Dealers register sharp uptick in used stock condition; supply easing

Used car quality is improving with new research indicating a sharp month-on-month rise in dealer opinion.

Only 20% of car dealers said condition was improving in December but this has risen to 33%, according to research from Startline.

Its January Used Car Tracker also shows that the percentage stating stock is getting older is also down from 30% to 23%.

Additionally, 48% say that supply is improving - the best figure since 32% in October - while those saying it is worsening has dropped from 30% to 23%.

Paul Burgess, CEO at Startline Motor Finance, said: “Getting hold of stock has been a tough-to-solve issue for used car dealers since the pandemic, with stalling new car production meaning the number of vehicles in circulation has fallen.

“However, what we have seen this month is a jump in the number of dealers who say the situation is improving across a number of metrics including condition, age and general supply of stock.

“It should be underlined that the numbers are still quite low – it’s only a third of dealers who say that condition is improving, for example – but these are the best figures we have recorded since we introduced questions on stock into our monthly research at the start of 2023.”

The Startline Used Car Tracker is compiled monthly for Startline Motor Finance by APD Global Research, well-known in the motor industry for their business intelligence reporting and customer experience programs. This time, 313 consumers and 60 dealers were questioned.