Author: Alex Buttle

London’s Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) is set to expand on Monday, yet only 43% of motorists in and around the city are aware, according to new research from used car marketplace, Motorway. 

Cars, motorcycles, specialist vehicles, and minibuses will either need to meet the ULEZ emission standards or pay a £12.50 daily charge when driving within the expanded zone. While car owners can check compliance of their vehicle with Motorway’s ULEZ checker, only 35% of motorists in and around London know how to check if their vehicle will be charged.

Even fewer motorists are confident on the new boundaries.  While 73% are aware Central London will be included: 

• Only 29% are aware it stretches across areas of South West London (including Croydon, Kingston upon Thames, Merton, Richmond upon Thames, Sutton, and Wandsworth) 
• Only 33% areas of West London (including Brent, Ealing, Hammersmith and Fulham, Harrow, Hillingdon, Hounslow, Kensington, and Chelsea) 
• Only 33% in the North (including Barnet, Enfield, Hackney and Haringey)
• Only 33% in the South East (including Bexley, Bromley, Greenwich and Lewisham) 
• Only 37% in the North East (including Barking and Dagenham, Havering, Newham, Redbridge, Tower Hamlets and Waltham Forest)

In fact, from 25^th October, the existing zone in central London will expand to the North Circular Road (A406) and South Circular Road (A205) – potentially putting many out of pocket as they adjust to the changes. Londoners that are returning to the office even just two days a week and entering the ULEZ in a non-compliant vehicle, would incur £1,125 in charges per year, while a driver who entered the ULEZ five days a week for work would have to pay up to £2,800 a year.*  

Therefore, it is unsurprising 31% would like to learn more about the zone, and one in seven (14%) plan to sell their vehicle within the next six months. 

As seen in recent news, there has been a surge in interest for electric vehicles, with two thirds (65%) of motorists in and around London likely to buy an electric vehicle in light of the expansion. 

This is despite the fact 29% are concerned that they would not be able to charge the vehicle at home, while 28% are worried that their freedom will be limited when waiting for the car to charge. However, 30% of those surveyed do think that it is necessary for the London ULEZ to be extended to improve the air quality.

Motorway has launched a ULEZ checker to help people find out if their vehicle meets the emissions standards of the expanded zone.  The online tool has already completed over 30,000 ULEZ compliance checks in the first seven days since its  launch on Tuesday 12th October.

Tom Leathes, CEO at Motorway, says:

“Despite having over three years to prepare for the ULEZ expansion, more than half of drivers in and around London are clearly still in the dark about this news and will get a nasty surprise when they cross the north or south circular on Monday.  If the car you’re driving means you’ll be charged when you enter the ULEZ, then selling it may be an obvious choice to save money.  

“With used car prices at an all-time high, now is a great time to sell – and even non-compliant cars are going for great prices as those who live outside of Clean Air Zones like the ULEZ won’t be feeling the pinch of these fuel charges.”

Amanda Stretton, motoring expert said: 

“It’s really shocking that despite Transport for London’s best efforts to communicate the expansion of the ULEZ  only 43% of drivers around the London area have a clue about it. Add to that only 35% know how to even check if their vehicle will be charged! Clearly motorists have had their heads in the sand about this but with more cars on the road now that people are returning to work, we will see a large number of unaware drivers facing penalties from 25th. It will be interesting to see if these penalties translate into an increase in these types of cars going for sale in the not too distant future.”

• Massive change is underway in the global used car industry.  New car sales are at an all-time low, while used car demand is at an all-time peak
• Used cars appreciated by 30% in September 2021 vs. September 2020
• Values have been steadily increasing month-on-month, with the biggest jump in June (+16%) 
• Motorway is a marketplace connecting consumers selling their car with professional car dealers acquiring stock – getting the best possible deal for both parties, and 100% online
• Motorway has seen +300% YOY growth after record £306m sales in Q3 2021
• Company is now on a run-rate to deliver over $2bn in completed sales over the next year

Investing in used cars could soon be a better bet than investing in your pension. With prices for a second hand car surging to unprecedented levels, the value of your car is currently rising every time you take it for a spin. 

Whereas cars typically depreciate as soon as they leave the forecourt, this year has seen a complete reversal in used car values.  Second-hand vehicles have skyrocketed in the last nine months, with the average value of vehicles soaring by over 30% YoY, according to Motorway, the UK’s fastest-growing way to sell your car.  

While the pandemic led to record numbers of consumers looking to buy or upgrade cars with the money they hadn’t spent on holidays or entertainment, the shortage of new cars coming to market – as a result of the semiconductor supply crisis – has turned consumers to the used car market instead. But the new car shortage has had a knock-on effect on used cars too – less new cars also means less used cars available too.  Coupled with a massive increase in consumer demand, the used car market that was already heating up, has turned red hot and prices for used cars are now going sky high. 

Motorway’s growth 

With the pandemic fueling a fundamental behavioural change in both dealers and consumers to buy and sell cars online, both groups have turned to Motorway.  At the same time, consumer demand for a simple, fast and online way to sell their car is rising month-on-month.  As a result,  Motorway has seen a four-fold YoY surge in sales and +65% growth in Q3 sales versus Q2 this year. 

The company recorded a +300% uplift in third-quarter sales to £306 million compared with £78 million last year. Between July and September this year, Motorway sold 20,076 cars.  This accelerated growth has continued, with Motorway now selling well over 8,000 cars a month, with £140m cars sold in September alone.  Over 100,000 used cars have been sold on Motorway since launch, with a new sale now agreed every five minutes.

This recent surge in sales puts Motorway on a run-rate to deliver over $2bn in completed sales over the next year, making it one of the world’s fastest growing digital automotive marketplaces.

The way to sell your car

Motorway helps consumers to sell their car for up to £1,000 more from the comfort of home. It’s simple, fast and free – a car can be profiled and uploaded onto the Motorway website using only a smartphone. Over 3,000 professional car dealers can then bid for the vehicle in a daily online auction, with the highest offer winning the car. Their car is then collected for free by the winning dealer in as little as 24 hours. 

Cutting out the middlemen and moving the whole process online, Motorway removes the hassle and the haggle, helping car sellers and car dealers get a better deal fast, and all entirely remotely.

Motorway data on appreciation of used cars comparing Q3 2021 with Q3 2020

Exclusive data from Motorway sales reveals the month-on-month increases in the average value of vehicles sold on Motorway since September 2020 and a breakdown of prices achieved by popular models:

• A Porsche Cayman has steadily increased by +23%, going for £5,480 more than Q3 2020
• At the other end of the scale, a Ford Focus has appreciated by over +34%, selling for £3,346 more than last year. 
• Looking at the used EV market, a Tesla Model S sold for +14% higher than it went for last year
• Even at the cheaper end of the market, pieces have seen huge increases – a Vauxhall Agila went for £2,300, +46% higher than Q3 2020 
• An Aston Martin Vanquish rose by +38% just sitting in the driveway during lockdown

Table 1: Month-on-month increases in the average value of vehicles sold on the platform since September 2020

Month-on-month
Month	Avg Value	% +/- v. Sept 2020	£ +/-
Sep-20	£14,895
Oct-20	£15,430	3.59%	£535
Nov-20	£14,126	-5.16%	-£769
Dec-20	£14,242	-4.38%	-£653
Jan-21	£14,445	-3.02%	-£450
Feb-21	£14,122	-5.19%	-£773
Mar-21	£13,899	-6.68%	-£996
Apr-21	£14,758	-0.92%	-£137
May-21	£15,296	2.69%	£401
Jun-21	£17,267	15.92%	£2,372
Jul21	£17,708	18.89%	£2,813
Aug21	£18,836	26.46%	£3,941
Sep21	£19,427	30.42%	£4,532

Table 2: A breakdown of prices achieved by popular models comparing Q3 2021 with Q3 2020

Q321 v. Q320
Make	Model	Q320	Q321	Q320 v. 21 (%)	Q320 v. 21 (£)
Mercedes	Q3	£16,763	£20,082	19.80%	£3,319
Volkswagen	Tiguan	£14,398	£18,123	25.87%	£3,725
Mini	Cooper	£9,734	£12,522	28.64%	£2,788
Ford	Focus	£9,963	£13,309	33.58%	£3,346
Porsche	Cayman	£23,750	£29,230	23.07%	£5,480
Tesla	Model S	£42,718	£48,531	13.61%	£5,813
Nissan	Qashqai	£9,294	£11,525	24.00%	£2,231
Audi	Q3	£16,672	£20,082	20.45%	£3,410
BMW	M235I	£17,791	£21,531	21.02%	£3,740
Land Rover	Discovery	£24,392	£28,800	18.07%	£4,408
Honda	Jazz	£7,548	£8,464	12.14%	£916
Vauxhall	Agila	£2,300	£3,356	45.91%	£1,056
Volkswagen	Eos	£4,569	£6,031	32.00%	£1,462
Aston Martin	Vanquish	£61,166	£84,000	37.33%	£22,834
Lotus	Exige	£58,150	£75,000	28.98%	£16,850

Motorway reveals a lack of awareness ahead of new measures coming into force in Birmingham on 1st June

• 21% of UK motorists do not know what a Clean Air Zone (CAZ) is, while a further 21% are unsure
• Despite many new ones coming into force, only 16% know how to check if they will be charged when driving through a CAZ
• Just 12% know what the minimum standard for their vehicle is
• 44% agree with the principle that petrol and diesel vehicles should be charged for driving in densely populated areas
• Two thirds (66%) are not aware that a CAZ is being introduced in Birmingham on 1st June

Despite continuous media coverage over the last year about Clean Air Zones (CAZs), one fifth (21%) of UK motorists have no idea what a CAZ is, while one in three (31%) motorists in Birmingham are unaware that a CAZ is being introduced to their city on 1st June, according to research from Motorway, the online marketplace for used cars.

Clean Air Zones have been introduced in both London and Bath already and will launch in Birmingham, on 1st June 2021. They are one of several measures introduced to reduce pollution in the nation’s worst-affected areas. However, 21% of UK motorists are unsure of how they work, or how they may be affected by their introduction. And two thirds (66%) are unaware that a CAZ is being introduced in Birmingham next week.

Only 12% know what the minimum standard for their vehicle is and just 16% know how to check if they will be charged when driving through a Clean Air Zone. While this figure rises to 20% among Birmingham drivers, it still shows incredibly low awareness considering the Birmingham CAZ launches in less than a week.

Every CAZ is different – tailored to the area and the aims it wishes to achieve. But, in principle, they split opinion. While 44% agree that high-polluting petrol and diesel vehicles should be charged for driving in densely populated areas, 33% disagree and 23% sit on the fence.

Whatever the case, a prediction can be made that the zones will do their job – 36% said they would avoid travelling by car, van or motorbike if given an additional charge, while 21% would consider selling their petrol or diesel vehicle in favour of a greener, electric vehicle. In fact, almost a quarter (22%) of UK motorists said they were very likely to buy an electric vehicle while 30% said they were somewhat likely.

Alex Buttle, Director at Motorway, says:

“Clean Air Zones are popping up all over the country. First in London with ULEZ, then a CAZ in Bath, and now Birmingham. However you feel about them, if the car you’re driving means you’ll be charged when you enter the CAZ, then selling it may be an obvious choice to save money – especially while the used car market is so strong and prices of non-compliant cars are expected to fall this year for these types of cars.

“The used car market is booming right now, due to a real lack of new cars coming to market, so car owners may want to strike while the iron is hot. Whether you go all-in on an electric vehicle or opt for a CAZ-compliant lower-emission petrol or diesel car there’s an incredible choice available whatever your price range and style.”

Amanda Stretton, motoring expert said:

“The Birmingham CAZ has been the subject of much debate over the last year, both on a national and local level. So it’s pretty shocking that only 1 in 3 drivers in Birmingham have any idea that it’s coming into force on Tuesday! Add to that the 21% of UK motorists who don’t even know what a CAZ is! Clearly more needs to be done to educate people before they get a nasty surprise when they drive into a city operating a CAZ. It’s also important to remember that these changes to driving in big cities affect everyone – for both air quality and to inform people about any future choices they may make when it comes to buying a car.”

Drivers can use this online vehicle checker from The Department for Transport to see if they will be affected by the Bath or Birmingham CAZ, or this checker to see if they will be affected by the ULEZ in London.

Motorway Used Carometer reveals the top 20 most sold and most expensive cars sold across UK in the last year 

• The top selling used electric car was the Nissan Leaf
• A Lamborghini Huracan from Surrey was the most expensive used car sold during pandemic, for £172,250
• The Volkswagen Golf came out as the most popular car to sell in London, Leeds and Edinburgh
• The most expensive used electric car was the Tesla Model X
• An Abarth 695C was revealed as the rarest used car to be sold in the UK

It’s official – Volkswagen Golf was the UK’s most-sold used car during the pandemic, revealed by Motorway, the UK’s fastest-growing online marketplace for used cars.  

Motorway analysed all the cars sold on its platform during the pandemic, between March 2020 and February 2021, and found that more people have sold a Volkswagen Golf on the platform than any other model of car in the last year. It was closely followed by the Ford Fiesta and the MINI Cooper, proving UK drivers love selling things in small packages. The Volkswagen Golf also came top in London, Leeds and Edinburgh in the last year. 

Best electric dreams

With the steady rise in popularity of electric cars, UK drivers are spoiled for choice when choosing which EV to go for – from Tesla to Renault, there’s an EV for all tastes and budgets. But the Nissan Leaf took first place in Motorway’s Used Carometer with more of this model being sold online than any other electric car in the last 12 months. 

With EVs surging in popularity, Motorway also saw major growth in the selling of both petrol and diesel vehicles, with Land Rover featuring high on the most sold list, with popular models taking 9th and 11th place, implying the government’s changing legislation on fuel has got some people reconsidering their ownership of premium fossil fuel used cars. 

Most expensive motors

The UK’s most expensive used car in the Motorway Carometer was a Lamborghini Huracan, located North of the Surrey Hills, which sold for £172,250.  Three more Lamborghinis featured in the top five, hailing from Essex, Cardiff and Hull. While the rest of the top 20 most expensive cars featured brands most would expect like Porsche, Land Rover, Bentley and Mercedes, there was one Tesla Model X that went for over £80k, demonstrating a good resale value for this type of electric car. 

Tom Leathes, CEO of Motorway, said:

“While sales of new cars continue to fall and consumers have avoided public transport to stay safe, the used car market has seen incredible growth over the past year. Our data shows which cars have proved to be the most popular to sell this year.  

“Cars like the Volkswagen Golf, Ford Fiesta and Mini Cooper are consumer favourites and really hold their value in the used car market, with lots of people seeking them out. It’s also great to see just how many used electric cars are being bought and sold right now – the demand for EVs is growing fast and people are realising they can pick up some great models second hand without breaking the bank on a new one.”

The weird and wonderful 

Motorway’s data revealed it was an Italian yacht-themed Abarth 695C that was the rarest motor sold on the platform this year, alongside an Infiniti FX30d. And while black, white and grey are still the most in-demand colours, cream, pink and turquoise aren’t big sellers.  However, when it comes to selling cars, beauty really is in the eye of the beholder, with one yellow Porsche 718 in Hampshire going for over £80k and a yellow Ford Mustang in Manchester selling for almost £30k and an orange BMW M4 going for £40k in Newport. 

We are extremely proud to announce that Motorway was awarded ‘Highly Commended’ for the ‘Used Car Product of the Year’ award at the Car Dealer Magazine Used Car Awards 2020.

The awards were presented online by Mike Brewer, star of Discovery Channel TV show Wheeler Dealers on Friday 5th February.

Well done to our fantastic team for all your hard work throughout a challenging year. Thanks too to our incredible dealers – we love working with you, and are always proud to serve you with exclusive privately-owned stock.

Finally, a big thank you to Mike Brewer for hosting the event, all the judges, Car Dealer Magazine, James Baggott and Michelle Searle for your support. What a year!

Motorway sales director James Bush said:

“We are delighted to have been awarded Highly Commended in the Used Car Product category in this year’s Used Car Awards.

“It’s testament to the hard work our team have put in to provide a truly market-leading product and service for the dealer community, especially during the pandemic.

“Our unique offering of high-spec, privately owned used vehicle stock – all online and without the middle men – has attracted more car dealers than ever this last year.

“This recognition from the judges is a great validation of our mission towards providing the best possible, most efficient online stock-acquisition platform for the long term.”

Dealers can sign up to buy exclusive, privately-owned used car stock at Motorway here.

Last updated: 24th February 2022

Motorway Online Ltd (company number 10285711) is the promoter (“Promoter”) of these 4 free prize draws. Subject to these Terms and Conditions, all persons who re-tweet the specified tweet on The Motorway Twitter page (the “Tweet”), in addition to following the Twitter account @Motorway before the closing dates will be entered into a free prize draw as set out on Twitter to win the prize detailed in the Tweet.

List of prizes and closing dates

• £1,000 – for one winner – closes 5pm, Monday 28th February 2022
• One England Rugby Home 2021/22 Replica Jersey for ten winners – closes 5pm, Sunday 27th February 2022
• 50x Size 5 Motorway Rugby Balls – for 50 winners – closes 5pm, Tuesday 15th March 2022
• Six Motorway rugby tackle bags for one winning Rugby Club – closes 5pm, Sunday 20th March 2022

 Entry guidelines

• All these free prize draws are open to anyone aged at least 18 years who is a UK resident, excluding employees of the Promoter or any of its affiliated companies
• Entries must be made by re-tweeting the Tweet and following Motorway on Twitter. Entries received after the stipulated closing time will be invalid and will not be included in the free prize draw.
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The Motorway Used Carometer reveals the average price of used cars valued on its platform each month. It is based on market valuations of premium used cars on Motorway over £10k, less than five-years-old, with under 50,000 miles on the clock.  Now more than ever, consumers need a reliable source of truth to gauge how much money they’ll need to spend to get a quality used car. 

The UK government may be banning new sales of diesel and petrol cars from 2030, but the used market for diesel is definitely on the up.  After several years of plummeting diesel car prices, Motorway’s data also reveals that the average price of a used diesel car has been steadily rising month-on-month. The average price for diesel used cars were +3% higher in September than August and October prices were +1% higher than September.  

This rise, coupled with a +10% increase in the number of car valuations for Land Rover in October demonstrates increased demand for these premium SUVs in the used car market.  In fact, Jaguar Land Rover’s fightback continued with used Jaguar cars rising +4%, almost £1,000, on September prices and climbing +8%,  £1,862 higher than 12 months ago.  

Tom Leathes, CEO of Motorway comments: 

“With the ongoing pandemic, and restrictions set to continue through the winter, people are turning to the car market to avoid public transport and travel safely.  However, with the uncertain economic outlook, many consumers are reluctant to buy new. Instead, they are choosing to buy used cars and we have seen a significant increase in demand across more-expensive brands like Jaguar, Land Rover, Mercedes and BMW, which is keeping used car prices strong across the premium vehicle sector.  

“Our data also clearly shows consumers are not turning their back on fossil fuels just yet. While new car sales continue to drop, consumers are quickly realising they can get a great deal on a top of the range Land Rover that’s only a few years old, instead of dropping £60k on a new one, or on a new electric car.

“As a result, Jaguar Land Rover is now enjoying a renaissance in used vehicle demand that it may not have seen if not for the pandemic. We think the government’s changing legislation on fuel is unlikely to impact consumer appetite for premium used cars at a good price over the next twelve months.”  

High risers

Overall, the most popular cars on Motorway among dealers in October were the likes of Mercedes, BMW and Audi, with average prices holding at around £20K and all three brands performing well against October 2019 prices. 

The highest rising car brand was Mazda in October, with average prices up +7% on September, at £14,994 vs. £14,018 and +11% on the year before, rising by £1,447. This was followed by Jeep and then Honda which each had respective uplifts of +6% and +5%, compared to September. Porsche bounced back from last month’s drop and has now returned to its previous summer prices, jumping +4%, an increase of £1,444. 

EV price wars

It’s not just diesel that is on the rise. October was another strong month for used electric vehicles, proving there is appetite for both when it comes to used cars – average prices of EVs were £31,663, an uplift of 11% or £3,231. The most popular EV was unsurprisingly the Tesla Model 3, at £33,611, up almost +3% on September prices and +7% on the previous year.  

Jaguar Land Rover also performed well in the EV category, with the average price of a second-hand Jaguar I-PACE up +1% on the previous month to £54,280, while the Nissan Leaf held strong with a +0.5% uplift and an average price of £19,316.

Mid-level & value cars

Across mid-level and value brands, Ford and Peugeot saw a minor dip in average prices in October of around -1% while Vauxhall and Skoda second-hand prices both fell by 4%.  Although the average price of a used Mini dipped by £122 in October, overall this brand is still a consumer favourite, up +7% or £1,000 on the same time last year.

The Motorway Used Caromoter helps inform consumers what they can currently expect to get for their car or pay for a used one.  Instead of fairytale guide prices that are unlikely to come true, The Motorway Used Carometer uses real, aggregated data from multiple sources to provide a true picture of average prices in the last month, and year, to identify trends for the months ahead*. 

Car Brand	Average price: Oct 2020	September: Price increase/ decrease (%)	Difference (£)	October 2019: Price increase/ decrease (%)	Difference (£)
MAZDA	£14,994	6.97%	£976	10.70%	£1,447
JEEP	£16,217	6.63%	£1,009	7.10%	£1,069
HONDA	£16,186	4.59%	£710	6.47%	£983
JAGUAR	£24,066	4.05%	£937	8.39%	£1,862
PORSCHE	£39,548	3.79%	£1,444	1.21%	£473
BMW	£20,452	2.34%	£469	2.80%	£557
FERRARI	£106,397	1.89%	£1,972	-15.54%	-£19,577
LAND ROVER	£29,426	1.87%	£540	3.61%	£1,025
NISSAN	£14,563	1.20%	£173	-0.03%	-£4
VOLKSWAGEN	£16,324	1.01%	£163	-0.79%	-£130
MERCEDES-BENZ	£20,065	0.97%	£193	1.62%	£322
HYUNDAI	£15,011	0.83%	£124	-3.95%	-£617
CITROEN	£12,486	0.76%	£94	9.16%	£1,048
TOYOTA	£15,417	0.62%	£96	-6.38%	-£1,051
SEAT	£13,999	-0.06%	-£8	2.63%	£359
AUDI	£20,009	-0.35%	-£71	1.36%	£269
BENTLEY	£54,955	-0.74%	-£409	3.52%	£1,868
MINI	£14,123	-0.86%	-£122	7.65%	£1,004
FORD	£15,260	-0.91%	-£140	-2.79%	-£438
PEUGEOT	£15,660	-0.94%	-£148	-0.31%	-£48
VAUXHALL	£12,112	-3.56%	-£447	-3.10%	£391
VOLVO	£20,414	-1.32%	-£273	0.40%	£84
TESLA	£46,085	-1.89%	-£887	-7.21%	-£3,579
LEXUS	£20,459	-3.45%	-£731	-2.20%	-£460
SKODA	£16,087	-4.34%	-£731	6.28%	£950

When it comes to getting the right price for a used car, consumers shouldn’t be in a position where they have to accept low or cheeky offers. Motorway helps drivers secure the best deal for their car from a used car marketplace of 1,500+ trusted dealers nationwide. Car owners can sell fast, as well as safely, with minimum hassle, for the best price.  Rather than losing money through a middle-man, Motorway connects private sellers directly with dealers across the country – ensuring they get the best price and a trustworthy service, all in as little as 24 hours.

Updated 12/11/2020: We are open for business during the current lockdown. All transactions are completed contact-free.

This post outlines how our service is affected by the current COVID-19 situation and lockdown restrictions in England due to end on Wednesday 2nd December, and what you can expect if you sign up to compare prices on our website at this time.

Motorway works with thousands of dealerships and instant buyers around the UK to provide a range of offers for your car with a single search – helping you find your best deal as quickly as possible.

We will do all we can to secure you the best price possible at the present time, but some final offers may be lower than in normal conditions. Please note that you are under no obligation to accept any offer provided.

To keep you safe, buyers and dealers are purchasing vehicles following social distancing guidelines. All buyers on Motorway buy and collect cars in a contact-free manner.

Please continue to sign up on Motorway, or you can get in touch with questions at any time. You can email us at hello@motorway.co.uk or call our team on 0203 988 2266 (Mon-Fri, 9am to 5.30pm). We are always here to help.

Thank you for your patience. We will update this page as further info becomes available.

Brits are embracing electric cars more than ever before, with demand causing the average price of a used electric car to be +34% higher in September 2020 than in the same month last year, according to new data revealed by Motorway.  

Motorway today launches its monthly barometer revealing the average price of used cars valued on its platform each month, as well as the same time last year. Now more than ever, consumers need a reliable source of truth to gauge how much money they can get for their car from professional buyers. 

Instead of fairytale guide prices that are unlikely to come true, The Motorway Used Carometer uses real, aggregated data from multiple sources to provide a true picture of average prices in the last month, and year, to identify trends for the months ahead. It is based on market valuations of premium used cars on Motorway over £10k, less than five-years-old, with under 50,000 miles on the clock.   

Tesla has had the biggest price increase compared to September 2019, up +11%, equating to an average of £4,746 more per vehicle. In fact, the average price of a used Tesla increased by +3% in September from the previous month, underlining a clear trend in  increased demand for cleaner EVs, perhaps for good.

This marries with new car registrations too, with the SMMT reporting a 184% increase in pure-electric registrations in September compared to the previous year. With Tesla resale prices surging, the brand could well be one to invest in for the future. 

High risers 

Other brands that tipped the scale in September included Peugeot, Skoda, Mercedes and Volvo – with average prices rising between +3 to 5% on August prices. Peugeot made the top of the list, with the highest rising prices at +6% compared to August, while it is also +7% up on the same month last year. 

Tom Leathes, CEO of Motorway comments: 

“Since coming out of lockdown, the used car market has seen incredible month-on-month growth. With an uncertain economic outlook, many people are moving away from buying a new car and choosing used to find more value. And commuters are looking for alternatives to public transport to stay safe – and they’re turning to the second hand market too.

“This combined impact means resilient prices for car sellers with quality used vehicles – and this is borne out in our data.  Not only are the majority of brands in our barometer achieving prices higher than the previous month, they are up on the same time last year,  before the pandemic hit.

“Dealers, hungry for quality stock they can sell at affordable prices, are also pushing prices up. From Tesla and MINI, to Peugeot and even showstoppers like Ferrari and Lamborghini, sale prices show no signs of slowing down as we near the end of the year. 

“Consumers that usually go for new cars have woken up to the benefits of the used car market, and we expect strong market growth to continue long into the future. In highly uncertain times, that is real cause for celebration.” 

Fuel wars

Dieselgate and the pollution levies over the last three year resulted in diesel car prices plummeting. But that fall has now come to an end: September bucked the trend with diesel actually rising +3% on August car prices, and +2% compared to September 2019.  Petrol cars didn’t fare as well, dropping an average of 9% on last year’s car prices, while hybrid cars also fell, by 5%. This may indicate a natural levelling out following a period of turbulent fuel-based valuations.

Super cars, super prices

With interest rates staying low, there is strong demand from high earners for expensive prestige used vehicles. It was a great month for brands like Ferrari, Lamborghini, Bentley and Aston Martin which saw between +6 to 16% increase. However, it wasn’t all rosy for super cars. Perhaps because many buyers are avoiding flashiness and looking for more practicality during lockdown, Porsche saw a 10% drop from August and 4% from last year.

Back to black

Some things rarely change. Black is still the most popular car to sell, followed by grey, then white. But turquoise came out the highest rising colour of the month, +46% up on August and almost +30% up on last year. At the other end of the scale, purple, a colour most notably associated with royalty, is very much out of favour, averaging 20% less than August and 50% less than last year.  

The Motorway Used Caromoter helps inform consumers what they can currently expect to get for their car. When it comes to getting the right price for a used car, consumers shouldn’t be in a position where they have to accept low or cheeky offers.

Motorway helps drivers secure the best deal for their car from a used car marketplace of 1,500+ trusted dealers nationwide. Car owners can sell fast, as well as safely, with minimum hassle, for the best price.  Rather than losing money through a middle-man, Motorway connects private sellers directly with dealers across the country – ensuring they get the best price and the most trustworthy response, all in as little as 24 hours. 

Prestige used cars have proven to be ‘pandemic-proof’, with average prices of some of the most popular luxury brands – such as Land Rover, Lexus and Maserati – more than 8% higher than 12 months ago, according to research by Motorway.

Motorway looked at thousands of valuations on its platform, which revealed that the average price of a used Maserati in June 2020 was £34,170, compared to £31,052 in the corresponding month in 2019, an increase of £3,118 or 10%.

While in the same month, the average price of a second-hand Land Rover at £30,834, was up more than £2,000 or 8.5% compared to 12 months ago (£28,420). And the average value of a Lexus was £22,446 compared to £20,627 the previous year, an 8.8% uplift.

Across mid and lower-end brands, Smart and Citreon have seen used car prices increase more than 6% in 2020 vs 2019. Toyota second-hand prices have fallen 2.9% though.

Table: 20 major car brands and how average used car prices compare in 2020 vs 2019.

Car Brand	Average price – 2019	Average price – 2020	Difference (£)	Increase/ (decrease) in price (%)
Maserati	£31,052	£34,170	£3,118	10.0%
Lexus	£20,627	£22,446	£1,818	8.8%
Land Rover	£28,420	£30,834	£2,414	8.5%
Smart	£6,098	£6,510	£412	6.8%
Citroen	£6,875	£7,324	£449	6.5%
Porsche	£40,376	£42,618	£2,241	5.6%
Mini	£10,110	£10,506	£396	3.9%
Seat	£10,153	£10,521	£368	3.6%
Honda	£11,927	£12,257	£331	2.8%
BMW	£17,375	£17,747	£372	2.1%
Peugeot	£8,716	£8,901	£185	2.1%
Audi	£18,193	£18,449	£256	1.4%
Volvo	£17,190	£17,408	£219	1.3%
Volkswagen	£12,826	£12,926	£100	0.8%
Jaguar	£21,401	£21,445	£44	0.2%
Skoda	£11,743	£11,632	-£111	-0.9%
Mercedes-Benz	£18,200	£17,949	-£251	-1.4%
Mitsubishi	£15,013	£14,747	-£266	-1.8%
Hyundai	£10,869	£10,664	-£205	-1.9%
Toyota	£11,980	£11,635	-£345	-2.9%

Alex Buttle, director of Motorway comments: 

“The prestige end of the used car market has shown remarkable resilience during lockdown and since restrictions were eased, any expected drop off in values just hasn’t materialised. This has led to higher-than-expected offers for sellers with quality used vehicles on our website. 

“Demand from dealers has been high for top-end brands with car owners attracted to the second-hand market where two to three-year old cars can be picked up at affordable prices. 

“For example, Land Rover drivers looking to upgrade their cars, can find three-year-old, fifth generation Discoveries, for just over £30k as opposed to paying upwards of £60k new.

“We’re also seeing more luxury car owners who would normally buy new, turning to the used car market. People still want a nice car, but with the short to medium term economic outlook remaining uncertain, many owners are understandably reluctant to commit to buying expensive new cars on finance at the moment.

“There is a real appetite for quality used cars, and this is born out in our data. This increased demand is squeezing supply levels, particularly on the budget and premium end, but also at the mid-range too. It’s all combining to create upward pressure on prices across the board. This trend has continued into July and August, and will likely remain into the rest of the year as people return to work after the summer holidays.”