Sales of used cars in the UK contracted 18.8% in the second quarter of 2022 to 1,759,684 cars, according to data released by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
In contrast, battery electric vehicle (BEV) sales jumped 57.1%, doubling market share to 1.0%.
SMMT data showed that the number of vehicles changing hands was down by 407,820 compared to the same period last year, though the scale of the decline was artificially inflated by comparison with 2021, when Covid restrictions were eased and the second quarter proved to be the busiest season.
The second quarter of 2022 was 13.5% behind pre-pandemic 2019, the data showed.
New car sales are still being impacted by the ongoing shortage of semiconductors, resulting in a knock-on effect on used car sales, with a 16.8% decline recorded in April, followed by 20.9% fewer sales in May, and a fall of 18.6% in June.
So far this year, the market is down 8.3% on 2021 and 12.8% below pre-pandemic 2019.
BEV sales jumped 57.1% to 16,782 units and now account for one in every 105 transactions.
Plug-in hybrid sales held relatively steady with 1.0% growth and 0.9% market share, while hybrids (HEVs) declined by 4.0% with a 2.4% market share.
Consequently, used petrol and diesel vehicles accounted for 95.6% of sales, totaling 1,682,280 units.
"It was inevitable that the squeeze on new car supply would filter through to the used market. Despite this, Britain’s used car buyers clearly have a growing appetite for the latest low and zero emission cars, and we need a thriving new car market to feed it," said Mike Hawes, SMMT chief executive.
"The next Prime Minister must create the conditions to drive consumer confidence, especially in EVs, to drive the fleet renewal necessary to meet our decarbonisation goals."