When Is the Best Time to Sell Your Car in the UK?

Is now a good time to sell your car? The honest answer is: it depends what you're selling. The UK used car market has settled into something calmer than the chaos of a few years ago, but underneath that calm there are some sharp differences depending on your car's age, mileage and fuel type. Petrol and diesel cars are behaving very differently to EVs right now, and a nearly-new motor is on a different trajectory to a well-kept ten-year-old runabout. This piece walks through what's actually happening in the market and how to work out where your own car sits.

What UK used car prices are doing right now

After a genuinely wild few years of pandemic-driven price swings, the used car market has found a steadier footing. The average used car asking price stood at £17,106 in July, according to Autotrader's Retail Price Index, marking the third consecutive month of year-on-year growth for the overall market. Cars aren't hanging around on forecourts either: used cars took an average of 31 days to sell in July, flat month-on-month and only a day slower than the same month last year.

That's a very different picture to the 2021-2022 supply shock, when semiconductor shortages and collapsed new car production sent used prices spiralling. Things are more orderly now, but 'orderly' doesn't mean 'flat' across every type of car. The averages hide some big differences depending on age and fuel type, which matter far more to you as a seller than the headline number.

Why your car's age changes the answer

Older cars are in short supply

If your car is somewhere between seven and fifteen years old, the current squeeze on stock is working in your favour. The pandemic left a lasting dent in new car production, and that gap is still working its way through the used market. According to Auto Trader, there are around 1.8 million fewer 3-5 year old cars available in 2026 compared to 2019. That shortage doesn't just affect that age bracket either, as buyers who can't find what they want at that age simply look elsewhere. Auto Trader's Marc Palmer has warned that five and six year old cars are about to see a supply drop of between 25% and 30% this year, with that figure potentially exceeding 35% in 2027.

The knock-on effect has been strong demand for older stock. The average price of a 10-15-year-old car rose 8.5% year-on-year to £6,877 in December, the ninth consecutive period of strong increases for this age group. If you're sitting on a solid, well-maintained older car, this is a genuinely favourable window to test the market.

Nearly-new cars tell a different story

At the other end of the scale, cars under a year old have been softening as new car supply chains recover and manufacturers push out fresh stock. Nearly new models under 12 months old saw prices contract 2.7% year-on-year to £31,395. If your car falls into this bracket, you're competing against a growing pool of similar stock, and waiting rarely improves your position.

The fuel price shock has reshaped demand

A big factor behind current buyer behaviour is what's happened at the pumps. Petrol prices have risen by around 14 pence a litre while diesel has risen by around 29 pence a litre in recent months, according to the House of Commons Library. That's pushed running costs up sharply for petrol and diesel drivers, and it's visibly changed what buyers want.

What this means if you're selling an EV or hybrid

Used electric values had been sliding for a long stretch, but that trend has reversed. Used EV like-for-like prices rose 3.3% year-on-year in July, marking a reversal of the deflationary pressure that weighed on the EV market throughout 2024 and into late 2025, with the average asking price for a used EV rising to £24,946. Growth was led by three to five-year-old EVs, where values strengthened to 10.2%. If you've got a used electric or plug-in hybrid to sell, the current climate is noticeably more favourable than it was a year ago.

What this means if you're selling petrol or diesel

Petrol and diesel cars haven't lost their appeal, particularly in the older, cheaper brackets where the supply squeeze dominates. But higher running costs are steering some buyers, particularly those doing higher mileages, towards more efficient alternatives. It's worth checking current pump prices in your area before you price your own car, since a thirsty diesel in a high-fuel-cost climate can be a harder sell than it would have been eighteen months ago. Our fuel prices page is a useful place to see how costs compare locally.

Fuel and used car figures move around constantly and vary by council area, model, mileage, condition and battery health for EVs. Check the RAC Fuel Watch data and Autotrader's own Retail Price Index for the latest snapshot before you settle on an asking price.

Signs it might be a good time to sell

• Your car is roughly seven to fifteen years old, has a clean MOT history and decent service records, given the current shortage of older stock.
• You're driving a used EV or hybrid, where demand and prices have been climbing again after a long soft patch.
• You want to change cars before the supply squeeze on five to seven-year-old vehicles gets worse over the next year or two.
• Your car needs an MOT soon and you'd rather sell it with time left on the certificate than pay for repairs on a car you're planning to move on from anyway.
• The season is working in your favour. Convertibles and sports cars typically sell best in spring and early summer, while 4x4s and estates hold up better as winter approaches, and selling into that seasonal demand tends to get you a stronger price.

Signs it might be worth waiting

• Your car is under a year old. Prices in this bracket have been softening as new car supply recovers, and that's unlikely to reverse quickly.
• You haven't sorted your car's MOT or tax status. Buyers, whether private or trade, will check this and it affects what they're willing to offer.
• You're planning to change vehicles anyway and want to line up your next purchase, including how you'll fund it, before committing to a sale date.
• The time of year is against you. Trying to sell a convertible in late autumn or a 4x4 in high summer usually means softer demand, so it can be worth holding on for its stronger season.

How to get a fair price when you do sell

Whatever the wider market is doing, the basics still decide what you actually get for your car.

Start with the facts about your own car

Before you list anything, check your car's current MOT history and tax status. A lapsed MOT or an outstanding tax reminder makes buyers nervous and gives them a reason to knock money off. You can enter your registration into our reg lookup tool to see this instantly, along with a free indicative valuation to use as a starting benchmark. Treat any valuation, from us or anyone else, as a guide only. Actual sale prices vary with condition, mileage, spec, service history and how the wider market is moving, not a guaranteed price or a figure to rely on for anything beyond a starting point in negotiations.

Compare your options

• Dealer part-exchange: quickest and least hassle, but usually the lowest offer.
• Private sale: typically the best return, but takes more time and effort, and you'll need to handle viewings and paperwork yourself.
• Online car buying services: fast and convenient, sitting somewhere between the other two on price.

Sort the paperwork and presentation

Gather your service history, MOT certificates and any receipts for recent work. A car with a clear paper trail consistently sells for more than an identical car without one. Clean it properly, inside and out, and take decent photos in daylight if you're selling privately. None of this is glamorous, but it's the difference between an average sale and a good one.

If you're planning to put the proceeds towards your next car and want to explore your options, you can look into car finance, which is subject to status and affordability. For more on buying and running your next car, our guides cover the practical side in more depth.

So, is now a good time to sell?

If you've got an older petrol or diesel car, or a used EV or hybrid, the current climate genuinely favours sellers, with demand outpacing supply in several key brackets. If your car is nearly new, you're up against softening prices and it may be worth holding off unless you need to change now. Either way, the sensible starting point is the same: check your car's actual MOT and tax position, get an indicative valuation, and make your decision based on your car specifically rather than the headlines.