The Used Cars that take the Longest to Sell in the UK

When it comes to used cars, selling them is just as important as buying them.

In the UK, car dealerships are full of secondhand cars in varied conditions.

Motorists have different reasons for selling their cars, whether it is to upgrade to a newer model or to save on running costs.

But did you know that certain cars take longer than others to sell?

Data from AutoTrader has revealed which cars are the slowest to change buyers on average as well as the vehicles that are the fastest-selling in the UK.

The data is based on vehicle sales in 2024, tracking the average duration cars have been listed between January 15 and February 11.

Richard Walker, Data and Insight Director at AutoTrader said:

“Demand amongst consumers continues to remain strong at the start of 2024 with used cars flying off forecourts just as quickly as last year.

“With many of the fastest-selling used cars less than 12 months old, we’re seeing plenty of appetite for the used versions of the latest models.

“Although supply in this age cohort is up around 30% year-on-year, it remains below the very strong levels of demand, and as a result, offers a real profit opportunity.

“It highlights just how important it is to keep a close eye on the latest data to remain ahead of the curve.”

With that said, we look at the used cars that take the longest to sell on average and the reasons why owners are struggling to sell them.

Slowest Cars to Sell

The Vauxhall Crossland is the UK’s slowest-selling car, taking an average of 75 days.

But among the 10 slowest-selling cars are four different Land Rover models, albeit they are older versions.

Ongoing concerns about the security of older models, linked to these SUVs being targeted by criminals, appear to have made them less appealing to used car buyers.

This is despite Jaguar Land Rover’s efforts to invest £15 million in fitting its older models with its latest security technology to deter organised gangs targeting its luxury SUVs.

Recent reports of sky-high premiums could also be having an impact on demand for secondhand examples.

Some Range Rover owners claim insurers are refusing to cover their SUVs.

Others are unable to secure an affordable solution using JLR’s insurance product launched in 2023 to help customers during this period for the brand.

Insurers like Direct Line will not take on any new Range Rover customers while over-50s giant Saga refused to offer cover to a customer of 15 years when their policy came up for renewal.

According to the data, sellers of older versions of the Range Rover, Range Rover Sport and Land Rover Discovery are finding it more difficult to move these cars on. 

Diesel Range Rovers between five and 10 years old now take around 72.5 days to sell.

Range Rover Sport diesel cars between 10 and 15 years old take on average 66 days to sell.

The Land Rover Discovery 4 diesel (10 to 15 years old) takes an average of 65 days on sale before a buyer is found, and the Range Rover Sport diesel variants between five and 10 years also take two months to sell at 61 days on average.

Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insight at AutoTrader, said:

“Beyond overall demand, there’s various trends and factors that cause certain used car models to take longer to sell, including the fuel type, price, age and the volume of stock available in the market.

“The current slowest-selling cars are largely older diesels, which are not only more at risk of the latest ULEZ standards, but they’re also more expensive to run due to the high – albeit softening – fuel prices. 

“On AutoTrader, demand for diesel cars fell 7% year-on-year and given nine in 10 Land Rovers currently available aged over five years old are diesel, some models are particularly susceptible to these market forces.”

Other cars that take the longest to sell include the Peugeot e-208, Mercedes E Class Cabriolet and BMW X5.

Quickest Cars to Sell

Despite Range Rovers being among the slowest-selling cars, demand for SUVs among Brits show no signs of slowing down with the car type making up six of the 10 current fastest-selling used cars.

These include the petrol hybrid Ford Puma, Skoda Karoq and Volvo XC60.

The Kia XCeed is the UK’s fastest-selling car, taking just 14 days for models up to one-year-old.

Erin Baker, of AutoTrader, said:

“With sharp styling and lots of onboard technology, the Kia XCeed is proving to be a popular choice amongst Britons looking to get their hands on an easy-going and affordable vehicle.”

Other models that are quick to sell include the Tesla Model 3 and Mercedes EQC, taking only 14.5 days.

This could be associated with the fact that electric car prices significantly decreased in 2023, making secondhand EVs far more affordable than they were in the middle of 2022.

According to AutoTrader, EVs have been the fastest-selling fuel type over the past six months.

But in February 2024, used petrol cars surpassed their battery-powered counterparts, taking 26 days to sell in comparison to 28 for both EVs and diesel cars.

Another popular model that sells quickly is the Ford Fiesta.

Buyers of one-year-old cars are getting them in an average of 16 days.

The combination of the popularity of Ford’s hatchback and the fact the Fiesta ended production last summer has resulted in quick turnarounds for sales of used examples.

Fastest-selling Regions

When it comes to regions where used cars change hands the quickest, Scotland topped the rankings with an average of 24 days.

This was followed by a tie between the North East, West Midlands and Yorkshire and the Humber, taking 25 days on average.

On the other hand, the slowest-selling region was London.

In the capital, dealerships take on average 31 days to get used cars off their forecourts.

This extended duration is “likely linked to the expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone” and drivers in London wanting to sell vehicles that are not compliant with ULEZ rules and are therefore subject to £12.50 charges each day they’re driven.

Overall, used cars took an average of 34 days to sell across the UK.

The used car market is much more complicated than expected.

Factors such as car type, insurance and security affect how long it takes for vehicles to sell.

From the Kia XCeed taking just 14 days to the Vauxhall Crossland taking 75, every used car is different.

The region of the UK is also a factor when it comes to used cars, with highly congested areas preventing vehicles from changing hands quickly.

So, if you do plan on selling your car, think about the model and take into account that it might take longer to sell than expected.