The most affordable major UK cities (20 largest) to buy a used car between 1 and 5 years old have been revealed, with buyers potentially able to save thousands – if they’re willing to travel.
According to data published by CarGurus – a leading online automotive marketplace to shop, buy, and sell used vehicles – the national average price of a 2018-2022 model year used car in Britain is £23,516, however, this can vary significantly depending on location.
CarGurus found that Hull is the most affordable major city to buy a 1- to 5-year-old used car with average vehicle listing prices at £18,480 — £5,036 (-27.3%) below the national average. Liverpool came in second place offering £3,262 in savings on average (-16.1%), followed by Glasgow at £2,390 (-11.3%) below the national average.
Conversely, London is the most expensive major city in Britain to buy a used car between 1 and 5 years old, exceeding the national average price by £9,694 (+29.2%).
The second most expensive major city is Southampton, where used car prices are £1,645 (6.5%) above the UK average. Third is Birmingham, at £1,557 (6.2%) above the national average.
In examining how prices of some of Britain’s most popular carsii differ between the most and least affordable major cities, CarGurus identified the potential for considerable savings.
For example, a Volkswagen Golf (model years 2018-2022) is listed for £18,639, on average, in the most affordable major city of Hull, while it is listed for £22,511 in London – the least affordable major city. This represents a potential savings of £3,872.
Chris Knapman, Editorial Director at CarGurus, said: “While there are many factors that determine the price of a used vehicle, a car’s location is often overlooked, yet it can have a significant impact.
“Our data shows the average cost of a used car can vary by thousands of pounds depending on where they are located. To help buyers find the best deals, we have compiled an analysis showing how average car pricing varies by region.
“When searching for a used car on CarGurus.co.uk, listings can be sorted by distance from a user’s postcode. For those buyers willing and able to travel to secure a good deal, it can certainly be worth the extra time and effort to do so.”
MAJOR CITY: AVERAGE USED VEHICLE PRICE(2018 – 2022 MODEL YEARS): % DIFFERENCE TO UK AVERAGE (£23,516): Hull £18,480 -27.25% Liverpool £20,254 -16.10% Glasgow £21,126 -11.31% Nottingham £21,190 -10.98% Leicester £22,028 -6.75% Stoke-on-Trent £22,378 -5.08% Sheffield £22,445 -4.77% Coventry £22,600 -4.05% Newcastle Upon Tyne £22,655 -3.80% Cardiff £22,695 -3.62% Edinburgh £23,463 – 0.23% UK AVERAGE £23,516 – Leeds £24,091 +2.39% Manchester £24,301 +3.23% Bradford £24,350 +3.43% Bristol £24,397 +3.61% Belfast £24,402 +3.63% Derby £24,486 +3.96% Birmingham £25,073 +6.21% Southampton £25,161 +6.54% London £33,210 +29.19% *Month-end inventory average listing price 30/06/2023. BRITAIN’S MOST POPULAR CARS: AVERAGE USED PRICE (MODEL YEARS 2018-2022) – LONDON*: AVERAGE USED PRICE (MODEL YEARS 2018-2022) – HULL*: % DIFFERENCE: Ford Fiesta £14,194 £13,655 -3.79% Vauxhall Corsa £14,069 £12,867 -8.54% Volkswagen Golf £22,511 £18,639 -17.20% Ford Focus £17,468 £17,596 +0.73% Vauxhall Astra £12,984 £12,571 -3.18% *Vehicles listed between 01/01/2023 and 06/30/2023
