Used EV Demand Overtakes Diesel in 2026: What's Behind It

By Matthew Croxford · 13 Oct 2026 · Updated 20 Oct 2026

Short answer: Used EV demand has overtaken diesel because growth, not volume, has flipped: in Q2 2026 BEV transactions rose 67.0% to 110,761 units, a record 5.5% market share, while diesel fell 7.2% to 620,045. Fewer new diesels reaching the used market, high pump prices, and growing used EV supply and lower prices are driving the shift.

Used electric car demand has overtaken diesel in the one place that matters most to anyone buying or selling a car: growth. It isn't that there are suddenly more electric cars changing hands than diesels, there still aren't, but the direction of travel has flipped hard. Diesel demand keeps shrinking quarter after quarter, while used EV transactions are growing faster than any other fuel type on the market. If you're weighing up a used car right now, it's worth understanding why that's happening and what it actually changes for you.

The numbers behind the shift

The clearest picture comes from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which publishes quarterly used car transaction data drawn from DVLA records. In the second quarter of 2026, battery electric car transactions rose 67.0% to 110,761 units, the strongest quarterly growth since Q1 2024. That pushed BEVs to a record share of the second-hand market, while battery electric car transactions rose 67.0% as market share hit a record 5.5%, though petrol and diesel still accounted for almost 9 in 10 used car sales.

Diesel's trajectory is the opposite. In the same quarter, petrol remained the most popular fuel type despite a 1.2% fall in transactions to 1,121,243, while diesel sales fell 7.2% to 620,045. The first quarter told a similar story, with transactions of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) growing by 32.0% to 86,943 units, as nearly one in 23 buyers made the switch, up from around one in 30 last year, while diesel demand fell more sharply than petrol. More recent trade data points the same way: used EV demand jumped 40% in September as diesel interest slumped by 19.2%, according to Autotrader, with electric cars the only fuel type to record annual price growth, with values rising 2.8%.

Residual values back this up too. Recent trade analysis found that three-year-old EVs have surged by an average 9.1%, nearly £2,000, as more accessible pricing relative to combustion cars and soaring pump prices drive consumer adoption, while over the same period mainstream fuel types saw price declines, with petrol down 0.5%, hybrids down 0.3%, and diesel hit hardest, down 1.8% as pump prices climbed past £2.00 per litre.

Why diesel demand keeps falling

Part of this is simple supply and demand. Fewer new diesels have been registered for years, so there are fewer recent diesels filtering through to the used market. The SMMT attributed the continuing reduction partly to diminishing supply from the new-car market, where diesel's share has contracted dramatically over the past decade. The other half of the story is cost at the pump. Fuel prices have been volatile through 2026, and that has made running a diesel feel considerably less appealing to anyone doing serious mileage.

If fuel costs are a factor in your own decision, it's worth checking current prices in your area rather than going on guesswork. You can compare UK fuel prices or use our fuel finder to track down the cheapest forecourt nearby before you commit either way.

Diesel still isn't dead

It's worth being honest about scale here. Diesel and petrol combined still represent the overwhelming majority of used car sales, and combined, petrol and diesel still represented 86.7% of used-car transactions during Q2, almost nine out of every 10 cars bought. A used diesel estate or pickup still makes sense for plenty of high-mileage drivers, particularly where charging access is limited. What's changed isn't that diesel has become unpopular overnight, it's that the growth has clearly shifted to electric.

Why used EV demand is rising so fast

Three things are feeding this. First, supply: the wave of new EVs registered three or four years ago is now reaching the used market in proper volume, giving buyers genuine choice for the first time rather than a handful of early, expensive models. Second, price: as more stock lands, used EV prices have come down to levels that look realistic next to a comparable diesel, even if a gap still remains. Third, running costs: with fuel prices high, the appeal of a car that doesn't need a tank filling every week has grown sharply, especially for anyone who can charge at home.

None of this means every used EV is a safe bet. Battery health, charging habits and the age of the car all affect how it holds up, and values can move quickly as new stock arrives. If you're tracking the market before you buy or sell, our guides cover the practical side of EV ownership in more detail.

What this means if you're buying a used EV

Expect to pay a premium, but to move faster

Recent market data shows used electric cars commanding a noticeably higher price than diesel equivalents, while typically spending far less time sat on a forecourt. If you're shopping in this part of the market, be prepared for competition on the better-specced, lower-mileage cars, and don't assume a bargain will still be there next week.

Check the car's background before you commit

Whatever fuel type you're looking at, the basics of due diligence don't change. Start with a free reg lookup to pull the car's MOT history, including every past test result and advisory, its DVLA details, any outstanding safety recalls, and a free market valuation to see where it sits against similar cars. If you want a fuller picture before handing over a deposit, our vehicle history check uses data from Experian to show whether the car has outstanding finance owing, is recorded as an insurance write-off or stolen, how many previous keepers it's had, and whether it's ever been imported, exported or scrapped. It's a sensible step on any used car, but particularly useful on EVs given how quickly this part of the market is moving and changing hands.

Financing a used EV from a dealer

If you're buying through a dealer or the MotifyMe marketplace rather than privately, it's possible to be introduced to car finance to spread the cost, subject to status and affordability. That option only applies to dealer purchases, not to buying privately, so it's worth bearing in mind when you're deciding where to shop. You can find out more on our car finance page.

What this means if you're selling a diesel

If you're thinking about selling a diesel into this market, timing and expectations matter. Demand has softened and values have moved down, not up, over recent months. That doesn't mean your car won't sell, plenty of buyers still want a diesel for towing, long motorway runs or simply because it suits their budget, but it does mean pricing it realistically against current market data will get it sold faster than holding out for last year's money. A free valuation through our reg lookup tool gives you a current, indicative guide to work from before you list the car.

Where this goes next

The direction looks set to continue rather than reverse. As more EVs reach three, four and five years old, the pool of used stock will keep growing, which should gradually narrow the price premium over diesel and widen choice further down the market. Diesel isn't going to vanish from forecourts any time soon, there's still a large and ageing diesel parc on UK roads, but its share of used transactions looks likely to keep edging down as fewer new diesels are built to replace it.

For now, the sensible approach is the same whatever you're buying: check the car's full MOT history and any outstanding recalls, get a realistic valuation, and if there's any doubt about its background, run a proper vehicle history check before you pay a deposit.

Market share and price figures in this article come from SMMT quarterly data and trade reporting, and both used EV and diesel values will keep shifting with supply, battery condition, mileage and fuel prices. For the latest official transaction figures, check the SMMT directly rather than relying on a single month's snapshot.

Frequently asked questions

How much did used electric car transactions grow in Q2 2026? Battery electric car transactions rose 67.0% to 110,761 units in Q2 2026, according to SMMT data, giving EVs a record 5.5% share of the used car market.

How much did used diesel sales fall in 2026? Diesel transactions fell 7.2% to 620,045 units in Q2 2026, and Autotrader reported diesel interest slumping by 19.2% in September.

Are used EV prices rising compared with diesel? Yes, three-year-old EVs have seen values surge by an average 9.1%, nearly £2,000, while diesel prices fell 1.8% over the same period as pump prices climbed past £2.00 per litre.

Do petrol and diesel still dominate the used car market? Yes, combined petrol and diesel transactions still accounted for 86.7% of used car sales in Q2 2026, almost nine out of every ten cars bought.