Andy Burnham urged to completely overhaul UK used car market

Andy Burnham has been urged to overhaul the used car market, with more attention needed to boost second-hand electric car sales, according to an expert. Charlie Harvey, Motoring Expert at Cazoo, an automotive second-hand classified ads business, stressed that UK motorists were “overlooking” used electric cars despite being much more affordable than brand new vehicles.

The new Prime Minister looks set to intervene in new car sales targets, with the Department for Transport (DfT) consulting on whether to cut the EV ZEV Mandate sales targets from 80% to 50%.

Despite this, Cazoo data shows that over half (56%) of car buyers say the ZEV Mandate has no bearing on whether they would consider an electric car, suggesting there is interest in the market for zero-emission motoring.

Charlie stressed that the consumer demand was “not being catered for”, with some changes needed to boost used car sales that will in turn help the UK’s EV transition. One of these concerns is around certified battery state of health certificates, key reports that explain what condition an older component is in.

Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, Charlie explained: “One area that deserves more attention is the used EV market. More than half (53%) of people considering an EV are only looking at brand-new models, often overlooking used electric cars that could make the switch far more affordable.

“Encouraging more buyers to consider used EVs, and building confidence in EVs through innovations like longer battery health and manufacturer warranty cover, could do as much for adoption as any change to the mandate itself. Ultimately, EV adoption will be driven by what actually works for motorists’ budgets and daily lives and not by blanket regulatory targets.”

The UK does not have a standard battery health certification system, with buyers often relying on third-party reports before finalising a sale.

Ensuring a transparent battery health testing tool is in place would remove buyer anxiety around battery degradation and could boost interest in second-hand models. According to Cazoo, battery replacement costs are a concern for 39% of UK motorists, a staggering figure.

38% of those polled said they were also worried about public charging access, with many road users not enjoying access to off-street parking plugs.