Classic car owners may find it of interest to read that the number of second hand car sales dropped slightly when comparing the first quarter of 2026 with the same quarter in 2025. According to data published by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of used cars sold in the UK during the first three months of 2026 amounted to 2,016,232 compared to 2,020,990 in the same period in 2025. That is a drop of 4,758 equating to a fall of just 0.2%.
However it is interesting to note that the number of used Battery Electric Vehicle (BEVs) sold in the first quarter of 2026 rose by 32% when compared with the same quarter in 2025. The number of used Hybrid Electric Vehicles (HEVs) sold in the first quarter of 2026 rose by 27.6% in comparison to the same quarter in 2025. However the number of used Plug-In Hybrid Vehicles (PHEVs) sold in the first three months of 2026 dropped by 8.9% when compared with the same three-month period in 2025.
The top 5 used cars sold in the UK in Q1 of 2026 were: –
- Ford Fiesta 76,745
- Vauxhall Corsa 62,201
- Volkswagen Golf 56,236
- Ford Focus 54,662
- Nissan Qashqai 42,214
The top 5 colours of used cars sold in the UK in Q1 of 2026 were: –
- Black 429,392
- Grey 376,124
- White 331,409
- Blue 318,100
- Silver/Aluminium 259,424
The top 5 fuel types of used cars sold in the UK in Q1 of 2026 were: –
- Petrol 1,147,969
- Diesel 629,987
- Hybrid 128,039
- Electric 86,943
- Plug-In Hybrid 20,021
As a classic car owner, it is quite possible that you also possess a standard car that you have for daily use such as commuting to work.
If your existing classic car insurance is shortly coming up for renewal and you have received your renewal notice, why not take the opportunity to contact us with a view to obtaining a competitive quote without any obligation as we provide access to a panel of specialist insurers. If you are buying your first classic car why not do the same thing and contact us to obtain a quote. We look forward to hearing from you when convenient.
