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The UK’s pre-loved economy is now worth an estimated £6.5bn, an increase of 48% since 2020, according to research carried out by Motorway and the Centre for Economics and Business Research (CEBR). The report predicts that the flourishing pre-loved economy is set to grow further to £12.6bn in 2027; roughly double its value today. 

Spending on pre-loved items places £6.5bn additional income directly into the hands of UK households. This supports a further £6bn of consumer spending, leading to a £2.4bn contribution to UK GDP.

Two-thirds of Brits who bought pre-loved goods in the past year (66%) stated that saving money is a key reason behind their purchase of pre-loved goods, suggesting that cost-of-living concerns have prompted a shift in shoppers’ preferences. Four in 10 (42%) shoppers purchase pre-loved items to support a good cause, while a rise in environmentally conscious shoppers (36%) who believe in a more sustainable way to shop, has also contributed to the growing economy. 

Moreover, cost pressures are the main factor behind those selling pre-loved and used goods, while greater accessibility through the prevalence of online marketplaces is also a key factor – the percentage of second-hand goods sold via online marketplaces jumped from 57% in 2017 to 74% in 2022.

Interestingly, of those who say they’re likely to sell pre-loved goods, 16% attributed their willingness to do so to a ‘greater entrepreneurial mindset’. In fact, 68% of those polled who described themselves as entrepreneurial have sold pre-loved goods.

The regions of London, the South East, and the South West see the highest absolute expenditure on pre-loved goods, accounting for more than a third (37%) of the total pre-loved market in the UK.

The top pre-loved categories Brits spend their income on: 

1. Books and stationery – 29% 
2. Women’s clothing and accessories – 22% 
3. Men’s clothing and accessories – 15% 
4. Transport vehicles – 14% 
5. Footwear – 13% 
6. Furniture and furnishings – 13% 
7. Physical games and toys – 10% 
8. Glassware, tableware and household utensils – 10% 
9. Tools and equipment for house and garden – 9% 
10. TV, video and computers – 9% 

Eoghan Barry, Head of Strategy at Motorway said: “With the used-vehicle market making up a large portion of the pre-loved economy, we want to ensure sellers across the UK are getting a great price for their used cars. At Motorway, we work with a network of more than 5,000 verified dealers, who compete to give sellers their best price. So, while we’re fuelling the used-car market, providing high quality, used-car stock to our dealer partners, we’re also helping sellers get a great price for their cars. Now, more so than ever before, we know how important this will be for many living in the UK.”

Owen Good, Head of Economic Advisory at CEBR said: “Our analysis highlights the considerable contribution of the pre-loved market to the UK economy at £6.5 billion, with the total value of the market expected to double over the next five years, highlighting the traction pre-loved goods have gained amongst consumers. This is especially pertinent given the ongoing cost-of-living crisis and severely dampened spending power of consumers, with our research finding that the value offered by the pre-loved market is a key driver of its growth over the last several years.”

To value or sell your car, and to get an estimated sale price, visit motorway.co.uk.

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Notes to Editors

The research was carried out in October 2022 by Opinium and CEBR, based on a poll of 2,000 UK adults, and a bespoke modelling project that utilised weekly expenditure data from the Office for National Statistics’ Living Costs and Food Survey. The former provided data on the share of expenditure spent on pre-loved goods across a range of products and incorporating this data with the ONS’ weekly expenditure data enabled us to produce indicative estimates for the absolute spend on pre-loved goods for different products.

About Motorway

Motorway is the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace. We connect people selling their car directly with our network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers, matching each seller on our platform with the dealer who most wants to buy their car. We help car owners sell their cars 100% online for a great price in as little as 24 hours, with their car collected from home for free, while supporting our car dealer partners to easily acquire the best used car stock.

Motorway has announced its top 10 most in-demand used cars from over the summer, revealing which cars drove the highest number of bids, and which attracted the highest prices. 

EVs continue their popularity charge, making up four of the top 10. Meanwhile, retro models including the Fiat 500 and MINI Cooper continue to top the charts decades after they were first launched, as Brits continue to embrace modern guises of the classics. 

The Top 10 most bid for cars on Motorway over the summer:

Year	Make	Model	Highest Bid*
2015	Fiat	500 Vintage 57	£5,605
2016	MINI	Cooper S Electric Level 3	£30,300
2017	BMW	i3 Range Extender	£18,669
2015	BMW	330D M Sport Auto	£16,435
2020	Porsche	911 Turbo S	£201,946
2015	BMW	i3 Range Extender	£17,827
2019	Volkswagen	Golf GTI TCR S-A	£26,392
2016	Volkswagen	Golf GTE NAV	£17,149
2021	Hyundai	Ioniq 5 Premium EV	£44,227
2018	MINI	Cooper	£15,219

EVs pick up their pace 

Motorists are continuing to line up to get their hands on EVs, as four mid-to-high end EVs are included in the top 10. A MINI Cooper Electric from 2020 started a bidding frenzy on the platform, attracting a huge number of bids with a final offer of over £30k. While MINIs consistently attract a lot of attention, their electric models are a hot ticket right now and are being quickly snapped up. 

The BMW i3 is in similar demand, owing to its reputation for durability. Two models that sold over the summer created a real buzz at auction, resulting in a final offer of £18k. This growing demand for used EVs, particularly in more premium segments, shows no signs of slowing down. 

Nearly-new cars

It should come as no surprise that almost all the cars in the top 10 are both nearly new and low mileage. The continued shortage of supply in the nearly new segment stemming from new car supply constraints means that when young models do go up for sale, they create real excitement on the used-car marketplace. From a one-year-old Hyundai Ioniq 5 to a 2019 Volkswagen Golf GTI and a 2018 Mini Cooper, dealers battled it out to secure these cars for the best price.  

The car that received the most bids over summer was a Fiat 500 Vintage. This particular car attracted the most attention due to its full service history, great condition and low mileage relative to its age. 

Luxury cars in high demand

High-end cars are also attracting a lot of attention, similarly due to new car supply constraints. Savvy dealers are lining their forecourts with nearly-new luxury cars to meet this growing demand. In July, a Porsche 911 Turbo created a flurry of bids at auction, eventually going for over £200k. With barely 4,000 miles on the clock and on the road for just two years, this car was a dream buy. 

Alex Buttle, co-founder of online used-car marketplace Motorway said: “The ongoing shortage of semiconductors and other car parts has caused delays for manufacturers bringing new cars to market. Now, it’s not uncommon for wait times of one or even two years for new popular models, meaning car dealers are turning to the used-car market to find the high quality, low mileage cars they need to meet demand. If you own a sought after car, especially if it’s a prestige or electric model, now could be a good time to sell for a great price.”

To sell your car and to value it with a free estimated sale price, visit motorway.co.uk.

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Notes to Editors

Top 10 most in demand cars on Motorway June-August 2022 (based on the highest number of bids each car received).

About Motorway

Motorway is the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace. We connect people selling their car directly with our network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers, matching each seller on our platform with the dealer who most wants to buy their car. We help car owners sell their cars 100% online for a great price in as little as 24 hours, with their car collected from home for free, while supporting our car dealer partners to easily acquire the best used car stock.

Motorway.co.uk reveals the culprits causing unexpected vehicle damage this autumn

Brits have revealed the worst culprits when it comes to experiencing unexpected damage (damage outside of wear and tear or road incidents) to their cars, shows new research by Motorway.

Potholes came out top, with 55% experiencing pothole associated damage in the last year alone – set to increase following a record-breaking hot summer which will see UK roads contract this winter.

This was closely followed by pesky pigeon droppings wrecking paintwork (44%), debris on the road (40%), and stones impacting tyres (38%). Adverse weather conditions (22%) and low hanging branches (20%) showed nature isn’t always on the driver’s side when it comes to other top causes of unexpected damage. Other obscure answers came from shopping trolleys, acorns and conkers, and deer lost in the road. 

With a tough winter ahead, 80% of Brits are concerned about the cost of car maintenance, with over a fifth open to the idea of selling their vehicle. However, 65% are worried about how damage has affected the value of their car, with 70% seeking out at-home fixes to avoid forking out on repairs. 

Though it might be tempting to opt for a quick fix, Alex Buttle, co-founder of Motorway said of the findings: “When it comes to retaining the value of your car, it’s important to keep on top of regular maintenance and have repairs made as and when needed. While it can be frustrating to spend the money at the time, ultimately car owners will be maximising the future value of their car, which is always important when it’s time to sell.” 

Top 10 most common causes of unexpected vehicle damage:

1. Potholes (55%)

2. Bird excrement (44%)

3. Debris on the road (40%)

4. Stones in tyres (38%)

5. Adverse weather conditions (22%)

6. Low hanging trees (20%)

7. Sea salt (8%)

8. Sun damage such as bleaching upholstery (8%)

9. Conkers (7%)

10.  Chewing gum  (6%)

At Motorway, it’s quick and easy to value and sell your car today.

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Notes to Editors

Research carried out in September 2022 by Censuswide with a sample of 2,000 British car owners aged 18+.

About Motorway

Motorway is the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace. We connect people selling their car directly with our network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers, matching each seller on our platform with the dealer who most wants to buy their car. We help car owners sell their cars 100% online for a great price in as little as 24 hours, with their car collected from home for free, while supporting our car dealer partners to easily acquire the best used car stock.

Research commissioned by online used-car marketplace Motorway has revealed that one in three (36%) Londoners plan to sell their vehicle in the next six months because of the proposed ULEZ extension alongside the rising cost of living.

Londoners are growing increasingly concerned about the expansion, with three in five (60%) admitting they are worried about how it will affect their finances. Two thirds (67%) of those surveyed can’t afford to switch to an electric vehicle or compliant petrol car. 

According to data from Motorway’s ULEZ compliance checker, Mercedes and Land Rover are the most likely to be non-compliant with three in five (60%) vehicles facing fines.  Research also uncovered that four in 10 (39%) Londoners sold their car when ULEZ was originally introduced, and with plans of an expansion on the horizon, many more are set to follow suit.

When asked about the reasons for selling their petrol or diesel car, half (47%) of Londoners said they would sell in order to buy an electric vehicle in light of the potential expansion of ULEZ.  However, due to the rising cost of living, many will be unable to make this switch.

What’s more, the data reveals that a third (36%) of those in the capital are unaware the ULEZ could be expanded by August 2023.

Alex Buttle, co-founder of online used-car marketplace Motorway said: “The cost of petrol and diesel, along with the cost of living, are rising fast. This coupled with the extension of the ULEZ in London, means more urban drivers are questioning their current car and driving habits. We’ve seen a 21% rise in diesel cars being sold on Motorway since last month and the research revealed many more motorists will be looking to sell in the next six months due to the likely expansion of ULEZ to cover the whole of the city.  

“At Motorway, we work with a network of more than 5,000 dealers, who compete to give sellers a great price for their car. So no matter what the reason a car owner might be looking to sell, we’re here to help sellers do that 100% online, in as little as 24 hours.”

To check if your car is ULEZ compliant, visit https://motorway.co.uk/ulez-checker

To value your car and to get an estimated sale price, visit Motorway – the way to sell your car.

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Notes to Editors

Research conducted in July 2022 by Censuswide with a sample of 1,000 British car owners aged 18+ from London and Greater London.

¹ Based on 159,779 checks for Mercedes, Land Rover and Toyota vehicles on Motorway’s 

ULEZ compliance checker. We can provide a full breakdown on request. 

1. Mercedes – 60% 
2. Land Rover – 60%  
3. Volkswagen – 56% 
4. BMW – 55% 
5. Audi – 54% 
6. Peugeot – 46% 
7. Honda – 45%
8. Ford – 44%
9. Nissan – 41%
10. Vauxhall – 40% 
11. Toyota – 38% 

About Motorway

Motorway is the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace. We connect people selling their car directly with our network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers, matching each seller on our platform with the dealer who most wants to buy their car. We help car owners sell their cars 100% online for a great price in as little as 24 hours, with their car collected from home for free, while supporting our car dealer partners to easily acquire the best used car stock.

Motorway, the UK’s fastest growing used car marketplace, has launched a new TV ad with a campaign bringing to life selling your car the Motorway way, in a fun and engaging advert. The new TV advert sees car dealers compete to secure the best price by dancing on epic, larger-than-life calculators. 

The ad opens on a family in their living room, with the kids playing on a dance mat in front of the television. Their mother, sitting behind them, is using her phone to sell her car on Motorway and is instantly transported into a vast, imaginary dance arena. Missy Elliot’s iconic dance track, ‘Lose Control’ gradually gets louder, as car dealers take to the stage to compete in a circular dance-off on giant calculators situated around the car.

One by one, dealers submit their highest bid. The winning dealer with the best price hot-steps his way to win the vehicle and throws his arms up in celebration. The film then transports the viewer back to the living room with the mother effortlessly announcing she has “just sold the car”, while the kids celebrate in unison. The film ends with the line ‘Motorway, the way to sell your car’.

Lloyd Page, Chief Marketing Officer at Motorway, said:

“We have a real focus on innovation at Motorway and are committed to helping our customers sell their cars easily, for the best possible price. As a result, we’ve experienced a record-breaking year to date – we’re now selling up to 1,000 cars a day with a sale agreed every four minutes.  

“With this new campaign, we wanted to focus on explaining how Motorway delivers such great results for car sellers, while celebrating the car dealers that form the backbone of our business. With our new ad, we bring to life the Motorway way to sell your car, where dealers compete to give you their best price, in a fun and engaging way for viewers at home.”

In addition to the new TV ad launching today, Motorway’s new campaign includes nationwide radio, social media and outdoor advertising.

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Notes to Editors

About Motorway

Motorway is the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace. We connect people selling their car directly with our network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers, matching each seller on our platform with the dealer who most wants to buy their car. We help car owners sell their cars 100% online for a great price in as little as 24 hours, with their car collected from home for free, while supporting our car dealer partners to easily acquire the best used car stock.

With more cars than ever in its daily sale, the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace releases new smart features to make it easier to find stock

With up to 1,000 cars a day now going live in its daily sale, used car marketplace Motorway today announced further smart features to help dealers find the vehicles they want faster than ever – including more powerful filtering, saved searches and personalised stock alerts.

Powerful filtering

Motorway has further enhanced stock filtering tools, adding a model filter to enable dealers to pinpoint specific vehicle models they are interested in purchasing. With a choice of over 3,000 models available every week, this enables dealers to get to the right stock quickly.

Saved searches and personalised stock alerts

Motorway’s new personalised stock alerts notify dealers when there is stock on the platform that meets their specific needs.  Dealers firstly save a set of search results, then Motorway’s platform will notify them when matching stock becomes available.  Four different stock alerts can be configured, enabling dealers to set any combination of makes, models, ages, values or vehicle location they are interested in.

Extended daily sales

To allow dealers more time in the day to browse cars that fit their stock profile, Motorway has extended its daily sale hours to start two hours earlier at 8am and finish at 3pm. Motorway has also extended sales to run seven days a week with new Saturday and Sunday sales.

 Harry Jones, Founder and Chief Product Officer at Motorway, said:

“While we continue to grow our dealer customer base, we’re also committed to providing the best experience on our platform for existing dealer partners.  We regularly ask our dealers what we can do to make their lives easier – personalisation and more powerful filters are consistently high on their list, so that’s exactly what we’ve delivered with these new features.  

“More powerful filtering, saved searches and personalised stock alerts are just three of many features we’re planning to launch this year, in our mission to leverage technology to drive dealers’ business growth – in this case, by helping them find exactly what they are looking for in a fraction of the time.”

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About Motorway

Motorway is the UK’s fastest-growing used car marketplace. We connect people selling their car directly with our network of more than 5,000 verified car dealers, matching each seller on our platform with the dealer who most wants to buy their car. We help car owners sell their cars 100% online for the best price in as little as 24 hours, with their car collected from home for free, while supporting our car dealer partners to easily acquire the best used car stock.