The UK used car market maintained positive momentum in April 2025, with British Car Auctions (BCA) reporting a continued rise in buyer numbers and solid customer engagement across its online sales platform.

Average used car values at BCA rose slightly to £7,792 ($10,433) last month, compared to £7,781 ($10,419) in March.

The auction house noted that buyer participation remained at record-breaking levels, extending a trend seen over recent months.

Sale conversion rates remained robust and above typical seasonal expectations while sold volumes stayed consistent throughout the month.

Price performance against guide values came under some pressure during April, the report said.

BCA noted that although market movements were more pronounced than in recent months, BCA indicated that the shift from April to May remained more stable than in previous years.

This was attributed in part to a seasonal moderation in demand and the timing of Easter, which fell later in the calendar this year.

Feedback from BCA’s customer base highlighted ongoing challenges in sourcing the right stock, despite overall retail demand remaining steady.

Many dealers have reportedly been required to expand their buying criteria to secure enough vehicles to meet forecourt needs.

During the first quarter of 2025, used car values averaged £7,777 at BCA, representing 97.7% of guide price benchmarks.

The quarter also saw stronger price performance and higher sold volumes compared with the same period in 2024. BCA attributed this to strong buyer interest and limited availability of desirable vehicles between three to five years old, contributing to a competitive marketplace.

BCA COO Stuart Pearson said: “April felt like another solid month across the used car sector with performance and volumes well ahead of the same period last year.  Whilst the intensity in the market has eased from earlier in the year, the best stock remained well fought over and buyer engagement remains at record levels.

“With some seasonality now impacting, any vehicle in poorer condition, as well as some of the less-desirable repeat model vehicles, came under more pressure than we’ve seen for a while.

“What remains clear is that there’s still a home for every vehicle, and buyers continue to follow the decisive sellers that value stock competitively and are pragmatic with their expectations.”