How did Europe’s major used-car markets perform in 2025?

23 February 2026

With mixed fortunes in new-car registrations, did used-car transactions in Europe’s big five automotive markets provide some relief last year? Autovista24 special content editor, Phil Curry, examines the latest data.

Used-car transactions in Spain, Italy, the UK, France, and Germany all saw growth in 2025, just at varying rates. Some markets may be more concerned than others, however, as 2026 progresses.

The results suggest that buyer demand remains high. Volumes continued to outpace those in the respective new-car markets. However, for three of the five countries, used-car growth was lower than registration results.

Where reported, the figures also show internal-combustion engines (ICE) continue to dominate, contrasting with new-car market trends. Buyers appear to be turning to used cars, as supplies into new channels dwindle.

Spain leads used-car growth

Just like its new-car market, the used-car sector in Spain was the fastest growing in Europe’s big five last year. The country saw 2,163,260 transactions across 2025, according to Autovista24 calculations based on monthly data from GANVAM. This was an increase of 4.4% compared to figures from 2024.

Spain’s used-car market did not have as smooth a 2025 as its new-car sector, however. Declines in April, May and November pulled figures back. However, the year finished strong, giving the country a good starting point for 2026.

The fourth quarter of the year saw 614,872 transactions, a rise of 4.5% compared to the same period in 2024. October saw a 4.4% rise, with 210,332 used cars changing hands, according to Autovista24 analysis. However, November’s sales dipped by 1.1% to 187,208 transactions.

But the market bounced back in December, as 217,332 used cars made their way to customers. This was the best monthly volume of the year and represented a 9.9% year-on-year rise. With November’s decline, the only low point in the last half, transactions increased by 5.8% to 1,125,521 sales.

A problem with age

According to GANVAM, fleet renewal remains a challenge. Sales of three-to-five-year-old models increased by 8.8% across 2025. Transactions of models over 10 years old improved at a slower rate of 4.6% between January and December. Yet they accounted for 57.3% of Spain’s used-car total. This means that the average age of a used car sold in the country was 11 years old.

Therefore, GANVAM and fellow Spanish industry body Falconauto are calling for an effective scrappage incentive strategy. This would help remove older, more polluting models from Spanish roads. By tying scrappage into the activation of subsidies for the purchase of new electric vehicles (EVs), this process could be accelerated.

Diesel remains on top

Diesel transactions fell by 0.8% across 2025, according to GANVAM. However, it was still the most popular powertrain in the used-car market, making up 49.9% of transactions. Petrol was responsible for 36.3% of sales, with volumes increasing by 2.3%.

The volume of hybrids, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) and battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) only accounted for a small percentage of the market. However, these transactions increased rapidly. BEVs saw an improvement of 53.3% year on year, making up 1.3% of total transactions.

By age, newer models were the best-sellers when it came to BEV transactions. Those models less than a year old represented 26% of all-electric sales in the year. Models between one and three years of age accounted for 32.1% of those sold. Meanwhile, PHEVs saw growth of 43.7% compared to 2024, with a 2% market share.

Used-car market stronger in Italy

Italy’s used-car market ended 2025 as the second-fastest growing of Europe’s big five. This was contrasted with its new-car market, which struggled throughout the year.

According to industry association ANFIA, a total of 5,648,961 transactions took place between January and December. This was up 3.3% compared to 2024, equating to an extra 181,029 sales, according to Autovista24 calculations.

Only one month in the year saw a decline in used-car transactions, with May recording a dip of 3.9%. This was not enough to dent the market’s progress, with September’s 10.5% jump.

The fourth quarter of the year proved steady, with a 1.6% rise in cars changing hands. A total of 1,505,900 transactions took place between October and December. This meant a better-performing second half of 2025, with a 3.6% rise in sales.

October saw 552,410 deliveries, an increase of 1.8% compared to the same period in 2024. November was the second-worst performing month of the year, with 470,157 transactions resulting in a 0.3% increase. December saw 483,333 used-car sales take place. This was good enough for a 2.7% rise compared to 12 months prior.

Further growth for UK

The UK’s used-car market ended 2025 with a flourish, as figures improved for the third consecutive year.

In total, 7,807,872 used cars changed hands between January and December, an increase of 2.2% compared to 2024. The latest figures from the SMMT show growth in each quarter of the year, as buyers continued to turn to older cars to meet their needs.

Just February and November saw dips, down 0.3% and 0.2% respectively. These results did little to impact the overall market, however.

A total of 1,769,501 transactions took place between October and December, a year-on-year rise of 1.3%. October was the strongest month of the three in terms of volume, with 674,801 sales and a 0.8% increase. November saw a 0.2% decline as 606,182 models changed hands.

While representing the lowest transactions of the year, December’s 488,518 total was a rise of 4.1%. This was the second-largest volume increase after March’s 6.9% rise.

These results meant the second half of the year saw an improvement of 2.1%, just 0.1pp lower than the result between January and June.

Petrol leads the way

Petrol increased its transaction volume in 2025, with 1.5% more sales taking place. In total, 4,430,901 units changed hands in the 12-month period. This gave the powertrain a 56.7% market share.

Meanwhile, diesel fell 3.3% year on year to 2,586,279 transactions. The fuel type represented 33.1% of total sales in 2025. This performance came in stark contrast to the new-car market, where diesel registrations fell 15.6% with just 103,906 deliveries taking place.

This could be due to a decline in the availability of diesel cars, rather than demand. As supply into the used-car market falls, the high used-diesel sales may be contributing to the country’s ageing car parc.

The figures show that interest in the internal-combustion engine (ICE) market is far from over. In total, 89.9% of transactions in 2025 were petrol or diesel-powered models.

EVs increase their presence

However, the strongest growth came from full-hybrid (HEV) and BEV powertrains. With more supply into the used-car market, electrified deliveries are continuing to improve.

HEVs saw 407,531 units sold in 2025, a rise of 33.1%. They gained a 5.2% market share in the 12-month period. Meanwhile, BEVs saw 274,815 models changing hands, a rise of 45.9% year on year. This was good enough for a 3.5% share of total used-car transactions in the year.

PHEVs, however, declined by 4.4%, with just 88,032 transactions, making up 1.1% of sales. Electrified drives accounted for 9.9% of total sales in 2025. It is likely this growth will continue throughout 2026. More models will become available from the new-car market, increasing supply into used-car channels.

France falls flat

After a strong start in January, the French used-car market experienced a steady year in 2025, according to information from AAA Data. The high 7.7% year-on-year increase in the first month of the year was not beaten, although December’s 6% surge came closest.

Overall, results middled, with the market experiencing a small, 0.8% increase across the 12-month period. The fourth quarter saw a similar rise of 0.8%, as December’s strong result was reined in by declines in October and November.

In October, 483,743 used cars changed hands, resulting in a decline of 1.1%. This was followed by a 2% drop in November, with 423,704 transactions. December’s 6% rise was thanks to 452,149 sales.

This was enough to help used-car transactions in France limp over the line with growth. This was in contrast to the country’s new-car market, which fell by 6.1% last year.

According to AAA Data, the used-car market has been characterised by a shortage of newer models since the COVID-19 pandemic. Transactions of used cars under five years old declined by 7% in 2025, impacted by drops in new-car registrations. In total, 1,552,835 models in this age range changed hands.

However, cars over 10 years old saw sales jump by 6%, likely adding to the country’s increasing average car parc age. With 2,644,957 transactions, they made up the majority of used-car deliveries. Meanwhile, models aged between five and 10 years record 1,198,640 transactions, a 1% increase year on year.

ICE domination continues

While the electrification of the French used-car market continued, ICE models still dominated sales in 2025. According to AAA Data, diesel transactions fell by 4%, making up 45% of total deliveries in the year.

Meanwhile, petrol models recorded a 3% decline in the year, taking a 39% market share. This means ICE cars accounted for 84% of the country’s used-car total in 2025.

Used electric cars accounted for 3% of the market between January and December, with volumes rising 30%. Meanwhile, hybrid deliveries took 12% of the total.

Germany sees stable demand

Germany’s used-car market remained stable in 2025, helped by a strong result in December. This came after two months of decline that threatened to push the sector into a year-on-year loss.

In total, 6,512,427 used-car transactions took place in the year, according to the KBA. This was a rise of just 0.5% compared to 2024. Much like the country’s new-car market, transactions of used cars saw a rollercoaster year, with a nearly equal number of monthly declines and increases.

The fourth quarter of 2025 saw sales rise by just 0.4%, with 1,560,389 transactions taking place according to Autovisat24 calculations.

The quarter started with a 2.8% decline in October, as 558,790 passenger cars were sold. November also saw a drop in volumes of 3.2%. However, the market bounced back in December, with an 8.8% rise proving to be the strongest growth of the year. This was thanks to 485,953 transactions.

This boosted the second half of 2025 to an improvement of 0.7%, meaning Germany’s used-car market finished the year growing. However, the country will be hoping for more stability in transactions during 2026.