9:09 am, October 1, 2026
Used car stock levels climbed to their highest point of 2026 in September as dealers increased inventories across all three retail sectors.
That’s according to the latest Cazoo Market View, which found dealers stocked an average of 59 cars last month – up from 58 in August and 56 in September 2025.
The increase in supply has not stopped prices strengthening, however, with the average advertised used car price rising 0.4% month-on-month to £17,484.
That remains 0.9% below the £17,650 recorded a year ago, with average prices having remained below that figure since May, said the company.
Cazoo’s figures also point to continued momentum for used EVs, with listings up 17.6% compared with last September and 2% higher than in August.
Electric cars accounted for 4.3% of all advert views on Cazoo during September, compared with just 2.4% a year earlier.
Hybrid stock increased 2.7% year-on-year and 3.7% month-on-month, while its share of advert views climbed from 5.8% to 7.5% over the past 12 months.
Despite the growth of electrified stock, petrol cars continue to dominate dealer inventories, accounting for 51% of listings, down from 52.8% a year ago, while diesel’s share also slipped from 30.8% to 29.9%.
Stock levels rise across dealer sectors
Car supermarkets recorded the largest inventories in September, with an average of 221 vehicles compared with 219 in August and 206 a year ago.
Franchised dealers averaged 63 cars, up from 62 the previous month and 60 last September.
Independent dealers also increased their stock, averaging 44 vehicles compared with 43 in August and 41 a year earlier.
Prices rose fastest among franchised retailers, where the average increased 0.9% month-on-month from £22,506 to £22,707.
Car supermarket prices increased 0.6% to £16,833.
Independents bucked the monthly trend with a marginal 0.1% decline to £14,186, although that figure was still 9.9% higher than a year ago.
Older used cars remain in demand
Cazoo’s data also highlighted continued demand for older and more affordable vehicles.
Average advertised prices for cars aged over 10 years increased 10.8% year-on-year to £7,704.
Cars between five and 10 years old were 3.6% more expensive at an average £13,554.
By contrast, cars under two years old averaged £29,129 – down 1.3% compared with September 2025.
Ford was the most viewed brand on Cazoo during the month, followed by Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Vauxhall.
The Volkswagen Golf remained the platform’s most searched-for model, having occupied the top spot for most of the year.
Lucy Tugby, chief marketing officer at Cazoo, said: ‘Dealer stock levels rose month-on-month and year-on-year across all three car retailing sectors in September, yet buyer demand – particularly for older, more affordable cars – helped dealers maintain competitive pricing.
‘We believe this strong pricing also reflects the growing volume of EVs entering the used car market. Ad views for these models have nearly doubled since last September, providing further evidence of buyer interest in electric alternatives, especially as petrol and diesel pump prices rise.
‘As the final quarter begins, dealers will be looking for continued stability in the used car market while closely monitoring broader economic and geopolitical developments that could affect consumer confidence.’