Online remarketing company Autorola says that May has started positively following the drop-off last month, which was caused by the holidays.

Richard Pay, Autorola’s UK managing director, said: 'We are getting signs from some dealer groups that they are focusing their attentions on 20% new car sales and 80% used cars because of the difficult retail market. Prices and demand for used cars online, particularly ex-fleet models seems to be back on track. Based on one sale for a Korean manufacturer we sold 95% of stock online and prices were strong.

'The amount of cars being added to our online system for sale is growing and bidding for stock is continually increasing week on week. Our hopes are that this market situation will continue through May and into June, which should mean any backlog of stock which leasing companies and manufacturers have will clear quite quickly.'