11:25 am, November 9, 2026
Used electric car prices have risen for the sixth consecutive month as growing demand continues to outstrip supply, according to new figures from Autotrader.
The latest Retail Price Index shows that electric car asking prices increased by 2.8% year-on-year in October, reaching an average of £25,263.
EVs were the only fuel type to record annual price growth, with values also climbing 1.3% compared with September.
The increases come as demand for used electric cars surged 38.1% year-on-year, well ahead of the 11.5% rise in supply.
Electric models were also the fastest-selling fuel type, taking an average of just 25 days to leave dealers’ forecourts – four days quicker than September and four days faster than petrol cars.
Diesel models, meanwhile, took an average of 33 days to sell.
Across the wider used car market, average asking prices remained unchanged month-on-month on a like-for-like basis, standing at £17,321.
However, values were down 1.8% compared with October 2025, a steeper annual decline than the 1% recorded in September.
Petrol car prices fell 1.9% year-on-year to an average of £14,589.
Despite the annual decline in overall prices, Autotrader says the market continues to show healthy levels of demand, with used cars taking an average of 29 days to sell.
That was unchanged from October last year and one day quicker than September.
The firm’s consumer research also found that three quarters of buyers surveyed intend to purchase a car within the next six months.
Older used cars continue to hold their value
The latest figures also reveal continued strength in the market for older, more affordable used cars.
Vehicles aged between 10 and 15 years recorded annual price growth of 4.6%, taking average asking prices to £7,290.
Prices in this age bracket also rose 1.5% month-on-month.
Cars over 15 years old saw values increase 3% year-on-year to an average of £5,294.
However, younger used cars continued to experience falling prices.
Vehicles less than a year old recorded a 3.5% annual decline, with average asking prices standing at £32,019.
Cars aged between one and three years fell 2% to £25,366, while those aged three to five years dropped 2.3% to £19,939.
Values for five-to-10-year-old cars were also down 1.8% at £14,276.
Top 10 used cars with the biggest price increases
The Porsche Boxster recorded the strongest annual price growth in October, with asking prices rising 20.1% to an average of £21,881.
The Subaru Forester followed with a 12.8% increase, while the Skoda Enyaq rose 11.7%.
According to Autotrader, the 10 models recording the largest like-for-like annual asking price increases in October were:
- Porsche Boxster | £21,881 | +20.1%
- Subaru Forester | £20,196 | +12.8%
- Skoda Enyaq | £26,312 | +11.7%
- Renault Zoe | £9,183 | +11.2%
- Toyota Land Cruiser | £44,787 | +10.8%
- MG MG5 | £11,849 | +10.8%
- BMW Z4 | £21,186 | +10.4%
- Mazda MX-5 | £12,711 | +10.4%
- Mercedes-Benz SL | £30,428 | +9.8%
- Kia Soul | £7,657 | +9.0%
Top 10 used cars with the biggest price decreases
At the other end of the table, the Jaguar E-Pace suffered the biggest annual decline, with asking prices dropping 18.4% to £14,471.
The Vauxhall Grandland was next, falling 15.8%, followed by the Peugeot Rifter, down 15.6%.
The 10 models recording the largest like-for-like annual asking price declines were:
- Jaguar E-Pace | £14,471 | -18.4%
- Vauxhall Grandland | £16,931 | -15.8%
- Peugeot Rifter | £12,610 | -15.6%
- BYD Seal U | £25,274 | -15.5%
- Peugeot 408 | £17,771 | -14.8%
- Range Rover Velar | £26,541 | -14.5%
- Vauxhall Crossland X | £7,261 | -14.2%
- Vauxhall Mokka X | £7,286 | -14.1%
- Range Rover Evoque | £16,849 | -13.2%
- Renault Symbioz | £20,895 | -13.1%
Dealers warned against unnecessary price cuts
Autotrader is urging retailers not to automatically reduce forecourt prices in response to falling wholesale values, arguing that strong retail demand can provide opportunities to protect margins.
Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insights at Autotrader, said: ‘The used car market has repeatedly shown its resilience through economic uncertainty.
‘Household pressures can change when people replace their cars or what they choose, but they don’t remove the underlying need for personal transport.
‘The usual seasonal easing shouldn’t be mistaken for a market running out of steam: buyers remain active, and there are good reasons for retailers to approach the final months of the year with confidence.’
He added: ‘For retailers, that means pricing from the retail market back, rather than from the trade market up.
‘Where retail demand supports the price, softer wholesale values can create an opportunity to buy well and protect margin, not an automatic reason to reduce forecourt prices.
‘The key is to respond to the evidence on each car, rather than let uncertainty in the headlines drive reductions that aren’t needed.’