Used EV sales hit record high as rising fuel prices drive motorists away from petrol

A record number of used EVs were sold last month as drivers increasingly look to switch from petrol and diesel to electric.

Figures from used market specialist Marketcheck show that secondhand EV sales rocketed by almost 50% month-on-month as the Iran war continued to create volatility around fuel prices.

The data shows that a total of 32,880 used EVs were sold during March – 10,499 more than in February 2026 and the highest monthly figure ever recorded by Marketcheck.

It comes at the same time as used car marketplace AA Cars reported a more than 40% increase in searches for EVs on its platform.

Alastair Campbell, Marketcheck UK, commented: “March was a landmark month for the used EV market.

“The timing is significant. Buyers were already responding to better affordability and a wider choice of stock, but instability in global energy markets following events involving Iran appears to have added further momentum.

“When fuel prices come into question, many motorists start looking seriously at electric vehicles. March’s figures show just how quickly the market can respond.”

AA Cars’ data showed that between the start of March and the first week of April, views of used EVs on its website rose by more than 43%, and the marketplace said the trend strengthened across the period as drivers struggled with prices at the pumps.

With petrol 24p per litre more expensive than a year ago, a typical 55-litre tank is now £13.50 more than it was in April 2024.

Edmund King, AA president, said: “When fuel prices spike, drivers quickly start questioning the true cost of motoring — and whether there’s a better-value alternative.

“That’s where electric vehicles come into sharper focus. As petrol and diesel costs climb, more motorists are attracted to the lower day-to-day running costs of an EV.

“The latest AA Cars data shows this shift is already happening. As people do the maths, EVs are moving firmly into the mainstream conversation.”