was the strongest-performing manufacturer, with values rising 2%, followed by Toyota at 1.7% and Kia at 1.5%.
Land Rover recorded the largest decline, falling 2.3%, while Audi values dropped by 0.8%.
The fastest-selling used car in October was the Cupra Leon Hybrid, averaging just 15 days on forecourts, followed by the Mercedes-Benz EQC and petrol Ford Puma, both taking 18 days to sell.
Cazana’s figures also revealed significant differences in pricing strategies between retailer types.
Car supermarkets continued to push advertised prices higher, increasing them by an average of 1.7%, while franchised dealers held prices steady and independent retailers reduced theirs by 0.6%.
Martin suggested the difference could partly be explained by supermarkets being more willing to stock electric vehicles.
‘I think part of it is EVs. The supermarkets are stocking them, so maybe they’re pushing the prices up of EVs,’ he said.
‘They’re buying the cars, selling them quickly. That’s what they do.’
Despite the positive performance in October, Martin said it remained to be seen whether the market could maintain its resilience during the final two months of the year, when used car demand traditionally slows.
He said: ‘It will be interesting to see if pricing stability continues in the final two months of 2026, particularly as used car demand usually slows at this time of year.’
Watch the full interview with Derren Martin at the top of this story.