Used EV sales jump in March as fuel prices spike and Middle East tensions weigh, UK data shows

Used electric vehicle sales in the UK accelerated sharply in March, according to Marketcheck, as rising fuel prices and tensions in the Middle East appeared to nudge more buyers toward battery-powered cars. The data firm said average daily sales climbed from around 787 in February 2026 to 1,074 in March, with several days topping 1,000 units for the first time.

The month’s highest daily total was recorded on March 30, when 1,657 used EVs changed hands. “The jump in daily EV sales in March is notable, both in scale and speed,” said Alastair Campbell of Marketcheck UK. He added that volumes began rising immediately after the end of February and moved well above recent averages, suggesting external factors were influencing buyer decisions.

“Concerns around fuel costs and wider uncertainty appear to be pushing more consumers towards electric vehicles,” he said. Those concerns were amplified by a steep rise in pump prices. The RAC described March’s increases as “unprecedented”. Diesel rose by 40 pence in the month to 182.77p per litre from 142.38p, almost double the previous record monthly rise of 22p in March 2022.

Auction data also pointed to a stronger month for used EVs. Dealer Auction’s EV Performance Review for March reported the sales share of electric models rose by 78%, while the average retail margin increased from £2,829 in February to £3,320 in March—one of the highest monthly figures recorded on the platform.

“The increase in both interest and sales for EVs suggests that the Iran conflict—while a contributing factor—is not simply driving a short-term panic response,” said Dealer Auction marketplace director Kieran TeeBoon.

“Instead, the data points to a shift in buyer behaviour, as consumers consider both the long-term transition to net zero and the immediate impact of rising fuel costs when choosing their next vehicle.” Dealer Auction said the average age of alternatively fuelled vehicles stayed below five years, in line with the first quarter’s 4.9-year average, while average mileage edged up from 33,495 to 33,868 miles.

On model performance, EVs took three places in the top 10 for retail margins: the Tesla Model X (third), Volkswagen ID.3 (sixth) and a first-time entry for the Jaguar I-Pace (ninth). The hybrid Volvo XC60 topped the retail margin charts for both March and the quarter, underlining hybrids’ continued dominance.

The Tesla Model X led the top 10 for Cap Clean performance and delivered a standout profit margin, and was a top performer across the quarter. The Renault Scenic E-Tech placed fifth among Cap Clean EVs and posted solid sales volumes, while the Nissan Leaf and Tesla Model Y ranked third and ninth, respectively.

Lexus also posted a strong showing, with three models in the Cap Clean chart and two in the retail margin top 10. TeeBoon said data from March and the first quarter indicates a solid foundation for the used EV market, with growing interest increasingly converting into sales.

He added that the coming months will show whether these patterns persist amid ongoing geopolitical developments and continued growth in the alternatively fuelled vehicle sector.