Almost three quarters of used cars for sale in Britain are now automatics, reveals AA Cars

• The increasing popularity of automatics — and a surging numbers of used EVs — mean automatics are starting to dominate the used car market in many parts of the UK
• Brentford, West London, has the highest proportion of automatic cars for sale at 72%, followed by Chelmsford and Croydon¹

Automatics now make up as much as 72% of the used car market in parts of the UK¹, with their numbers bolstered by the increasing prevalence of Electric Vehicles (EVs), new research by AA Cars, the AA’s used car website, has found. 

Across the UK, automatics now make up 41% of the used cars for sale on the AA Cars site, up from 30% in 2020. 

The increasing availability of EVs on the second-hand market is likely to be contributing to these figures, as almost all EVs are automatic. The take-up of Electric Vehicles has risen dramatically in recent years, and sales of used EVs soared by 120% in the first quarter of 2022, according to the SMMT². 

Brentford, in West London, has the highest proportion of automatics for sale on the AA Cars platform, with autos making up 72.2% of the town’s used car market. Chelmsford, Essex, comes second on the list, with automatics making up 68.1% of its total used car stock.

Top 10 towns and cities with the highest proportion of automatic cars for sale¹

In contrast, Gloucester has the lowest proportion of used automatics for sale, at 16.8%. Among the 10 towns and cities that are keenest on manual gearboxes, automatics account for around a quarter of their used car markets.

Bottom 10 towns and cities with the lowest proportion of automatic cars for sale¹

Automatic vehicles are rapidly becoming more popular as more drivers switch to EVs. An AA poll of learner drivers previously found that 40% of learners said they would switch to automatic EV lessons if they were available to them³. 

James Fairclough, CEO of AA Cars comments: “Car manufacturers have responded to the surging popularity of EVs by bringing out ever more advanced models, and there are now no fewer than 140 different plug-in models for sale in the UK⁴.

“As more of these vehicles make their way into the second-hand market, we’re seeing a steady rise in the number of used automatics for sale - and in some areas autos now account for over 70% of the used market.

“Better availability and choice is the second-hand car market’s trump card right now, as the shortage of new cars for sale leads ever more drivers to choose a used model instead. Nevertheless many buyers considering an EV for the first time may have questions about how they feel to drive, and how well they will retain their value. 

“That’s why for anyone who wants to drive an EV without the commitment of buying one outright, leasing could be a good way to go electric while also enjoying the certainty of a monthly payment which includes servicing, breakdown cover and car tax.” 
 

- ENDS -

Notes to editor
¹Based on stock on the AA Cars platform in 2020 and 2022. 
²SMMT
³AA Driving School research
4SMMT