The fastest-selling second-hand cars are all either electric or hybrid models, according to the latest market data.
Autotrader says the ten vehicles with the fastest sale times on its platform do not include a single petrol or diesel car for the first time on record.
Eight of the quickest-to-sell used motors are full EVs. This compares with just four in the same month last year, with the car sales website saying the trend 'reflects strengthening demand in the used EV market' in recent months.
Without question, volatile fuel prices triggered by conflict in the Middle East have inflated appetite for EVs.
But Autotrader says improved affordability and wider stock availability are also encouraging more buyers into the segment.
According to its latest 2026 Retail Price Index, the average used EV value rose 1.6 per cent year-on-year to £24,662, marking the first annual growth since December 2022.
'This return to growth points to a more stable used EV market, giving retailers greater confidence to price stock in line with live retail conditions,' it said.
Below we count down the used cars that have been selling in the shortest time this month.
Used electric cars flying off second-hand forecourts: New data shows that EVs and hybrids are selling faster than conventional petrol and diesel used cars - especially these 10 models
At the opposite end of the sales performance spectrum, not one pure-electric model features in July's slowest-selling top 10.
Instead, the most difficult motors to shift are predominantly petrol and diesel models, alongside one petrol-hybrid.
The slowest of all is the year-old Hyundai i10 petrol city car. Autotrader says dealers and private sellers can expect to advertise for 65 days before a buyer comes along.
Petrol versions of Ford's EcoSport crossover (3-5 years), Mini Countryman SUV (5-10 years) and Mini Hatch (3-5 years) also take between 52 and 44 days to sell — that's up to four times longer than the fastest-selling hybrid and electric models.
The diesel Range Rover Sport is also a tough one to move on, with 5-to-10-year-old examples advertised for an average of 45 days.
Across all ages and fuel types of used cars, the average sale time in July is 30 days.
The strongest performance is coming from the 3-to-5-year-old age cohort.
Across all fuel types, cars in this age category sell in 28 days on average. But EVs are turning even faster, with 2021-to-2023 second-hand examples typically finding new owners in just 20 days.
With used EV prices in this age cohort now at parity with their petrol counterparts, Autotrader sees this as 'clear recognition' that buyers are finding value in electric cars in the segment.
What's also driving the strong performance is an increasingly competitive market, which the online platform says is linked to the Covid-19 pandemic.
'Around 2.5 million fewer new cars entered the UK market during pandemic-related production disruption, creating a structural shortfall in younger used stock,' it says.
'With the supply of 5-to-7-year-old vehicles expected to fall by up to 35 per cent, demand is being pushed into the 3-to-5-year-old bracket.'
Marc Palmer, head of strategy and insights at Autotrader, says spikes in demand for electric cars are commonly influenced by major global incidents.
External shocks, such as fuel-price volatility linked to the conflict in Iran, can create short-term surges in interest in EVs.
Which is why he says it 'feels significant' that demand for second-hand EVs is being sustained beyond that initial reaction.
'Buyers are recognising the affordability now available in the used EV market, while retailers have a clearer view of where demand is strongest and which stock is most likely to perform,' he explained.
'When that balance is right, the right cars are turning quickly.'
FASTEST-SELLING USED CARS IN JULY 2026
10. Toyota Yaris hybrid (5-10 years old)
Average days to sell: 20
Even Toyota Yaris superminis that are some 7 years out of warranty still instil enough confidence in second-hand buyers to be snapped up within 20 days of being advertised
Testament to Toyota's bulletproof reliability is the fact that a decade-old Yaris can still fly off a used forecourt.
These cars will be between two and seven years outside their manufacturer warranty coverage, yet buyers are still brimming with confidence that the practical little Yaris will serve them well without issue.
The Yaris model falling into this age bracket is most commonly the third-generation version sold between 2011 and 2020, though a few fourth-generation examples also slip into this cohort.
\=6. Vauxhall Mokka Electric (3-5 years old)
Average days to sell: 19
The Vauxhall Mokka-e - or Mokka Electric, as it's now known - is a Corsa-sized crossover. Examples aged between three and five years are selling in 19 days
The Vauxhall Mokka is a compact crossover that's been flying out of new-car showrooms in recent years. And heavy discounting on the electric version has helped it gain traction.
Used buyers are seeing plenty of value in the jacked-up Corsa, which, in the generation relevant here, typically comes with the promise of a range of between 200 and 250 miles.
Autotrader says the typical sale time of a 3-to-5-year-old example is just 19 days - well below the 30-day average across all second-hand motors.
\=6. Mini Electric Hatch (3-5 years old)
Average days to sell: 19
Despite a relatively limited battery range, brand appeal is making 3-to-5-year-old Mini Electric Hatches an attractive used-car purchase right now
If you're looking for a small and stylish electric runaround, the Mini Electric is a decent option. With retro looks, a plush interior and plenty of kudos, it's a solid choice for buyers who care about brand image.
Yet the used Mini Electrics selling in 19 days on average this month aren't the most capable EVs on the planet. Official range is just 140 to 145 miles. That's pretty measly compared with the latest battery cars on sale.
But competitive prices and badge appeal are driving demand.
\=6. Tesla Model 3 electric (3-5 years old)
Average days to sell: 19
Long battery ranges, software updates and bags of practicality are making 3-to-5-year-old Tesla Model 3s a popular used option right now
Second-hand Teslas are an inviting prospect. This is largely thanks to their ability to receive software updates that deliver the latest tech, as well as their impressive driving ranges.
A 3-to-5-year-old Model 3 has all the luxury of an executive saloon, well over 250 miles of range on a full charge and the practicality expected of a family car.
This might explain why used examples in this bracket sell in 19 days on average.
\=6. Tesla Model Y electric (3-5 years old)
Average days to sell: 19
It takes just 19 days on average for a 3-to-5-year-old Tesla Model Y to find a new owner after being advertised for sale
Finding a second-hand Tesla Model Y won't be difficult. Since its debut in 2021, it has become the world's best-selling EV. In 2023, it was Britain's fifth most-bought new car - and the world's most popular.
Broad availability means prices are competitive. And given the rapid depreciation of EVs between three and five years old, used buyers can secure a great deal.
Autotrader says 19 days is the average time examples are advertised before being snapped up.
5. Polestar 2 electric (3-5 years old)
Average days to sell: 18
The Polestar 2 is, like the Tesla Model 3, a luxurious executive model with ample battery range. Which is why used examples aged between three and five years are selling in just 18 days
Polestar - originally the performance and electrified spin-off of Volvo - is a brand that hasn't been around for long but has already earned a reputation for building quality, premium vehicles.
The Polestar 2 is its first mainstream model (we're not including the £140,000 plug-in hybrid Polestar 1) and easily offers more than 200 miles of range between charges.
Britain's second-hand buyers appear to want them, with the average 3-to-5-year-old Polestar 2 selling in 18 days.
\=3. Volkswagen ID.3 electric (3-5 years old)
Average days to sell: 17
Just 17 days to sell a VW ID.3 - that's less than half the time it takes, on average, to shift a 10-year-old VW Golf diesel, according to Autotrader
The VW ID.3 is the electric alternative to the VW Golf, and 3-to-5-year-old examples are currently selling in 17 days.
The 385-litre boot is a respectable size for a hatchback, while a range of up to 266 miles makes it practical for everyday use as well as longer journeys.
And if you spend more on a higher-spec model, the 77kWh battery boosts the range to as much as 347 miles. That's plenty for long trips and motorway driving.
\=3. Tesla Model 3 electric (5-10 years old)
Average days to sell: 17
The Tesla Model 3 debuted in the UK in May 2019. Even the earliest examples are in high demand on the used market
Given the Model 3 only went on sale in Britain in May 2019, the 5-to-10-year-old cars referenced here are, in reality, no older than around seven years.
In the early 2020s, limited demand for EVs and substantial price cuts by Tesla helped drive down used values.
As such, buyers can now secure a very good early example for a reasonable price. This helps explain why they sell in just 17 days on average.
2. Kia Niro EV (3-5 years old)
Average days to sell: 15
With a range of up to 285 miles and plenty of practicality, the Kia Niro EV doesn't feel limited compared with a petrol or diesel family car. As such, used examples are selling in just 15 days
The Kia Niro EV arrived in 2021 to replace the first-generation e-Niro. It proved an immediate success, with the Korean brand selling 11,197 examples in its first full year on sale, making it the third most-bought EV behind Tesla's Model Y and Model 3 in 2022.
It has a range of up to 285 miles. It's practical, spacious and doesn't feel compromised compared with a combustion-engine alternative.
Autotrader reckons 3-to-5-year-old examples are selling in just 15 days at the moment.
1. MG ZS hybrid (1-3 years old)
Average days to sell: 13
Less than a fortnight - that's how long it takes to find a buyer for the nation's fastest-selling used car, the MG ZS
The fastest-selling used car in July is MG's ZS crossover. Hybrid examples between one and three years old find a new owner in just 13 days - less than half the market-wide average.
In recent years, the ZS has been Britain's most popular budget SUV, largely because it offers excellent value for money.
It seems that appeal is translating to the second-hand market too.
SLOWEST SELLING USED CARS
\=8. Honda Jazz hybrid (3-5 years old): 41.5 days
\=8. Volkswagen Golf diesel (10-15 years old): 41.5 days
\=8. Range Rover Evoque diesel (10-15 years old): 41.5 days
7. Kia Picanto petrol (3-5 years old): 42 days
6. Volkswagen Polo petrol (up to 1 year old): 42.5 days
5. Mini Hatch petrol (3-5 years old): 44 days
4. Range Rover Sport diesel (5-10 years old): 45 days
3. Mini Countryman petrol (5-10 years old): 49 days
2. Ford EcoSport petrol (3-5 years old): 52 days
1. Hyundai i10 petrol (up to 1 year old): 65 days