That is according to fresh data from the SMMT which showed that a sky-high 2,020,990 vehicles changed hands on the second hand market in Q1.
The figure marks a post-pandemic record for the opening quarter of a year with the four month window up 2.7% on the same point in 2024.
The period also marked nine consecutive quarters of growth – with dealers benefitting from an easing of stock headaches.
When it came to fuel types, petrol remained the most popular, rising 2.1% to 1,149,855 units. Meanwhile, diesel experienced a 3.1% decline to 679,739 vehicles.
Overall, ICE cars made up 90.5% of all used transactions in Q1, despite their combined market share falling by 2.4% compared to last year.
That dip can be attributed to a rise in popularity of used EVs and hybrids, with more buyers seemingly becoming open to electrified options.
Hybrids attracted record numbers of second and third owners, up 30.2% to 98,830 units, while 23,540 plug-in hybrids changed hands, up 14.0% on the same period last year.
At the same time, BEVs recorded the highest growth, increasing by 58.5% to 65,850 units and a record 3.3% share of all transactions.
Looking at the used car data by segment, smaller cars retained their place at the top of the pile, accounting for almost a third (32.4%) of all used car transactions.
They were followed by small family (lower medium) cars (27.0%) with dual purpose models also proving popular, accounting for 16.8% of sales.
Combined, these segments represented three-quarters (76.2%) of all transactions in the period.
Elsewhere. specialist sports, executive, upper medium and MPV were the only segments to record declines in Q1, down 6.1%, 3.5%, 1.6% and 0.4% respectively.
Black was the most popular colour for the 29th quarter, accounting for a fifth (21.2%) of cars sold, while grey and blue held second and third place, up 6.3% and 1.2%, respectively.
On the flip side, silver, orange and gold were the only colours within the top 20 to record declines, falling by 3.1%, 4.9% and 5.1% respectively.
Reacting to the findings, Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive, said: ‘The used car market has enjoyed its strongest start to a year since before the pandemic, with supply fuelled by a recovering new car market.
‘Critically, more second-hand buyers are opting for electric vehicles, with greater choice and affordability enabling more people and businesses to switch.
‘Sustaining and expanding this growth, however, depends on a healthy supply of EVs from the new car market – which in turn requires fiscal incentives alongside a nationally accessible and affordable charge point network so that everyone, whatever their budget or driving needs, can benefit from zero emission motoring.’
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