Sales of second-hand electric cars are surging as drivers reacted to rising petrol and diesel prices triggered by the conflict in the Middle East, latest industry data shows.

Increased used electric vehicle stock, including far more recent models with longer battery ranges, also helped drive demand.

As such, EV sales saw their strongest quarterly growth, rising 67 per cent to 110,761 units between April and the end of June.

This increase in used EV transactions was the highest on record since the first quarter of 2024, helping to return the overall used car market to growth.

Second-hand motor sales increased by 0.7 per cent across all fuel types in the second quarter of 2026, with some 2,009,318 vehicles changing hands, according to the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).

It marked the first Q2 since 2021 in which sales surpassed two million units, with transactions just 1.2 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

A total of 4,025,550 transactions have taken place so far this year.

Demand for EVs surged noticeably in April and May, up 110.9 per cent and 57.6 per cent respectively.

This compared with growth of 37.8 per cent in June.

Between April and June, more than one in 18 buyers (5.5 per cent) made the switch to a used EV, up from around one in 30 (3.3 per cent) a year ago, reflecting the growing choice of models entering the market.

Conflict in the Middle East has played a major part in encouraging motorists to switch to EVs as fuel prices have surged, with drivers facing average petrol prices of 160p a litre. The cost to fill up the average family diesel car also surpassed £100 last week.

By contrast, EVs recorded relatively weak growth last year when Vehicle Excise Duty changes came into effect, with electric cars no longer exempt from paying road tax.

Also influencing the uptick in second-hand EV demand is the wider availability of longer-range used models.

While the average new EV returns around 300 miles from a single charge, the typical used example on the market today can usually cover between 150 and 250 miles.

With the average weekly car mileage in the UK approximately 134 to 141 miles, it means motorists are now able to consider EVs as practical options.

Last month, we revealed that eight of the ten fastest-selling used cars were electric, such is the level of demand for quality second-hand battery vehicles.

This is despite used EV prices holding relatively firm.

According to Cazana, the used car retail market sustained its summer of stability during July, with three-year-old vehicle values posting no average movement overall.

EVs posted an average price increase of 1.6 per cent at the three-year mark, marking four consecutive months of value growth totalling almost 7 per cent, or approximately £1,500 per vehicle.

By contrast, petrol and diesel values edged down by 0.1 per cent, while hybrids fell by 0.3 per cent.

'Strong EV performance is effectively preventing broader average drops,' the used car marketplace said.

Used hybrid electric vehicle sales also rose, up 31.2 per cent to 130,825 units, increasing their market share to 6.5 per cent from 5.0 per cent in the same period last year.

Despite the growing number of new Chinese 'super hybrid' plug-in hybrid (PHEV) models going on sale from manufacturers such as Chery Group, buyers appear less interested in used PHEVs.

Sales of second-hand PHEVs fell by 6.8 per cent to 22,856 units, accounting for 1.1 per cent of overall demand, down from 1.2 per cent in 2025.

Petrol remained the most popular fuel type, despite transactions falling by 1.2 per cent to 1,121,243, while diesel sales continued to decline, down 7.2 per cent to 620,045. 

The SMMT said this reflects 'reduced supply' from the new car market.

Despite this, nine in ten (86.7 per cent) buyers still chose conventionally fuelled cars in the second quarter of the year.

Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: 'A return to growth is good news for motorists and the wider automotive sector, with sales of used EVs rising particularly strongly as more choice reaches more buyers.

'As the used market is where most people buy their cars, plentiful and affordable supply is vital. However, increasingly unrealistic targets in the new car market risk constraining that supply and pushing up costs.

'Urgent regulatory reform is needed to deliver a transition that works for every driver.'