Used automobile retail prices continued to climb in October as strong consumer engagement kept the market buoyant, with Autotrader data pointing to limited fallout expected from this month’s Autumn Budget.
In response to Autotrader’s Retail Price Index – based on around 800,000 AI-driven day by day observations – the typical advertised price of a used automobile reached £17,087 in October, up 0.4% year-on-year on a like-for-like basis.
It marks the third consecutive month of annual growth after two years of contraction. Prices also rose 0.7% month-on-month versus September.
Demand indicators strengthened. Autotrader recorded circa 81.1 million cross-platform visits in October, up 3% on September, while the typical days to sell fell to twenty-eight, sooner or later faster than a yr ago and 4 days quicker than 2023.
Autotrader said broader consumer confidence improved in October, with optimism around personal funds and major purchases edging up.
Automotive ownership stays a protected priority for UK households: nine in ten motorists consider it essential, and research shows spending cuts usually tend to hit eating out, clothing, travel and tech than motoring, with only 16% planning to cut back automotive outlay.
Despite speculation across the Chancellor’s plans, Autotrader expects the used market to stay well-insulated. Previous Autumn Budgets have had minimal impact on used-car activity, with platform engagement typically holding up until the seasonal slowdown into Christmas.
One area of potential volatility is electrical vehicles. Autotrader noted used-EV demand has rocketed ~30% YoY in October, and by ~40% YoY for 3-5-year-old models.
The Government’s proposed pay-per-mile charge for EVs, nonetheless, could influence each recent and used markets by raising running-cost concerns.
Q4 typically brings softer transaction volumes, but Autotrader sees this era as a staging ground for Q1. With buyers spending around 88 days researching, those browsing in late 2025 are prone to return able to purchase early in the brand new yr – making continued online visibility and powerful stock presentation critical for retailers.
Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insights at Autotrader, said: “Although some may hold off committing to purchasing a costlier brand-new automobile until after the Chancellor’s laid out her plans, previous Budget announcements have had little impact on used automobile buying activity.
“Automotive ownership continues to be a protected priority, and motoring spend is usually the last area to see reductions. With the potential exception of EVs where some doubt could have been created with the recent pay per mile news, we will expect sustained engagement from used automobile buyers, no matter broader budgetary changes.
“Despite a natural slowdown in transactions, we proceed to see very robust consumer engagement throughout the closing months of the yr. For retailers, this underscores the importance of maintaining a powerful presence and ensuring stock is visible and well-presented online, so that they’re well placed to capture this pent-up demand and begin the brand new yr with real sales momentum behind them.”
This Article First Appeared At www.am-online.com
