Growth in electric vehicle pre-registration activity is challenging the used car sector, the Vehicle Remarketing Association (VRA) has warned.

Pre-registered EVs are turning every 37 days; three days slower than petrol

Data from Auto Trader that general pre-registration activity is now up by 23% year-on-year for 2025, based on stock with fewer than 100 miles.

EVs account for around 23% of these, in line with their share of the new car market, but the VRA said they’re taking much longer to sell second-hand because manufacturers are heavily incentivising the purchase of brand-new EVs to stimulate demand.

VRA board member Louis Maxwell explained: “While three- to five-year-old EVs are selling fastest in the market at 26 days, having reached a general point of price parity with petrol, pre-registered EVs are turning every 37 days, which is three days slower than petrol. It’s a big difference.”

Louis added that the Auto Trader data also showed three- to five-year-old vehicles were seeing price rises and selling more quickly as the production ‘squeeze’ over Covid worked its way through the market.

“Supply of vehicles in this age range is 3% lower year-on-year and 28% below 2019 levels. As a result, their retail prices are rising quickly, up 1.4% compared to last year against an overall market fall of 0.6% so far in 2025.

“They’re also turning every 24 days on average, four days faster than in 2019. There is every sign of general short supply and dealers are finding it difficult to locate good quality stock in this part of the market.”