Classic car owners usually also possess a car for everyday use only taking their classic car out for a run on a weekend or perhaps on an evening having returned home from work. You may find it of interest to read that the number of used cars sold in the UK fell in the first quarter of 2026 when compared with the same quarter in 2025.

According to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), the number of second hand cars sole in the first quarter of 2026 in the UK amounted to 2,016,232 whereas in the same quarter last year the figure was 2,020,990. This equates to a reduction of 0.2%.

However, it is worth noting that there were increased sales of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) when comparing the above two quarters. This sector rose by 32% when comparing the above two periods with almost 1 in 23 purchasers buying such a used vehicle in the first quarter of 2026 compared to in the region of 1 in 30 buyers in the first quarter of 2025.

The top 5 used cars sold in the UK in Q1 of 2026 were: –

1. Ford Fiesta 76,745
2. Vauxhall Corsa 62,201
3. Volkswagen Golf 56,236
4. Ford Focus 54,662
5. Nissan Qashqai 42,214

The top 5 used car colours sold in the UK in Q1of 2026 were: –

1. Black 429,392
2. Grey 376,124
3. White 331,409
4. Blue 318,100
5. Silver/Aluminium 259,424

The top 5 fuels for used cars sold in the UK in Q1 of 2026 were:-

1. Petrol 1,147,969
2. Diesel 629,987
3. Hybrid 128,039
4. Electric 86,943
5. Plug-In Hybrid 20,021

Apparently, a reason why there was a fall in the number of used cars sold in the UK in the first quarter of 2026 was due to a drop in the sale of used cars in March 2026 when compared with March 2025. Let us hope that we see a turnaround of performance going forward throughout the remainder of 2026 and beyond.

Whilst writing, we thought we would just take this opportunity to remind you that if you either own a classic car or are thinking of buying one we provide access to a panel of classic car insurance companies. So if you would like to receive a competitive quote without any obligation why not get in touch with us at your earliest convenience. We look forward to hopefully being of assistance.