1. Diesel is now cheaper than petrol
This has been coming for a while, but Q3 is when the lines actually crossed. The average asking price for a used diesel on a UK dealer forecourt dropped below petrol for the first time since we started tracking.
Average dealer asking price by fuel type, 2026
In April, diesel was still averaging slightly above petrol. By August, diesel had fallen to around £14,650 while petrol held at £15,600. That is a £950 gap in the wrong direction for anyone holding diesel stock.
It is not just price. Diesel is also taking longer to shift. Across our data, the average diesel listing sat for 40 days before being removed. Petrol was 35 days. Electric was 31.
Average days on forecourt by fuel type, Q3
If you are considering a used diesel, you have negotiating power. Dealers know these cars are sitting longer and losing value. Unless you do 15,000+ miles a year on motorways, the fuel saving rarely justifies the depreciation risk at this point. If you already own a diesel and are thinking of selling, the data suggests sooner is better than later - this trend is accelerating, not levelling off.
2. Electric vehicles are selling faster than everything else
This was the surprise of the quarter. Not that EVs are growing in stock - that was expected. But that they are selling faster than petrol and diesel, not slower.
The average EV listing was removed in 31 days. For context, the overall market average is 36 days. Some EV models are moving even quicker: the Volvo EX30 and EX40 were clearing in 23-26 days, and both Tesla models shifted in under four weeks.
EVs now represent close to 9% of total dealer stock, up from under 5% at the start of the year. More importantly, the sub-£20,000 EV is now a real category. A used Nissan Leaf averages around £10,000. The Hyundai Kona Electric and VW ID.3 are both available under £19,000. These are not aspirational prices any more.
Where dealer stock sits by fuel type, Q3
If you have home charging sorted, a used EV under £20,000 is now a serious option. But do not skip the due diligence. Battery health varies hugely between individual cars and is not something a standard car check covers. Run a full history check and ask the seller for the battery health report. A 2021 Leaf with 85% battery health is a very different proposition from one at 70%.
3. Some models are sitting for nearly seven weeks
The overall market average is 36 days from listing to removal. But the gap between the fastest and slowest selling models is huge.
Fastest and slowest selling models, Q3 (min. 200 sales)
Land Rover takes three of the eight slowest positions. The Range Rover, Range Rover Sport, and Defender all averaged 47-49 days, at asking prices between £29,000 and £52,000. That is serious capital for a dealer to have tied up in metal that is not moving.
The reasons are well documented. Running costs are high, reliability issues are extensive, and the sheer sticker price narrows the buyer pool. If you are in the market for one, this is useful knowledge: the dealer wants it gone more than they are letting on.
At the other end, the Ford Puma shifted 2,429 units in Q3 at an average of 27 days. It is the volume king of the used market right now - affordable, practical, and in constant demand.
If a car you are looking at is in the "slow seller" category, negotiate hard. If it has been listed for more than 40 days, the dealer is motivated. Check exactly when it was listed - our free valuation tool uses the same market data and will tell you whether the asking price is above or below the going rate.
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Other things we noticed
Automatics now outnumber manuals in dealer stock. Roughly 55% of listings this quarter were automatic vs 43% manual. This is partly driven by EVs and hybrids (all automatic), but the shift is happening in petrol cars too. If you are selling a manual, it is worth knowing you are in a shrinking pool.
The £5k-15k bracket is where most of the market lives. Around 43% of all dealer stock sits in this range. Sub-£5,000 is shrinking - older, cheaper stock is aging out faster than it is being replaced. If you are a budget buyer, the selection is getting tighter each quarter.
Days on market is remarkably flat across price bands. A £4,000 car and a £35,000 car both take about 35-37 days to sell. This tells us dealers are generally pricing to move, regardless of bracket. The variation is in which models sell fast or slow, not which price brackets.
The Volvo XC40 is the most listed car on UK forecourts. Fleet returns and lease deals are flooding the used market with them. The Ford Fiesta is second despite being discontinued in 2023 - the sheer volume of used stock is still enormous. After that it is crossovers all the way down: Qashqai, Puma, Tucson, Sportage.
What to do with this information
If you are buying: the market is in your favour on diesels and slow-moving premium models. Use the data. Know what a car should cost before you walk onto the forecourt. Get a free valuation. Run a full history check. And if you are looking at an EV, check the battery health alongside the standard history data.
If you are selling: price it right and it will sell within five weeks. If it has been sitting longer than that, the market is telling you the price is wrong. Check what comparable cars are actually selling for and adjust. If you are selling a diesel, do not wait - the trend is against you. And make sure your service history is verifiable, because cars with full records sell for 10-20% more than identical ones without.
About our data
We monitor the UK used car market closely, tracking real dealer listing data across the country on an ongoing basis. This quarterly review covers Q3 2026 (June to August). We publish these reports every three months. If you want to check a specific car against this market data, run a free report.
Disclaimer
This report is provided for general informational purposes only and does not constitute advice of any kind. The data is derived from publicly available dealer listing websites and is provided on an "as is" basis. Get Car Wise Ltd makes no representations or warranties that the content is accurate, complete or current. Any reliance on this data is at your own risk.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, Get Car Wise Ltd excludes all liability for any loss or damage arising from the use of this report. Contact [email protected] to report inaccuracies.