Used electric vehicles in the UK have reached near price parity with petrol-powered cars for the first time, marking a significant shift in the second-hand automotive market as EV values decline while demand continues to rise.
Fresh data from Autorola’s Q1 2026 wholesale market analysis shows that average used petrol car prices increased by 5.1% compared with the previous quarter, rising by £768 to £15,727. Over the same period, used electric vehicle (EV) prices fell by 9.1%, dropping £1,558 to £15,486.
The result is a record-low price gap of just £241 between used petrol and electric vehicles, the smallest difference ever recorded in Autorola’s market data.
Despite the narrowing price spread, used EVs sold during the quarter were generally newer and had lower mileage than their petrol counterparts. According to Autorola, the average used EV was 32 months old with 20,002 miles on the clock, compared with petrol vehicles averaging 37 months old and 22,606 miles.
The figures indicate that buyers are increasingly able to access relatively newer and less-used electric cars at prices comparable to, or even below, equivalent internal combustion engine models. This shift reflects changing supply and demand dynamics as more electric vehicles enter the wholesale market.
Demand for used EVs also saw a notable increase during the period. Autorola reported that electric vehicles accounted for 10.4% of its used car sales in Q1 2026, nearly double the 5.4% share recorded in the previous quarter.
Neil Frost, managing director of Autorola UK, said bidding activity for used electric vehicles on the company’s online marketplace had risen sharply, with overall EV sales almost doubling within three months.
Frost attributed the growth to a combination of rising EV supply following March’s new registration plate change and higher petrol prices, which may be encouraging more buyers to consider electric alternatives.
He described the trend as a turning point for the used car market, suggesting that improving affordability alongside stronger consumer interest is helping accelerate the mainstream adoption of electric vehicles.
While price parity between electric and petrol cars has previously been observed in the new car market, Frost noted that this is the first clear indication of a similar convergence in the used vehicle sector, pointing to a broader structural transformation in automotive pricing and buyer behavior.
