Falling prices mean half of motorists could be in the market for a used car
46% say that recent price falls make it more likely that they will swap their car, according to March’s new Startline Used Car Tracker
However, 48% were not aware that prices had fallen and 7% said that they would have to fall much further before buying
Almost half of motorists (46%) could be in the market for a used car following substantial recent price falls, according to new research.
When told that used car prices have fallen by an average of almost 20% in the last year, 21% said that it would make them a lot more likely to buy and 25% a little, shows March’s Startline Used Car Tracker.
Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Used car prices started rising quite dramatically thanks to stock shortages and high demand following the pandemic, and largely peaked sometime in early-mid 2023.
“However, since then, better supply and lower levels of interest from consumers mean that prices have fallen quite rapidly. While they are still markedly higher than pre-Covid, they have dropped by an average of about a fifth in the last year.
“Many people have been persisting with the same car they have been driving for years, thinking they can’t afford to make a change, but now might be the moment when they find they can finally re-enter the market.”
However, almost half of motorists surveyed (48%) by Startline said they didn’t know used car prices had decreased and 7% believed they would have to fall much further before they considered buying a car.
Paul said: “Most people don’t look at used car prices regularly unless they are thinking of making a change, so it’s unsurprising that so many aren’t aware that there have been price falls. If it becomes more widely known, we may see an increase in demand.
“Also, it’s interesting that only 7% of people still see price as a barrier to purchasing. The time when many consumers felt that they had been priced out of the used car market might be coming to an end, which is good news for everyone.”